Worship Leaders: Your Closet Is A Treasure Chest

Posted on Nov 3, 2010 | 0 comments

I’ve been lucky to hang around a bunch of worship leaders over the past few years. We’ve all learned from each other, and in the process, have become better leaders.

If I could only share one piece of wisdom from everything we’ve learned so far, my choice would be simple: Your prayer closet is everything.

Treasures From The Secret Place

If you have been given the tremendous responsibility of leading others into the presence of God, here’s an honest question: are you spending time each day that’s devoted to learning God’s heart? Here’s another question: are you bringing your instrument into this time with God?

We need to have some back-story with the God that we so passionately lead others to worship on Sunday morning. Have you ever seen someone brag publicly about a guy they just met? They talk as if they have been friends for years. It’s insincere and reaks of empty flattery. Their compliments seem out of place, because they are. Their words fall on deaf ears because no one is buying it.

Now, call to mind a time where you have heard someone brag about their wife, husband, brother, sister, etc. A little different now isn’t it? There is a back-story, a personal history with the person they are praising.

I’m not saying that we all need 20 years of walking with God to effectively lead others into His presence. I am saying that 20 years of seeking God’s heart in the prayer closet builds a treasure chest of intimacy. When you approach God in worship at a public meeting, you won’t be treading in unfamiliar waters, you will be inviting others into a feast that you’ve enjoyed time and time again.

It’s challenging to lead worship without distraction in a public setting. If you aren’t accustomed to encountering God’s heart through song, you run the risk of going on spiritual “auto-pilot” each Sunday morning. Develop a muscle memory of how to direct your affections towards God while playing your instrument.

A Few Practical Tips

Bring your keyboard, guitar, mandolin, or voice into your “quiet time”. Play while you pray.
Sing the Psalms while you play. Engage with God through His Word and through song.
Worship Him in your own words. Even if you are just singing one phrase, learn how to direct all your affection towards him
Rediscover the richness of the songs that you use to lead others, by singing them in the secret place. Repeat verses until your heart believes it.