'Say a Little Prayer'Sample

DAY ONE: Creatively, Authentically, Uniquely… You

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-14, Luke 8:49- 56

I’ve been a fan of Aretha Franklin since I was a little girl, not only because she was the “Queen of Soul,” but for her deep faith and love for God. To this very day, Aretha remains an inspiration to me musically, personally and spiritually. 

Even for someone as amazing as Aretha, the journey to finding her real voice took some time. After years of being controlled and hurt by men in her life, her true voice was something that was lost. In the new film RESPECT, we see scenes of her struggle to discover who she really is and what she truly wants. For years, she did what was expected of her, and even demanded of her. This theme resonated for me because I have experienced this in my own career. I do not like to be put in boxes. There can be a restlessness that comes when you can’t be yourself. Deep down she knows that she was created by God for something more. God had gifted her with a unique and exquisite voice, a gift that needed to be shared with the world! Finally, she is in a recording session, and finds the courage to say the words, “follow me” to a room full of seasoned professionals… and they do. I love the shift that takes place within Aretha in this scene. In saying “yes” to that nudging of the Spirit within her, a new kind of beauty is created. A new kind of song is born. Her true voice comes out. 

I love that Aretha was a woman of incredible talent and passion, and yet it was still a journey for her to find her own voice, her soul. I really connected to this idea. Behind the fame was a human being, a real woman, with real pain… like me. I was able to connect in a deeper way to playing Aretha because of these things. She had struggles and doubts. Sometimes, we too can get so buried underneath the expectations of others, the grief of our past, mounting responsibilities, or any number of things… and we can lose a little of who we really are, we can lose what we were made to do, we can lose the courage to grow. 

We need to say yes and go for it. We are capable of all kinds of expression, creativity, and art. Have courage to try something new. Don’t limit yourself creatively- God doesn’t. Many times, I need to remind myself to stay true to who I was made to be, and this means staying in that creative place, and expressing different parts of who I am as an artist. You feel me?  Think about your own life for a minute - what has been buried or silenced for you? Is there a gift that God has given you that needs to be brought back to life? Do you feel that restlessness to create again or to be more authentically… you?

Remember, God made YOU, and He’s God, so he can only make good things! Say yes to the gifts God has given you. With courage and boldness, step into the authenticity, the beauty, and the truth of who you really are.