NOT ABOUT ME

[Photo courtesy of Joe and Christian Leaphart. Center Stage, Atlanta]

While I was leading worship at Center Stage at Christmas, God told me that 2018 was to be a year of PRAISE...which really didn't mean much when I first heard it. I mean, I lead worship every week and write Christian music for my job, so isn't that enough praising? Turns out, I didn't really know what praise meant. 

If you spend very much time around me at all, you'll hear me yell "PRAISES!" just about any time something good happens. But to be honest, I didn't even know exactly what that word meant beyond singing about Jesus (that's rough to admit, as a worship leader). So I looked it up.

To praise is to proclaim who God is, and call attention to His goodness. It's almost funny - often in worship, we tend to focus our attention on someone leading and how good THEY are. But God's entire purpose in giving us those gifts is to draw attention to HIM - because he actually deserves our attention and love. 

(Sidenote: I used to think that it was selfish of God to demand our praise. When my eyes are fixed on him, I forget about myself and my selfish desires, and I recognize him as the highest good and the source of all good. How is it selfish to point others to the source of all good?)

So when I sing, I'm literally drawing people's attention to the source of all good things, which is God. When I think about that for a while, I feel empowered to be bold in singing even in places where it's uncomfortable or where I could be rejected. But the problem is, it's easy to forget that and focus back on myself.

What keeps me from singing? Start with insecurity, throw in some fear of rejection, add in the enemy telling me I'm not good enough... as the odds stack up against me, my mouth stays closed, lips stay silent, and my eyes stay fixed on myself. In Psalm 51, David cries out to God, "Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise." God, I just need you to help me open my mouth, then everything that comes from it will be yours! Later, in Psalm 81, God says, "Open your mouth and I will fill it." I often hear him tell me that when my faith is wavering. But as I open my lips in simple obedience, his breath fills my lungs, and a melody releases from his heart to mine. 

“As I open my lips in simple obedience, his breath fills my lungs, and a melody releases from his heart to mine. ”

When I open my mouth in praise, I literally forget all my doubts and I KNOW that God and all his promises are true. When I praise God, I'm fighting darkness and fear, I'm fighting to believe Love, and I'm fighting for freedom. (Praising God actually wins physical battles - check out 2 Chronicles 20)! God challenged me to start every morning by singing to Him, and end every day the same way. It seemed like a bit much at first, but wow, does it do wonders for my soul. To praise is to rejoice in all God has accomplished, and declare His victory over what we have yet to see accomplished. Every single time, praise renews my hope, and restores my joy. Starting and ending each day like this is changing my world.

When my focus is on God in worship, I remember who I am, and that I was created to praise him. But at the same time, I get so lost in him that I forget about myself and am only aware of His presence in Me. I forget my selfish desires, and just want to love Him and others with all that I am. When God is the song on my lips, he is also the focus of my mind, and the desire of my heart.

I was crafted for the very purpose of drawing attention to God and his goodness. 2018 is not about me.