A year or two ago I picked up a book entitled "Worship Matters" by Bob Kauflin. It was one of about ten books I bought while attending the National Worship Leader's Conference in Austin, TX. I am sad to say that I had pretty much had forgotten about it and it has remained on my bookshelf since returning from the conference.
Recently I have been in a season of anxiety. The kind of anxiety that overtakes your life and holds you captive to say the least. The benefit of this season is that it has pushed me into the Word of God. It has caused me to seek the Lord more passionately. Instead of watching TV I go to our bedroom and I read scripture, I read books, I journal, and I pray. That is my nightly practice right now.
As I was sitting in my office yesterday at the church I glanced up at my bookshelf and Worship Matters stuck out to me. So I grabbed it and through it in my back back along with my Bible and journal. Last night I read the first two chapters. I could have kept reading but I was so overtaken with the content and the scripture that it caused me to fall face down and begin to pray in confession to God. I am guilty of stealing from God.
As my eyes read across the words it was as if I was reading my own life story. His words could have come straight from my own personal journal. This is what I read.
"I started seeing a reality that dominated my life-the reality of my sinful cravings.
My problems-emotional, physical, and otherwise-stemmed from battles within
my heart of which I'd been largely unaware. Yes, I wanted God to be exalted
in my life, but another agenda was ruling my heart. I wanted people to approve
of me, admire me, applaud me. To be honest, I wanted people to adore me. I had
an incessant passion to steal God's glory. I was a lover of myself rather than a
lover of God. And it was killing me"
I could hardly believe the words I was reading. That's it! I am about me more than I am about Him. I am guilty of idolatry. I have somehow blurred the line of excellence with acceptance. You see I am always trying to do everything with excellence. A common phrase I use with my team is that excellence honors God and inspires people. I believe that is true. But our excellence must never become about anything other than Worshiping Him.
Being on stage carries an incredible responsibility. Let me challenge you to examine your heart, your motives, and your desires. My prayer for you as well as for myself would be that we never steal God's glory! We never love ourselves more than we love God. Our entire purpose is that of directing Glory to Him. For only He is truly worthy!
