The Faith Place

A couple of years ago there was a couple who were extremely instrumental in my life. I had shared with them that I was beginning to lead worship in my church and how I was nervous. I felt like I wasn’t adequate enough to be in that position. I felt like I just wasn’t talented enough, or right for the job. But, I still wanted to do it, because I felt like that’s who I am and what I was created to do-worship. So, as I shared my heart with them, they shared their wisdom. They said when you are up there remember that you are really just singing to an audience of one. Imagine it is just you and God. Don’t focus on everybody else, but just worship Him. Those words helped me so much in those early days when I first started.

Recently, I noticed myself getting frustrated if I felt like I didn’t do a good job on a song. Maybe the people didn’t respond like I thought they would. Thoughts of inadequacy started to rear up again. The list goes on and on. It resulted in me feeling tired and burnt out. Almost like it was a performance and I would never be able to measure up to whatever standard I had placed on myself in my head. So, I had to go back to this phrase, I’m worshipping to an audience of one. Now, for some thinking about worshipping to God Himself might seem more weighty than just worshipping to a group of people. The thing about God though is that when we bring our sacrifice of worship and an offering of praise, He draws near to us. He isn’t looking for perfect. He’s looking for present. He wants us to be present in His presence. So, If I go with a heart posture of performance, I will not be present in the moment of His presence. I may can manufacture a good worship set, but the intimacy is lost. But, if I go with the heart posture that I will enter in to His presence to the best of my ability and be fully present, the set list might not be perfect, but the intimacy of the moment will be there. Which do you think is more important to God? I agree that God wants us to do our best. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try to do your best, but even so, make sure your heart posture is focused on Him.

So, where does that leave you? Maybe you have some sort of ministry that you are a part of. Whatever that looks like for you, whether it’s children’s ministry, speaking, preaching, greeting, ushering, praying, whatever it may be. Are you just on autopilot? Have you lost that intimacy of the moment? Are you fully present in His presence when you are ministering?

It can be so hard to balance, but if you are in ministry it is important to be able to balance between being fully present with the Lord while also bringing the people with you. You don’t want them to fall behind, but most of the time if you are flowing with the Holy Spirit it really isn’t you who has to keep up with the people. The Holy Spirit will do that work for you all because you were obedient and present with the Lord.

Maybe you don’t really have a ministry, but I believe that we can carry this same principle into our everyday lives. You might be on the job and feeling like your boss or coworkers don’t value or appreciate you. You might think, what is the point of doing my best. You might have a house full of children who drive you nuts and you think what is the point of getting them up and taking them to church. Whatever you have or whatever your situation is, if you get to a place where you think what is the point, know there is a point.

Colossians 3:17 says And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. It’s the last verse in the part of scripture that talks about how to live your new life in Christ. It was listing out all of these things before and then it ends with this, basically if you are confused by how to live just know that we do it all in the name of the Lord and we give thanks. Not only that verse, but also 1 Corinthians 10:31 says Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. We are supposed to do it all for His glory. Let our life be worship. Not just when we are lifting our hands and singing Hallelujah, but let our lives be walked in such a way that it is worship to Him. Remember that you are doing it for an audience of one. Ministry or everyday life. It is all for His Glory.

Let’s pray. Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for this life. Please forgive me for the times I have taken my focus off of you and let other things or people cloud my mind. I want to live my life so that it brings glory and honor to you. I want to live my life so that it is worship. Please lead and guide me to do this. Illuminate with the light of your Holy Spirit when I start to get off track and start to lose focus again. I love you Lord. You are the purpose. You are the point. When life doesn’t make sense help me realize it all points back to you. If you lead me to it, you will lead me through it. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.