Really Worshiping

I've been meaning to write an article on the role of the backup worship singer, which has since evolved into a few helpful hints for staying off my harmony, which then evolved into avoiding puffiness in worship, which never really went anywhere.  So in lieu of all that, I wanted to share a few personal thoughts on really worshiping God rather than just being seen by men - something I struggle with on a fairly consistent basis. 

I think that most people who play or sing on a worship team will tell you what a joy it is to be able to serve the Lord by doing something they enjoy so much.  It's definitely the truth for me.  Whenever the instrument and vocal skill is there between all the players on the team, and I know that what we're doing sounds really good and the congregation is captivated and caught up in worship, I can't help but be caught up in it a little more myself.  And therein lies the problem.  When I know we sounded good and someone confirms that afterward with a compliment, if I'm not on my guard, I start thinking "Yeah, I am pretty talented.  It's a good thing God discovered and was the first to sign me, because you never know - some other label or producer might have come along..."  Okay, maybe those aren't my exact thoughts, but I do have a tendency to start elevating myself in my own heart.  Most of the time, the Lord is gracious to bring me back to the awareness that He is the reason that the music sounded good, people were touched, worship occurred and the Holy Spirit moved amongst us.  But from time to time, He allows me to persist in my self-elevation, right on into its natural consequence - - leading worship without His covering and grace.  And pretty much the result is a spiritual flatness to my worship, which may or may not be evident to the congregation.  I don't know about others, but I can usually tell the difference when I have been led in worship by someone who has spent time with the Lord and someone who has not.  There's a spiritual depth in real worship that is missing in "for show only" worship.

You see, no matter how much natural talent a person has, if the Lord does not bless and increase it, then spiritually speaking, we're going to eventually fall flat, and our offering to God will fall far short of what He's worthy of.  And He is worthy of all the glory, focus, attention - everything - when it comes to worship.  That's where I have to keep coming back to when I reflect on my service to Him - making Him the center of my worship in order that my praise is not selfishly motivated but comes from a heart of devotion, with a talent that blesses Him and that He in turn blesses.  But how do I keep the focus on glorifying God in my worship when at the same time the enemy (and my flesh) wants me to use worship to glorify myself?  I'm glad I asked!  First of all, I have to have a devotional time.  If I don't have a time in my day where I am just focused on reading God's word, praying, singing personal praises, and listening to hear from Him, then I've completely missed what worship is all about.  I have to earnestly worship and praise the Lord in my personal life in order to serve Him publicly in the same way.  

Second, I must submit to His will in every aspect of my life.  Jesus said in John 4:24 that in order to be a true worshiper of Him, I must worship Him in spirit and in truth.  In the original language, the word "worship" means simply to bow down.  So in effect, Jesus is saying that in order to worship Him, I must bow down before Him, which gives the idea that I am submitting myself to Him, just as the rest of the text infers that I am to submit to God, who is Spirit, and to His will, as He makes it known through the truth contained in His word.

When I spend personal time getting to know the Lord, singing praises for His ears alone, my adoration of Him grows and I connect to Him in a very intimate way that I cannot necessarily do when I am worshiping corporately, and yet my corporate worship is enhanced due to my personal worship.  And when I submit to and do God's will, as He makes it known to me through His word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I find that I am no longer focusing on myself during worship, others are able to see Christ in me, and He is glorified. 

And that's when I find that I am really worshiping.

 

~Bonnie J.