Sometimes there’s a lyric that just smacks you in the face and roots your life back in reality.
One of those phrases is from the song Unbroken Praise by Matt Redman. It goes like this:
“Let my deeds outrun my words. Let my life outweigh my song.”
Ouch. I feel so often I can stress and strive for my art to get recognized – for people to love my worship leading. For the church to love my songs. For people to appreciate what I make. But in reality, I would rather be known for my life than for the art I create.
So much of this has been said before. Especially from a writer like Redman.
Coming back to the heart of worship…
Now to live the life…
A life of worship isn’t new information. It’s on the t-shirts.
If our lives don’t back up our songs, it’s empty.
Worship leaders, if our personal worship doesn’t outshine the stages we stand on, we’re missing the point.
But what is the answer? To stop singing altogether?
That’s like telling someone who doesn’t eat healthy to stop eating. For a season, that may be good. We call that a fast. But a better long term strategy is to start eating better.
Or it’s similar to a runner who knows all about running – what shoes to buy, how to stretch, the ins and outs of training, and the psychology of marathons, but doesn’t actually run. It’s a head knowledge without practice.
I Surrender All?
On our new record we’ve arranged a cover of the hymn “I Surrender All”. This is a song I’ve struggled to sing my whole life. It’s a frustrating, annoying song. Not because it’s old or the melody is archaic, but because it’s such a massive commitment. It’s impossible to sing halfheartedly.
Surrender all.
Really, David?
Are you willing to do that?
To add insult to injury, we added a secondary chorus that goes like this:
“Every thought, every word, every deed, this is my worship to you.”
Wow. Things just got worse.
But part of the reason I love this is because that’s where I want to live. That’s where I want to be. That’s the heart of the family I want to lead. That’s the kind of person I want to be known for.
Everything. All. Complete surrender.
So how does this happen? How do we surrender all? How can we live a life where our deeds outrun our words?
I’m not going to lie. I can sing pretty passionately. I can get down in corporate worship with the best of them. I was raised in a banner waving, flag raising, courtesy cloth dropping, Holy Ghost party environment. I know how to worship.
But I’m wondering today. And I’m asking you to wonder as well…
Does our life shout louder? Are we pursuing an “every thought, every word, every deed” faith?
What Kind of Action Are You Taking?
Here’s a question that is challenging me: “What kind of action are you taking?”
Not “What kind of conversations are you having?” or “What kind of music are you listening to?” or “What books are you reading?”
What action are you taking?
To what am I giving my money to?
What people am I personally investing in?
To whom am I sharing Jesus with?
How am I influencing and leaving a mark?
May we not just be known for quality of our songs but by the quality of our lives. For every song that we sing, may we take twice as much action. For every “I Surrender All” chorus we declare may we, twice as often, lay our lives down for Christ’s sake.
The most powerful worship song you’ll ever sing isn’t any particular song. Honestly, it’s any song that you put into action. It’s the songs you live. It’s the person you are becoming.
Sing loud. Sing strong. Sing like never before.
But make sure those songs find their home in the action you take.
Let’s talk about this. The reason I blog is to connect with you and to foster conversation. Feel free to leave a comment to right over here.
[ois skin=”Beyond Sunday 2″]
David so true I was so blessed while leading the worship the other day he showed me that the most important thing was his message because he changes lives.It isn’t what I can do for him or my talent.He speaks the words that bring us to tears and melts our hearts.The question is what message is he speaking to your people in your church thru you and thru the music as worship leaders that is so important. We will have trouble speaking that message if we are not living that message that goes without saying.
It is the holy spirit in us that is at work using those gifts that he assigns to build up his church.People responded to him including myself it was heartfelt and amazing..I realised also that the gifts God has given us bring our lives purpose and joy when we express them to God but don’t get caught up on the gifts as the giver is the most important.for without him we can do nothing…
That will leave a mark… Ouch! Thanks for speaking truth, even if it hurts.
This really strikes home for me. Ive been leading worship for years and at the same time battling an eating disorder. Ive been through treatment this year but I still feel like a hypocrite. I want to surrener all, but everytime I try I fail…a part of me feels like I should step down and focus on getting better. However there is also a part of me that doesnt want to give up. Im also getting a degree in worship and I feel like I take so much time learning and singing worship but im still holding a peice of my heart back because of my sin. I really need some advice on this scary yet real subject that is shadowing my life. What should I do?
Melanie i don’t know your background but sin in all its forms has a root. For me because of my background i felt unloved and i would turn to other things for dependency than God.These areas became my coping mechanism they help us feel better but they are a trap it is idolatry it is some other form of dependency other than God so you are right it is sin.They bring condemnation and that separates us from a close relationship to God and to help us feel better we end up repeating the cycle .This is not the way its meant to be as believers when you read the word it says clearly that sin shall not have dominion over us and that we are more than conquerers through Christ that strengthens us..God has broken those areas in my life and i know he can do it for you he wants to.For me it started when i said i am sick of living like this but what can i do i keep falling back into these unhealthy patterns.What helped me is that everytime and i still do it now if i feel the desire or drawn to my old life i say immediately Lord you know i am weak but i trust you that you will help me with your holy spirit not to fall back into those old habits in Jesus name.It has been 4 years now and i am not struggling anymore.My strength is in Jesus and in him he is more than able to change us my dependency is no longer in me or what i can do its all in him.The last 4 years have been hard for me as i gave those areas up God started building Godly character and started dealing with other areas like pride etc but awesome in the sense that i know what it means to be an overcomer God wants you to be and i know he is able to do it as nothing is impossible to him and he lives in us.Do not be discouraged if you trip occasionally its okay God continues to love you and we are righteous under the Blood of Jesus believe that his righteousness is holding you up we are never under condemnation through Christ.Remember the goal is a closer walk with God and a victorious Chrstian life it is there waiting for all of us. It is real as i have experienced it I USED TO BE A YOYO CHRISTIAN .
Melanie you have taken the first step to being set free in jesus may he lead and guide you to victory regards brent