1 Corinthians 14:26
I would encourage you to conduct your meetings in such a way that everyone is mutually edified. Each one in turn may contribute in music, in a teaching; another may bring a tongue with a revelation and interpretation. (Mirror Bible)

Are you allowing your gift to make room for you?

Have you ever been to a service of any type and there was so much going on that you felt empowered? When did the feeling start? Let me try to paint the picture for you. Imagine sitting in a service and the anointing of God was so thick it seemed as if you could touch it. Then someone stood up and gave a word from the Lord. Then someone else did. Next you could see to the left someone is giving a word to a particular person, not the entire congregation. At the same time, there is someone in the right corner speaking in tongues and laying on hands. In the middle there is someone else who is praying and prophesying. Someone else is singing, possibly where you can understand what they are saying, but maybe it is in tongues. Now you ask yourself, “What about me? How do I participate? Shouldn’t I take part in what is going on? Should I pray, prophesy, or lay hands too? What do I do?” 

Now the picture I painted may be exaggerated, but necessary for the point. Spirit filled services have emotional excitement attached to them. If you are not prayerful, you get caught up in the emotion and several people who are in attendance, including you, might just miss God. There are a couple of truths you want to add to your arsenal, as you battle in this war:

1. If you have been faithfully allowing God to use you as a gift, it will not go unnoticed.
   Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. (KJV)
   
2. If you have to wonder whether you should “do” something, ask God.
   Psalm 75:6–7 This I know: the favor that brings promotion and power doesn’t come from anywhere on earth, for no one exalts a person but God, the true judge of all. He alone determines where favor rests. He anoints one for greatness and brings another down to his knees. (The Passion Translation)
   
3. You should always be more concerned about lifting Jesus and not using your gifts.
   1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (KJV)

Paul admonishes us to serve an orderly God in an orderly manner. The Lord reserves the anointing He placed on your life for His use. He knows the time, the day and the service. It may not be in the service that day. Rely on the unction of the Holy Spirit to let you know what action, if any, you need to take. Also, if you think things have gotten out of hand, do nothing. Maybe you are just not in the flow because your mind and heart are somewhere else. Rely on the Holy Spirit to handle it. He knows what is happening and is well able to make corrections if needed.

Please agree with me as I pray:

Father, I thank You for guiding me to be a part of services where there I am able to experience Your power as You flow through the many gifts in the body. There are those who preach and teach; those who can exhort in song; those who can bring a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom; those who speak in tongues with interpretation, so it becomes prophecy; and those who prophesy. Father God, I thank You for every gift. But I thank You most of all, Father, for the order preserved during those times when all the gifts are present and active. Thank You for the guidance so the activity doesn’t seem like competition or chaos. Thank You for making me aware of the times when I might feel the need to take part and be out of order. I glorify You for the gifts You have blessed me to have and the anointing that is on my life. Thank you for allowing me to come together, with fellow believers, to love You and worship You. Continue to remind me it is my job to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, so I send up a savor that is sweet smelling to Your nostrils…