Home Worship & Creative Leaders Articles for Worship & Creative What She Said at the Start of Worship Service Changed Everything

What She Said at the Start of Worship Service Changed Everything

When I was 11 years old, God called me to Himself in a worship service. I went forward to the altar and was born again into the family of God through faith in Jesus. Someone could have told me at the start of the service, “This is going to be a life-changing service. You’ll see.”

They’d have been right.

Ten years later, while singing in the choir during a revival service, I was called by God into His service as a minister. This was every bit as life-altering as the earlier call. What if someone had caught me just before we started into the choir loft that night and said, “Pay attention, Joe. This service is going to change your life.” They’d have been right.

A few thoughts…

One. Let every follower of Jesus Christ approach every service this way. The simple fact is an hour of worship is something that “cannot be taken away from us” (see Luke 10). And many of those hours sees people being born into the kingdom, called into the Lord’s service, or getting redirection in other ways.

Two. Let every pastor begin the worship service with the sure knowledge that the Lord is in this place and He has big plans for each of us. Let him pray and prepare with this in mind, and let him begin the service in a way to prepare the people to receive whatever He has for them.

I love it when the worship leader approaches the microphone and says something uplifting and praise—worthy to begin the service. Not something trite (“Wasn’t that a great ball game last night?” Lord, please deliver us!) or even silly (“Don’t you love Deacon Wright’s necktie?”). Something like…

–“I will call upon the Lord who is greatly to be praised! So shall I be saved from my enemies! The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock! And let the God of my salvation be exalted!” (Psalm 18)

–“He has said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ So that we may boldly say the Lord is my Helper and I will not be afraid!” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

–“The Lord is a sun and a shield! The Lord gives grace and glory! No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly!” (Psalm 84:11)

If you do this, worship leader, please say these lines from memory. All it takes is a caring heart and a tiny bit of preparation. Say them slowly and firmly, at full voice and in radiant confidence that this is the truth of God for His people.

“Heavenly Father, every time we come together may we open our hearts to Thee and believe that You are here in this place and that You have big plans for us in this hour. May we listen and obey. For Jesus’ sake.”  

This article originally appeared here.