Recently I attended a ladies’ luncheon, not as a Worship Leader, but to hear my friend Kim Shade share her testimony of how God has been faithful to her despite her diagnosis with breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy and reconstruction. I was so moved by her courage to stand before a group of strangers and tell them how she has struggled and wrestled with God. Through all the stages of grief, she desperately and faithfully clung to Jesus.
Then as I was leading worship on the following Sunday, I felt a hesitation in the congregation. They were a friendly, close-knit group, and I sensed their worship was sincere, but I also sensed them holding back.
We were singing “Blessed be Your Name” by Matt and Beth Redman. We were coming up to the bridge which says, “You give and take away… You give and take away… my heart will choose to say, ’Lord blessed be Your Name.’” As we sang, and as we got closer to the bridge I could hear (not audibly, but in my spirit) the Holy Spirit telling me to stop. Now I’ve been leading worship long enough to not be surprised when the Holy spirit throws me a curveball. He said to stop, so I stopped. In my heart, I said, “Okay, Lord, now what?” As I waited I again heard the Spirit, this time telling me to speak to the people. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say, so I just waited. It was only for a moment, but it felt like minutes. The people all stood there wondering what was going on.
Then He spoke again, this time revealing to me what it was that I was supposed to share. He told me to share about my friend Kim’s testimony–to tell about her illness and enduring faith despite great struggles. He told me to tell of His enduring faithfulness through the good times and the bad. So I did. I shared Kim’s story. I then said that we were about to sing, “You give and take away… You give and take away… my heart will choose to say, ’Lord blessed be Your Name.’” And I asked them if they had experienced the “You take away” part of life like my friend Kim had. Many raised their hands, their eyes filling with tears. I thanked God in my heart as I knew that our worship was about to become so much more meaningful. I then told the congregation that we were going to continue with the song. I said, “as we continue, let’s not just sing the words on the screen, but let’s sing from our hearts, thanking God for His faithfulness to us in good times and in bad…”
We began to sing again, this time I felt no hesitation. In its place I felt a sweet joy. It was wonderful. Their praises filled the room as we sang the rest of the set list.
When the service was over, a lady thanked me for coming and said, “thank you… awesome… it was…amazing!”
I thank God for the opportunity to lead His people before Him in worship. I thank him for helping me listen to His voice and follow His leading in order to take His people where they needed to go to meet with Him. By stopping, we were able to move forward–to go from HERE to THERE–and experience awesome, amazing worship that we otherwise would have missed.
As you lead worship, be listening to the Spirit as He nudges you to take a different direction. Then be obedient to His leading. It may be unplanned, uncomfortable and even unorthodox… but it will be unbelievable!
Scott Jasmin
