HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE CALLED OF GOD?
In the book, God’s Singers, the assertion is made that members of a choir (or any worship leaders) need to come to see themselves not merely as people whose talents enable them to fulfill a role.
We all need to come to grips with God’s call upon our lives.
For it is only through understanding this Divine Call that men and women can see the task they’ve been given in the light of His purposes, not merely as a job they can choose to do, or not (Romans 11:29).
Particularly in choirs, I have found that many if not most people decide to join because 1. they happen to go to this particular church, and 2. they like to sing.
Naturally, those things will be true whether or not a person realizes his/her calling. But, if I am truly called of God, what does that look like? The book itself takes an in-depth look at this question. Here are a few additional thoughts.
First, a worship leader who is truly called of God will realize that ultimately, God calls us to things which are BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH apart from Divine enabling. Leading people into God’s very presence in worship is definitely near the top of that list. God doesn’t waste His call on the mundane or merely human endeavor.
Second, when activating the call (as in singing in a choir) a person will experience great and sometimes inexplicable JOY as he or she follows God’s plan and calling. This is often true even in situations where the circumstances surrounding them are less than joyful.
Third, as a person walks in God’s call, things tend to HAPPEN beyond our capacity to influence them. People are led deeply in worship, for instance, maybe even on days when you don’t feel you’ve done your best job; and those people might even tell you so, to your amazement. God is, in fact, at work, and through His empowerment, He TRANSCENDS our normal expectations and abilities.
Fourth, when we carry out God’s call, He engenders a PEACE within us which is not dependent on normal circumstances. We feel “right” in deep places inside of us, where ‘deep calls unto deep’ (Psalm 42:7).
Since this is a blog and not a book, we won’t take it further. But I’d encourage you to pray about these four measuring sticks as you consider your role as a worship leader.
For, if you are truly called of God, it gives birth to a whole different motivation for everything you do, whether it’s showing up for a rehearsal or a worship service, or whether it’s being a caring kind of friend to those around you.
Remember–they are called, too.