It's All In The Eyes

It is such a unique thing to walk into a church or any worship-leading opportunity as a guest and complete stranger trying to assess where the group is at spiritually and what God is doing right in that moment. If you've been praying about it ahead of time - and hopefully you have - you may be fortunate enough that God has given you an advance sense of how to lead in that particular setting. Or maybe it'll come on the fly. Or maybe both. :)

Leading in a familiar setting with familiar people, like at your home church, can take some of the guess-work out of where the body is at in that season. But then, it also carries it's own share of pitfalls. Being overly familiar can dull people's sense of expectancy (Mark 6:3-5) and it can lull a leader into complacency or to assume too much. 

In both cases the 'trick' comes down to the same thing: Leading as we follow the leader - The Spirit of God. In John 5:19 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." We are simply to be like Jesus. The Father sets the agenda and we follow. It's supposed to be that simple. Our job is to learn how to discern what the Father is doing and then just jump on board with THAT game-plan.

I love Psalms 32 verses 8 and 9 where God says He wants to guide us with His eye rather than have to jerk us around like a horse or a mule with a bit in it's mouth. (KJV) The idea here is that we would stare into the face of God and know Him intimately enough that we could see in His eyes what He wants next. We'll "just know" because we know Him so well. This is echoed again in Psalms 123:2 "...just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." 

That is our job. Not to rush around like a busy servant trying to accomplish what seems like the good next thing to do for our master; but to simply stare in His face, let Him set the agenda and then move according to what He is doing in the room. When we're in synch with His purposes we'll have the full backing of Heaven to accomplish them and -wow- that's a good place to be! Thanks be to God He actually lets us participate with Him! What a privilege.

The End of 'Me'

Do you ever feel like you're the last person that should be leading worship today? Ever feel like a failure with nothing to offer of value? Have you ever been just about to walk on stage to lead and had to pray something like "God you've GOT to help me here because I feel like I have absolutely nothing to give anyone."?

I have.

I've actually been having sort of an "I suck" type of week this past week... Dunno if you've ever had that. Thinking back, I'm not sure I can trace its start to any one thing even. No specific failure in this instance; maybe more of a "hope deferred" thing. (Pr 13:12) But the end-result-feeling is similar to other times when my failures and inadequacies have brought me to a low place that seemed like an unfavorable starting point to lead others in worship from. But I know enough now to know that that is not always the case. Sometimes it's when we've come to "the end of ourselves" that we're the most ready to truly lead God-centered worship in His way and in His strength.

See, on a 'good day' it can be so easy for us to waltz up on stage and confidently lean on our own strengths, talents, and know-how. We do what we know well, what's worked in the past and what gets the response we want. There is always this danger before us of leading purely out of reservoir, talent, and flesh. Danger is the operative word here if we're looking for more than the motions and show - for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (Jm 4:6) We should not put too much stock in our abilities. (Ps 20:7) What has always worked will not always work. There is no formula to experiencing God's presence except humbly seeking Him with sincerity. So we do well not to assume too much when we seek to lead others to His throne room.

Sometimes I believe God allows us to unravel a bit for our own good and the good of those we lead. A set-back can be a set-up; and when we come to the end of ourselves and realize our own smallness we're ready to truly see His bigness. In our weakness we finally get a glimpse of how badly we've always needed Him; finally allow Him to be strong as we lean on Him; finally let Him truly call the shots and lead us; finally GET BACK TO BASICS. In that humble, honest place we find our King smiling and waiting for us - and so do those we bring along. 

God will do what He has to to get us all there.

When you're having one of those days, come to God in absolute humility, honesty and repentance and He simply takes you the way you are first and works on you after. If it's sin that has tripped  you up bring it to the cross and expose it to the light. No human is perfect this side of heaven - we are ALL in process. God has invited us then to boldly approach His throne of grace that we might find mercy in our time of need. (Heb 4:16) We love Him because He loved us first and the one who has been forgiven much loves much! (Lk 7:47) Harness that gratefulness and express your love to God in your leading. It will be contagious! When you're feeling low -for whatever reason- run to Him not from Him; and bring the ones He's entrusted you with leading along!