As worship leaders, we have the incredible privilege of helping to facilitate the worship of God’s people. We spend hours preparing, rehearsing, and planning, all with the goal of creating an atmosphere where people can encounter the transformational power of God. But in the midst of all our efforts, it’s easy to get caught up in our own abilities, talents, technology and accomplishments. We can inwardly start to think that the success of the worship service depends on us and that we are the ones responsible for bringing people into the presence of God.
But the Bible has a different story to tell. In Psalm 115:1, the Psalmist writes, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory.” These words are a powerful reminder that our role as worship leaders is not to draw attention to ourselves, but to point people to the glory of God.
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory.”
The Danger of Self-Glorification
When we even subconsciously start to think that the worship service is about us, we can begin to glorify ourselves instead of God. We might start to focus on our own talents, our own abilities, and our own accomplishments. We might start to seek the praise and admiration of others rather than seeking to bring glory to God. And when we do, we can actually hinder the very thing we’re trying to accomplish – helping people to encounter God in worship.
The truth is, worship is not about us. It’s not about our music, our voices, our cool technologies or our instruments. It’s not about our clever arrangements, our fancy lighting, or our impressive production values. Worship is about God, and God alone. It’s about giving Him the glory, honor, and praise that He deserves.
The Freedom of Giving God the Glory
So what happens when we shift our focus from ourselves to God? When we remember that it’s not about us, but about Him, we experience a newfound freedom in leading worship. We’re no longer burdened by the need to perform, to impress or to entertain. We’re no longer worried about what people will think of us or whether they’ll like our music. We’re free to simply worship, to simply give God the glory that He deserves–to lead our people well.
And when we do, something amazing happens. People start to notice a difference. They start to perceive that it’s not about us, but about God. They start to experience the presence of God more powerfully. And they are drawn to worship, not because of our talents or abilities, but because of the glory of God.
Practical Applications
So how can we apply this principle to our worship leading? Here are a few practical suggestions:
- Before each worship service, take a moment to pray and ask God to give you a humble heart. Ask Him to help you remember that it’s not about you, but about Him.
- Focus on the lyrics and the message of the songs you’re singing. They put the focus on God and His glory.
- Avoid drawing attention to yourself or your team. Instead, use your platform to point people to the glory of God.
- When you discover you have a problem drawing attention to yourself, take some time off from platform ministry and ask God to do a work in your heart before you return to lead.
Conclusion
As worship leaders, we have the incredible privilege of helping to facilitate the worship of God’s people. But we must remember that it’s not about us – it’s about God. When we give God the glory, we experience a freedom that we never thought possible. We’re free to simply worship, to simply give God the glory that He deserves. And when we do, people start to notice. They start to see that it’s not about us, but about God. And they start to worship, not because of our talents or abilities, but because of the glory of God. May we always remember to give God the glory, and may our worship be a reflection of His greatness and majesty.
