| Worship Leading When You Do Not Feel Good! |
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Many of us who are regular worship leaders can recognize this feeling: it's Sunday morning, it's in the early hours and you don't feel in good health, nevertheless you have a responsibility to the Lord, the Pastor and the audience to be leading worship, and doing it competently. Even effective worship leaders confront days like this, and, because I had one of these on Sunday last, I would love to encourage those of you who meet the week in, week out worship leading that we badly want to make sure does not develop into a drudge!
There are numerous reasons why, when we confront the likelihood of worship leading, we can feel miserable. It can be as uncomplicated as coming off a late evening, feeling exhausted or unwell or merely plain worn out, right through to having major events disturbing our sense of joy, things like married problems, the death of a close friend or a struggle with someone in your band just prior to when you are going on.In my case it was definitely a late night, a journey to a close by city which left me feeling tired, lackluster and a bit down or disheartened when it came to worship leading. Uninspired was most likely a good word, and I gazed around at the others in my worship team, realized that I was going to have to carry a number of of these guys since their talent was not great, but then I saw something else. They too were weary and lethargic. Perhaps it was infectious! I prayed and asked the Lord to help, and I recognized that, when we are weak, He is strong (2 Cor 12:10). I recognized again that this complete profession of worship leading is not about me, and how I feel, it's about Him! I took a good, extended look at myself, and realized that in reality I am simply a servant, not a singer, not a guitarist and undeniably not a star! I acknowledged that, irrespective of how I felt inside, that I required to alter my mind-set and continue to serve, no matter what the cost. Then the Lord started to move with excellent power, initially in my own heart, and then in the hearts of the singers and musicians. I shared my struggle with them briefly, and we paused to pray as a team and give the morning to the Lord. Whether we use our hands, feet or voices, all of us principally use out hearts, and this is the right attitude to worship leading as a servant. And so the worship leading began, and just about from the very first song you could discern the presence of the Lord, and His enjoyment at our change of heart, and at our decision to do our best no matter what we felt at the time. In our weakness, He proved Himself strong, and we were rewarded with a magnificent and highly intimate time of worship leading. So, fellow worship leaders, I write this very truthful, open and realistic article to inspire you, and to tell you that, even if you are feeling unhappy, fatigued and uninspired, you are not by yourself. All worship leaders sense this at some point, all worship leaders struggle to keep the flame of inspiration alive, and all worship leaders require reminding that worship leading is not about us, and our talents and our enthusiasm, it is, and continually ever will be, first and foremost about HIM! |
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