Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Podcasts / Devotionals, Worship Leading
Move Forward In Christ (Show #95)
#Aftermath (Video Below)
3 min read
No Rear-view Living
As Worship Leaders, singers and musicians, we want to do our best. Our desire is to give our excellence to God. However, sometimes we face a few bumps in the road. When we do, how do we move forward in pursuing God’s assignment?We can have second thoughts about our rehearsal, during the week prep time and the worship service. It’s easy to think about things we can change, but it doesn’t mean we get critical of ourselves.
Many of us can walk away with the “Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda” statements, but what did God do More importantly, if you miss where the people are, you’re missing where God is moving.
Don’t Miss the Moment
If your focus is so much on the music, where was it being fixed on the Lord? My mentor once told me: “I’d rather you miss a note than miss a moment.” God desires you to live in the present and to step forward into His calling. For leaders and volunteers in worship ministry, these are some of the points we focus on in our Mentoring Program.He was really saying that if I am too caught up in the mechanics, I’m not allowing God to move me in His worship.
If I’m singing the song of mistakes, I’m not singing the song of what God is doing now.“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” – Psalm 98:1
WATCH SHOW #95!
Own It:
Take responsibility for the areas where you can improve. Look at it from a positive angle, not a “I’m not good enough” angle. Truth is, God is not finished with you yet. So let the building continue!There is more than one thing I know I can work on; however, I need to take one thing at a time.When you focus on the one thing, you make it the right thing. Personally, I get too overwhelmed when I do too much. When so much is going on in my brain, I begin to default back to the mechanics. Then, I lose the moment. In leading worship, it begins with knowing to do the right thing at the right time. The better we allow God to put us at rest, we begin to experience who’s really in control.
This is hard to do for most folks, even myself. The better we prioritize the things God wants us to do, versus what we want to do, we find that His way is always best.When we learn to own the things God gives us, we’re not worried about the things we don’t have. Truth is, God has already given you everything you need to do what you’re doing. You can trust Him.
Missing a note can never compare to missing a moment with God.
Move Life in the Forward
It can be tough to follow Christ without considering the cost. It will take a lot of you to lead the way God has called you. Especially when it runs against people’s opinions, including your own. You must put one foot in front of the other and move on.If we desire to take up a greater work, such as serving in a ministry, volunteering on the team or leading worship in the church, we are going to account for the costs. This means laying everything aside to follow Jesus. God doesn’t hang a rear-view mirror in front of us.
Jesus said in Luke 9.62 “Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”The time you spend looking back, takes away from the time to move forward.
“Moving forward in Christ means not looking back.” @BranonDempsey
Live and Sing the Newness of Christ
When you think of athletes, they never let obstacles or even injuries stand in their way. Consistently, they stay in training and make themselves ready. They take the time to develop and learn new skills. On the day of the game, they are more equipped to take on the challenge and to seize the victory.This is to be an encouragement for us all. There will be challenges ahead, but we will suffer more damage if we stay in the status quo. Never let the shortcomings dictate your outcome.God has not called you to live life from the sidelines, but to be ready in season and out of season. (2 Tim. 4.2)Pray in the Spirit, follow Jesus by faith, and let God handle the consequences.
Keep you eyes on what is ahead; He is always doing new things. Will you be ready?“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” – Prov 4.25 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” – Isaiah 65:17 “Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;” – Prov 25.4God wants you to shine, but He must remove the former things in order to bring forth the new things.
Musically, when we do our best to prepare for God, we are more ready to be guided by God. The focus is off of ourselves because we are not burdened. Our spirit is free because we are not chained. Our heart can make music because it’s the Holy Spirit creating His symphony within us.
Let the Aftermath Be Life In The Forward
This simple dependence is knowing that you are made perfect in Christ’s likeness. He’s not concerned about your mistakes, yet He offers you and me the opportunity to bring everything to Him. We forget the things that are behind, but we don’t forget the values God taught us through them. Jesus reached forth and stretched Himself from one end to the other. He never quit, He never gave up.
He said “It is finished” as He pursued the Father’s will and also gave us the free gift of Eternal Life.Philippians 3.13: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,”Our musical abilities and service are a gift.
The Lord desires us to make melody in our hearts, not the mistakes. So move forward, knowing that He has already gone before you. In His Almighty Power, He does not ever want us to miss the moment, regardless of the mistakes.
@BranonDempsey @worshiptt
Called to serve? Know your next step? Want to go to the next level? We can help you discover how God is leading you, so you can lead others. Learn more: wttu.co/mentoring
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