Over the years of writing this worship blog, it seems I keep coming back to prayer. Our worship does not depend on enablers (worship leaders). It doesn't depend on great musicians. It doesn't depend on great preachers. It doesn't depend on a great choir or great instrumentalists. Worship is not dependent on a certain kind of congregation. Our worship depends on prayer that embraces our total dependence on God.
If we are not praying we are trying to depend on ourselves and all kinds of other things rather than the Lord. If we get caught up in the mechanics, technical aspects, our own creativity, or our own abilities it becomes obvious that we have not made prayer a priority depending strictly on the power of God in our gathered worship. We must not depend on our own ability and wisdom, but be fully dependent on God. I Cor. 3:18- 21a (The Message) - states - "Don't fool yourself. don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool - that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyones else."
The simple secret of our churches being all that God desires them to be is simply - prayer. If we are to see a great moving of God in our churches we must pay the price in heartfelt, faithful prayer. Prayer must become second nature in our preparing for worship and in our doing of worship and ministry. I am so thankful for some 120 worship choir members and another 100 plus people in our church who have committed to being worshipping prayer warriors and faithfully praying for the worship of our church. May we remain faithful and multiply. mjm
