Today’s blog post is for those of us who are a part of leading some element of our corporate worship services. Perhaps you’re the worship leader or a musician. Maybe you’re an up-front vocalist that everyone sees. Perhaps you’re the teaching pastor or a small group leader for the youth.
Today’s post is for all of us who, despite our prayers and devotion to God, wake up on Sunday morning with a heavy, apathetic attitude that simply screams,
“It’s Sunday morning and I really don’t care!”
I alluded to this in my weekly service recap earlier this week. I found myself fighting this apathy and lack of passion this past Sunday morning. It’s quite easy for me to confess that yet at the same time, I know what judgmental thoughts start ringing in the minds of those who hear it.
you need to be more prayed up
confess your sins, something is wrong
you should’ve gone to bed earlier
this is a sign your heart has grown cold and your fire dim to the Lord …
and my personal favorite rock to throw … “you wouldn’t be this way if you were going ______________________”
[insert your favorite past time, ie. going to a Georgia game, going offshore fishing, etc]
Regardless of the reason or cause, most of us have experienced days like this.
What do you do? How do you proceed? When all the prayers don’t seem to work? When the team surrounds you and calls down fire from heaven and rebukes all the heavy spirits and all that other “stuff” … yet, you feel the same?
Here’s what you do:
You worship anyway.
You praise and sing the words even if they seem meaningless.
You pray and ask God to lift you up from that place and BELIEVE that He hears you.
AGGRESSIVELY dismiss the lies of condemnation that say it’s your fault .. had you only “been better”.
You see, in my opinion, leading when you don’t feel like it isn’t inauthentic. It’s incredibly authentic. It’s only inauthentic when you pretend that you’re heart is on fire for God when in fact, you’re struggling.
Sometimes … most times … the feeling will lift and you’ll feel it. You’ll know it. Whatever the reason, the spirit of heaviness leaves.
Other times, it may not. It may last a day … a week … or longer. This means it’s time to reach out for some counsel and accountability.
Has this happened to you? How did you handle it? Did you confess it openly or conceal it? Did it lift?
I’d love to hear your stories. Post in the comments below.
For the Kingdom,
Fred
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