By Jim R Williams
You can't lead where you haven't been. What do I mean by that? As a lead worshiper, one of our primary functions is to lead the congregation in songs of praise and words of thanksgiving and honor to our God. And if we are to do this genuinely, I believe it must come from an overflow of our personal lives.
This is why I believe Worship leaders must make personal worship time, a part of preparing to lead worship. In other words, we must set aside time to privately worship God through the week. Why? There are several reasons, a couple of which we will look at in this article.
Staying with the thought that you can't lead where you haven't been, here is the first reason I believe every worship leader must incorporate a time of personal worship through out the week.
Authenticity. Our worship leading must be real, it must be authentic and from pure motives. I mean think about this, If you raise you hands or dance on Sunday morning, but don't in the private, then I believe a question of motives and authenticity would come in to play. Here is a bit of good advice. If you don't do it in private worship, then don't do it in the corporate. Now I'm not saying to quench the Holy Spirits leading, nothing could be further from the truth. But what I am saying is that apart from the Holy Spirits leading if you would not raise your hand in private worship, then is it authentic, or for effect, when it's done in the corporate?
A second reason is to set an example for the congregation to follow As lead worshiper's one aspect our calling is to encourage the congregation to live a life of worship. A part of living a life of worship must include times of private worship. Time set apart to stop and shut out the world and sing praises to our wonderful God. Time set apart to give thanks to the God who saved us. Setting time out each day for personal worship will allow us to live the life we are created to live. A life of glorifying God, and edifying others.
If you've not been having personal worship times at home, I encourage you to do so. Here are a few steps to help you get started.
Sit down with your instrument, (if you play one) and go through the order of service. Not mechanically thinking through it but making it personal. You could be play and sing your favorite worship songs. Again not for practice but simply for praising God. You could be listen to a C/D of good worship music, or simply spend time verbally praising God with some instrumental music in the background.
Some of the most wonderfully intimate times of worship I have ever experienced, was just God, me and a worship C/D.
When you personally worship God in private through the week, it will show when you stand before the church to lead in corporate worship. The worship will be fresh. It will show on your face, and in your words, and actions. The Holy Spirit will lead you, to lead the church, where you have been. In the worship of our Holy, wonderful, loving God.
And now I would like to invite you to get a free copy of my mini-guide "Preparing to Lead Worship" at http://www.worshipleadingtoday.com Jim Williams, Worship Leader, Worship songwriter
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