Welcome to this month’s installment of “The Art Of worship”.

This month I will be talking about the importance of developing a greater sense of intimacy with the Holy Spirit as a worship leader. It is vital for us as worship leaders, to learn how to develop a more intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, if we hope to become effective worship leaders who know how to flow in worship.

By flowing in worship, I am referring to the ability to know or sense when the Holy Spirit is leading us in a particular direction. This can be in musical direction, song selection, even to allow a moment or two of silence after a song finishes.

When we develop the ability to flow in the spirit, our time of worship as a congregation, and as individuals, begins to take on a greater degree of relevance, we develop a keener sense and awareness of God’s presence. 

One way to engage this pursuit of intimacy is to simply speak with the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you; also during times of reading His Word. I have experienced some wonderful times of intimacy with the Lord when taking the time to simply come before him calmly, quietly, as it says in scripture, “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10 NASB). Another reading says, “Be still…” It is amazing how the Lord shows up and speaks to us during our time of peaceful communion.

Another way to help us grow in our times of intimacy, as worship leaders and as musicians, is to regularly take time to worship the Lord alone, in song, with just our voices or with our instruments. (Editor’s note: for me, this is an ongoing joy, to simply play for the Lord, just play my guitar without worrying about singing anything or playing any specifically composed thing, late in the evening just before I sleep.)

From my own personal experience, the times I have done this have been among the richest and most powerful times I have ever experienced in worship.  I highly recommend this practice on a regular basis. If you do not already do this a bit, try it for a week. I believe you’ll notice something different, for sure!

Psalm 22:3 says, “But thou [art] holy, [O thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (KJV) The NASB reads: “Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” I like this. When we are actually worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth, the result is as though our praises actually become a kind of throne in which the Lord can seat Himself. I love that!

I have noticed also, that in times of personal or private worship of the Lord, my guitar playing can become almost effortless. That doesn’t necessarily mean this is always the case, but I believe when the Lord is worshipped this intimate setting, things often become more fluid, even smooth.

As worship leaders, we can also help our fellow worship team members to grow in the same way by encouraging them, and sharing with them what we as leaders are learning and how we, too, are growing in our continuing pursuit of intimacy with the Holy Spirit. This helps to foster a deeper level of appreciation – that no matter how much you may “know”, growth is ongoing for every servant, and the desire for a deeper understanding of and relationship with the Lord in our worship of Christ Jesus is continually sought by all who love Him.

I pray the Lord will continue to help all of us, as worship leaders, as team members, to pursue Him more faithfully and more scripturally so we can grow through experiencing His awesome presence with more depth and clarity every day!

Until next time let’s continue to give praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords, for He alone is worthy, Amen!!