Become Something Great for God -- Nothing
Jeff Deyo
I moved to Nashville in 1993 believing that in a period of about 3-6 months I
would have a record deal and would be shaking up the planet for God. Needless
to say, I was a little naive. And, instead of doing the typical wanna-be artist thing
and waiting tables, I decided that I would go out and prove to God and the world
that I could have a ministry without sitting around waiting for a record company to
snap me up. Unfortunately, I forgot that “waiting” is sometimes one of God’s most
important lessons.

For about 5 years I pounded the pavement as Jeff Deyo Ministries. I made 3
custom CD’s, had my own t-shirts, bracelets, grunge shirts, hats, pictures and
stickers, did concerts and camps all over the country, but still could not really
make a good living with all of that. Even so, I was determined to do what God
had called me to do – all by myself!

Things began opening up for me after I started becoming broken over my inability
to “survive” doing music. I told the Lord, that no matter the tears, pain or loss, I
just wanted to be and do what he wanted me to be and do – even if it didn’t have
anything to do with music. I just wanted to obey, knowing that whatever God
wanted me to do would be the thing that would most benefit the Kingdom as well
as fulfill me.

About a year later, I got a song on a Dove nominated Word Records compilation
that included the “top 20 independent artists in the nation.” The idea was that a
few of us would get record deals out of this, but it never turned into anything for
me.

Shortly after that, Teen Mania called and wanted me to become their new
worship leader for their Acquire the Fire Conferences of between 3-8,000 people.
This seemed to be the big break I was looking for, but it soon fell apart after only
4 weekends with them. At this point, I was really broken and beginning to wonder
what God was up to as one opportunity imploded after another.

Then I got a call from a friend of mine who was in the band, Zilch. Since they had
just lost their singer, they asked me if I would fill in. After one night, they asked
me if I would join the band. This is the point where I REALLY had to make one of
the biggest decisions in my life! I had spent at least 5 years of my life
(professionally) trying to build Jeff Deyo Ministries, and now I was faced with
“throwing all that away” to join a band that I was really not that excited about.
After about a month of praying and fasting, I was still not getting a huge peace in
my spirit about either joining or not joining. But somewhere deep inside, I felt that
this was a test as to whether I was willing to give up my dream for God’s dream.

It was at this point that it seemed God was asking me to let go of Jeff Deyo
Ministries to see if I was becoming more loyal to him or to my calling. So, with
some hesitation about joining Zilch, but with reckless abandon concerning
obeying God, I told the guys I would join Zilch.

To just anybody, this may have seemed like no big deal. I was leaving behind a
music thing that was not providing for my family and that was not connected with
a record company, to join a band that was signed with Gotee Records and at
least had a CD in the stores. But, to me, this was like the death of my dream. I
think it must have felt similar to how Abraham felt when God asked Him to give
up his son, Isaac. To me, Jeff Deyo Ministries was something I had birthed and
had sweat and bled over. I had poured my life into JDM, written all the songs,
traveled the country, and now God was asking me to give all that up to partner
with people and a vision I wasn’t totally sure about. My dream seemed to be
quickly fading into the past, dying a very quick death. I felt as if I was losing a
part of me by being obedient to God. And as far as could see, Zilch wasn’t
necessarily headed for any great success.

I can’t begin to compare my pain in this to Jesus’, but I do see that he had to
make a conscious choice to obey God instead of doing what might have seemed
more natural. Certainly it would have seemed more natural for Jesus to stick
around on the earth a little longer. I mean, just think of the impact he could have
made on the world at that time if he had lived for another 30 or 40 years at least.
He could have healed so many people, he could have brought many more
people into an understanding of God’s love for them and he could have helped
so much with the Jewish/Roman conflict.

But, somehow, death seems to have a greater impact on people for a longer
time. You see, if Jesus had just lived out a full life and died of natural causes
several things wouldn’t have happened. First and foremost, we wouldn’t have
had someone to take our place in the penalty of death that we so deserved for
our sins. Also, Jesus would not have had the impact he had on the rest of the
world for the rest of history through His resurrection. Through His life he would
have touched the lives of the people in that day and maybe some others, but
through His death, he was and is able to touch everyone for all of eternity.

For me, the fact that my dream had to die has made me a better candidate to be
used by God. It has proven to God, myself and others that I am more interested
in obedience to Him than in what my plans are. Sometimes we think we
understand better how we can serve God than He does – this is certainly
ridiculous and somewhat prideful. Certainly the God who made us knows better
how we can be used to aid His Kingdom than we do!

Since that time, Zilch has turned into SONICFLOOd, and I have been more
blessed than at any other point in my ministry. I have given all of me to God
instead of just “my ministry.” Because of that, I have signified that He has the
right to change anything in my life at any time. I have determined that I will
forever do and say whatever he wants just as he asked of Jeremiah in chapter
one of that book. Your Kingdom come, Lord, my kingdom go! That is my prayer!

Now, I am on a new track apart from SONICFLOOd. I didn’t plan this or even
want it. In fact God had to rip me out of SONICFLOOd. But I am more excited
about the coming months than at any other time before, simply because I know I
am being obedient to God. Obedience always leads to God’s blessing! And
God’s blessing is something a desperately need and want!

The death of me and my plans seem to always bring around a greater impact for
the Kingdom of God. That is all that I want – for His Kingdom to be built on this
earth. The quicker God has His way on earth, the quicker we get to spend all of
eternity with Him away from all the pain and difficulty life on this sin-cursed planet
can bring. That is why I am here on this planet – to be a part of Him increasing
and me decreasing. Why have I come to this planet? As the first song on the
original SONICFLOOOd CD says, “I have come to worship!” I want to be
something GREAT for God. This is the most satisfying thing to be for God –
NOTHING! Your Kingdom come, Lord, my kingdom go!