As a worship pastor, many thoughts can run through my mind after leading. But recently, God showed me the only question and thought that really matters after leading a set.
Is He pleased?
God is teaching me more and more that everything is all about Him and for Him. As Christians, we gather together as a body to minister to His heart; we are created to live a lifestyle of worship, and we are called to be after His heart in all we do. Church is not about us and what we can get; it’s about Him. What if we gathered together for no other reason than to look at Him?
I knew that worship was about Him. But early on in leading worship, I was also very concerned with the people I was leading. That is not a bad thing; we should care about the people God has entrusted us to lead, but the first things first. Whether I am in my house by myself worshiping, worshiping with my toddler, or leading the youth, there is One who must always be first.
If I was leading from a place of thinking of the people I lead first, how can I lead people to Him? God spoke something to me that changed the way I lead. He said, “first, minister to My heart and then teach and lead others to do the same.”
So now, after leading, I don’t wonder if we did good; I ask Him if He was pleased. Nothing else matters. My agenda is Him; my plan is Him, and the songs we sing are about Him. We gather for one person and one person alone; His name is Jesus. Is what we are doing pleasing Him?
In ministry, it can be easy to get wrapped up in what others think, how things seem, the sermon series, how many people showed up, how many people raised their hands, and so on. Let’s return to our First Love and get wrapped up in Him.
Don’t be a slave to a set list or a clock. Learn to look at Him and minister to Him. Entirely depend on Him to lead and guide you. It’s all for Him.
Did we gather for Him?
Did we worship and sing songs about His character and attributes?
Did we lay down our agendas and depend on Him to lead?
Did we read His word and fall more in love with Him?
Did we speak His name and lead others to Him?
Is He pleased?