When I was asked to contribute a blog post, I was plagued with doubt and fear about what I should write and what people would be expecting of me. That got me thinking about expectations in general—what we expect of others, our relationships, our jobs and about what God is expecting from us. Expectations can be used to push us forward or grind us to a halt. In a worship context, the expectation of perfectionism and creativity are heavy. But I sat back and asked myself, what is it that God is expecting of us in worship and as worship leaders? I know that I am hopelessly flawed and I have much to learn still about God, worship, leading, and being a Christ follower. Some days it is all I can do to be a decent human being. But luckily for me, God doesn’t require that we be perfect musicians, perfect leaders, or even perfect Christians.
As I was reading in my quiet time, I came back to the heart of worship. God boasted about David who was a flawed man, king, and Christian, but a true worshiper. I think it is impossible to believe that we can be anything more than that. In my most humble of studies I found that a true heart is what God is seeking. As musicians, we can excel in our craft, maintain creativity and create dynamic worship service, and God will give us those achievements if our worship is sincere. However, worship leaders cannot expect to take anyone to an atmosphere of worship if they are not there. Oswald Chambers explains: “‘Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. . .’ (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God?” We must satisfy ourselves with God before we can help others find satisfaction in Him. This truth is where I find my personal conviction. My private worship and prayer time could be more and should be more!
I told my team last week that we had to be examples of worship, but I quickly realized that extends far beyond Sunday morning. The reason David could defeat a Goliath was because he spent all his time worshiping God in the fields. I began to ask God at what point did I stop chasing Him? Did I think I could actually catch Him and all of His wonder? Our chasing of God embodies true worship. Pursuing Him in everything and with everything shows our thirst for Him. “Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:3-4 NLT). Our worship is found in seeking the Lord!
What are your Goliaths? I am not going to sugar coat the fact that being in a worship ministry is tough, but we can fight our battles in worship. The big breakthrough that we have been praying for, the obstacle that we cannot seem to overcome, or that mountain that we just seem to keep circling will all find their victories in Christ. The children of Israel had to march around Jericho screaming and blowing the trumpets for seven days before the walls fell down. We must realize that God has a plan for all of our detours and delays. I don’t know about you, but I need to have some walls come down in my own life. I want to make it a priority to not just make great music, but to make great worship. God expects it from me. He desires true worship from all of us. Only when we keep our focus on God and chase Him without ceasing will the true joy of worship be found: “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11 NLT).
Monica Carrion Worship Director Bay Area Fellowship – 5 Points
alisa
July 8, 2011 at 10:20 pm
So honest and powerful! Love it!