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Saturday, March 28, 2015

Knowing God’s Will: How do I prepare as a Worship Leader?

I regularly see prospective students who are visiting our campus and who are diligently seeking God’s will for their lives.  Frankly, it is exciting to see how God has brought them to this point and I really consider our time together, many times with parents, friends, or spouses, a divine appointment. Sometimes the student is like a the little cars my kids played with when they were very young. You remember them, don’t you? You placed all four wheels on the floor and then had to drag the car backwards to “wind up” the springlike motor and then let go to see them take off in a quick blast of speed. Some students come in wound up and can’t wait for the semester to start; God has clearly showed them what they need to do. It’s exciting to see that happen.

There are other students who come in sincerely looking for God’s will, but just need to talk things through. They feel like Abraham, God has told them to just “go and I’ll let you know when you get there...” They have made those first steps and are seeking confirmation from the Lord in their life’s direction. At times you can almost see the wheels turning as God opens the hearts and minds to new perspectives. I have compiled some of the questions I ask when God allows these divine appointments and I trust that they will be helpful to pass along to anyone you might think is dealing with a call to worship ministry.

1. How has God been leading you to this point?  Sometimes we just need to sit down and review all that God has been doing. It is so easy to get wrapped up in doing, we forget how we got there. Trace God’s leadership from when you first surrendered to His Lordship until now.

2. Where do you see yourself in five years?  Perhaps this question has only been a vague idea that you would be doing something somewhere, but if you had your best dreams come true, what would it be?

3. Do you know what it takes to do those things?  The person that tells me she has always dreamed of helping the sick and needy overseas as a doctor knows that just loving people and having a willingness to go overseas is not enough; somewhere, sometime they are going to have to have the professional training to be able to be effective.  Training is essential and you should desire the type of training that builds for a lifetime of ministry, not just what to do next week. Showing someone what to do “next week” is like giving them a fish; effective training means that you teach them how to fish for themselves. Yes it takes longer, but the results and rewards are for the rest of one’s life.

4. What is in your hand? Just as God used what was in Moses’ hand, God can use what is in yours. What are those things that really gives you joy, that doing them actually energizes you and you don’t dread doing?  Some people mistakenly think that God’s will is some kind of punishment and we have to do, even though we really dread having to do it.  I grew to understand God’s call to teach as I began teaching and realizing the joy I had in doing it.  Which leads me to the next question...

5. What are you already doing in ministry? Some people have been active doing several things and never really stopped to think that God might be using this as a base or beginning for ministry or other related ministry.

6. Are you obedient in what He has already asked you to do? If we are resisting being obedient in other areas of our life, why would we expect God to keep showing us new directions, when we are not doing what He has already told us to do?

7. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to do God’s will?  Naaman had to be willing to go the Jordan river and dip himself seven times, something that seemingly had nothing to do with his illness [2 Kings 5].  Sometimes part of our preparation will seem totally removed from what we think should be done. Naaman had to give his expectation to the Lord and trust the word of the prophet before God healed him.

These are just a few of the questions I have found to be very helpful for those seeking God’s will and what they should do related to further preparation. Preparation is necessary; and God deserves the best we can offer. I can cook. I use that term very loosely, for I live in the city of New Orleans where food is not just incredibly delicious, but area chefs have superstar status. I can cook, but what I can do is nothing compared to what you would find at any number of our favorites around town. [It’s nothing compared to what my wife can do!] I just don’t have the preparation and training.  God has gifted you with various abilities, and just might be calling you to place those in His hands to become more effective through training. Our desire at the Seminary where I teach is to come alongside of what God is already doing in your life and help in sharpening the tools He has given.  I would welcome any questions, and I certainly would join you in prayer that God would clarify His will and direction in your life.

This is Part 1 of the topic.  See you soon!

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