“Why?” is probably one of the simplest but under-appreciated questions I know of. I have the belief that every action we take can be pinned to a purpose if you examine it appropriately. Why am I talking about “Why?”? Because our longevity and health in our service in the church is dependent on us understanding purpose.

Playing in a worship band is a unique battleground because of the weight of significance and appreciation we place on it. There is a cool/fun factor that is easy to idolize and seek after. It can become a breeding ground for the enemy to create insecurity or false sense of importance.

I want to take a moment to help us still ourselves, and come out on top of this battle that so many of us face every Sunday.

I don’t think that it’s any secret that humans fall into the trap of making service in the church about themselves. Let’s be real, we are ALL guilty of that, and it is a continuous fight. Every person on earth wants to be loved, noticed, and appreciated.

When people are put on a platform, the fruit of other people’s attention can become more appealing and distracting than the fruit of God’s love. Nothing has changed since the Garden of Eden. All of us live with daily choices: to accept what God has already given us (true love on a cross) or to settle for the fleeting affirmation found through other people.

Why are we stepping on platforms given to us each week?

Is it to be noticed? To have fun? Maybe just to have an outlet to play in a band? Or, are we approaching each opportunity to sing and play music as a way to express our praise and thankfulness to a God who has given us everything? It is enjoyable on so many levels as it should be, but my goal is to make us aware of our priorities.

Here’s the core of what I want to bring to light:

God is after our heart because “…everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23).

If we set our priorities straight by placing our affection towards God first, pure servant-hearted worship will be a natural byproduct. We set our priorities straight by accepting that God loves us with a greater love than the world could ever offer.

Heaven went bankrupt for us and gave us its greatest asset.

We cannot gain any more value because Jesus has given it all through what He has already done. If we simply accept that fact, there will be no desire or pressure within us to obtain anything when we take the stage.

I have found that this journey also expands past selfishness or caring what other people think – God just simply wants to add kingdom purpose and perspective in every little thing we do.

There was a weekend I will never forget where God hit me hard with this understanding.

It was the height of my career at the time – playing Grammy award winning songs with an artist I looked up to since I was a kid, in an arena with the best accommodations, full of thousands of people. It does not get much better than that.

After one of the sets, I came back to my hotel room with subtle feeling of hollowness. I was confused and convicted. I had no choice but to get on my knees and ask: “Why am I not on Cloud 9? Am I doing something wrong?”

God began to show me that it was not necessarily something I was doing sinful per se, but my perspective needed shifting. I had yet to give him a thought in my day.

I broke down and realized I could have everything in the world yet it meant nothing without continual relationship with Him.

He reminded me of the purpose behind what I was doing that weekend and that His Spirit was changing lives as we played. It was simple, but filled me with so much joy to take into the rest of the trip. He was not looking for my musicianship, he was looking for my heart.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

God wants relationship with you. Spend time with him and let him pour his love into you.

I have learned that I have to spend time with Him everyday so I never forget how valued I am. We can’t afford to take the stage without His perspective. Let this be a word of encouragement to you that you are loved, talented, and blessed so that joy may fill you when you serve.

We want to hear from you!

When did you know you were called to worship? And what struggles have you faced along the way? Share in the comments below!

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• Performance VS. Worship
• 3 Ways the Enemy Attacks Worship Leaders: And What You Can Do About It