Ever lose your wonder?
One of my favorite parts of leading worship is getting to watch people worship. That may sound a little strange, but it really is a sight to see. Standing on stage gives me an interesting vantage point and when I see someone completely caught up in worship I almost can’t look away. I kind of get lost for a moment. For a moment I get to witness someone interacting with their Heavenly Father. For a moment I get to see something incredibly intimate, incredibly special. A moment between God and a person pursuing Him. There’s nothing like it.
Years ago author Donald Miller wrote, “Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.” I think the same is true when it comes to the wonder of God.
Yesterday morning as we were leading O Come to the Altar, I watched a young woman who was all but running to the arms of her Father as we recounted the story of the Prodigal Son through song. Her hands never dropped from above her head. Her lips never stopped singing praise. I thought she might fall over in excitement when she started singing, “O what a Savior, isn’t He wonderful!” Her enthusiasm for being in the presence of God was unmatched.
As a leader, I love getting to watch moments like that. It reminds me that I’m not just a leader, I’m a worshiper too. I’m a worshiper first. Moments like that renew my wonder.
I fear that as worship leaders we sometimes become too familiar with the presence of God. I fear we sometimes forget that we are engaging with the Almighty God, the Alpha and the Omega, the Creator of the Universe, the King of the World. I fear we forget to worship. I fear we forget about wonder.
Today, my encouragement to you is to look around the next time you’re leading. Watch someone caught up in the wonder of God. Experience someone experiencing God. Let your wonder be renewed. Remember that you’re not only a leader, but a worshiper too.
King David did this well. There’s a moment found in 2 Samuel 6, where David remembers he’s a worshiper. In fact, for a time it’s almost as if he disregards the fact that he is a leader at all. You see David, and the rest of Israel, are celebrating before the Lord because The Ark (where the presence of God resided) was being brought back to Jerusalem. That was a big deal. In the midst of celebration David begins dancing with all his might (verse 14). There’s singing, there’s music, and now there is dancing. He’s completely caught up in the worship of God.
Later, his wife reminds him of his stature – that he is a king. He is the leader of the country. He has a responsibility to maintain composure in front of people. David wouldn’t hear it though. He understood that he had to allow himself to wonder. He had to allow himself to worship. He responds to his wife saying that he wasn’t dancing for anyone but the Lord. David understood that he is a worshiper before he is a leader.
As you lead this week, remember to worship. Remember to wonder!