“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me…” Isaiah 61:1
Songwriting has been my creative outlet for many years. As an 11-year-old I embodied the brave naivety of youth and sang my first self-penned song (written with my friend, Kate), in front of the whole Secondary School. I was struck by the impact a song could make and as I entered my teenage years my passion found its release in a contemporary Christian rock band called, “Crystal Kishon.”
We wrote our own songs and took the stage in our white stilettoes and contact sport worthy shoulder pads to perform some “hip” 1980’s style choreography. (Social media didn’t exist back then, and boy am I grateful!)
Although I have led worship for many years, I laid aside the joy of creating songs for 15 years before finally grabbing my dust-wrapped guitar to begin the process all over again. As it does for so many of us, life got in the way and I forgot what God had put inside me. I am not sorry for the detour though. The relaunch of my passion has led my love for Jesus in much deeper and more profound ways.
In 2015, at a popular women’s conference in Texas, a stranger handed me a word of prophecy, written on a notecard. The prophecy was based on Isaiah 61:1-4.
In order to honor Jesus and weigh up the words given to me; I spent a long time in careful study of the passage. I wondered what I could uncover, but the truth is, God uncovered a lot of unknowns hidden inside me. Isaiah 61 is a power-packed chapter and begins with a foundational fact – I am not alone. The Spirit of the sovereign Lord can’t be on me without also being with me. I began to realize my songwriting craft was never to be a skill practiced on my own. God wants me, through the Holy Spirit, to create with Him. I started to see how anointing leads to action.
The whole of Isaiah 61 is filled with “doing words”. I was struck by the way the Scripture called me out of being someone who felt content to pray for, and financially support missionaries, to seeing that I, too was meant to be a missionary. This change of perspective didn’t require a move to China or a shift in my regular routine.
Instead, I realized that Jesus has called me to do all the verbs found in Isaiah 61, and to behave as a missionary right where He’s put me ANOINTED ACTION
What does anointed action look like? Continue on through Isaiah 61 and we’ll find a fabulous list of achievable and inspired deeds. God calls His anointed to preach the good news. Those words became vibrantly alive to me. As a musician, I fell in love with the way lyrics can tell how God rebuilds, renews and restores our broken lives. Songs can be filled with the Good News of Jesus, with hope and comfort. Break open your Bible and find all of the verbs in Isaiah 61. I
want you to see the actions you are created and anointed for. I’d been confused by the way I’d heard the phrase, “anointed” bandied around in church circles. People have often said, “Your voice is so anointed,” or, “You’re such an anointed worship leader,” but I just couldn’t believe them because I’m not perfect.
I know the “ugly” that goes on in my head. Through the grace of God, I learned that He doesn’t anoint the perfect. He anoints those with whom He dwells. If you love Jesus and He lives in you, then you are anointed. Yes, say it aloud … I am anointed.
I have experienced assurance about what I do in the name of God, because my work is bathed in the anointing of God. My songs, books, art, and speaking events are never faultless.
But I have learned to arise with the certain assurance that the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me and goes with me. And the same is true for you.
As I continue faithfully in music ministry, God has added a new string to my guitar and led me to start a podcast with the goal of helping other Believers recognize and walk in their anointing. “God in The Ordinary” is my new podcast where weary Believers can be revitalized by hearing the stories of other Christians who are using their anointings to reveal God in their everyday lives.
A business coach, a mother of 8, an artist, a retired naval officer – all of them are great examples of how to recognize and implement the anointing and presence of God in their normal rhythms. They demonstrate anointed action. Walk in the truth and power of your Holy anointing. Live an action-filled life, as you draw people to our beloved Jesus.
Because you, my friend, are anointed.
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes…” —Isaiah 61: 1-3 (NIV)
Listen to Sharon Tedford’s music by clicking the button below. Find out more about Sharon’s music and ministry at 61-things.com.
