The secret to everything

It's easy to treat ministry, especially worship ministry, as something we do, not who we are. But we are so much more than our roles in the church.

When we look at the disciples, following Jesus wasn’t just a job; it was a transformation from within. Their actions flowed naturally from their changed hearts.

Originally, churches were gatherings of people with shared beliefs, coming together to minister to the Lord and each other, to remember Him, and to encourage one another in faith. These are beautiful things.

Today, however, churches often have massive buildings and budgets, many salaries to pay, and numerous tasks to maintain. Working for them can feel like a job, leading to burnout - how can we be burnt out singing to Abba? (Real question)

Leading worship can be easy and effortless - like the overflow of a barrel of oil. But at times, for me, that oil got depleted until I was scraping the bottom of the barrel, struggling to come up with new set lists or inspiring words for rehearsals.

Have you ever had that… when it's just hard? Nothing flows, and you dread doing the very thing you once dreamed of doing?

I once received great advice: " Stop trying to look like a man of God and just be one.”

When you try to look the part, you end up doing things in your own strength, putting on an act. Authenticity comes from being who you truly are inside.

What makes a great worship leader? It's not your voice or skill or ability to pick songs or lead a team. It's your intimacy with the Lord - and the ability to release the atmosphere of that space with others.

The secret is the secret place.

The secret is the secret place.

Without that foundation of intimacy with Him, everything else feels like you are scraping the bottom of a clanging, rusty, empty oil drum.

If we’re not resting upon that foundation of friendship with Jesus, we're merely pretending—pretending to know Him and love Him because the job requires it.

The “job” demands we look like we love Him and know what we're doing.

Running around looking busy, being busy - trying to do the work required…

But only one thing is truly required: sitting at His feet like Mary did.

When someone who spends time in the secret place leads worship, even if they aren’t great at everything else, their genuine connection with God shifts the atmosphere - and when people sense His presence, they respond in worship.

All you need to do is share your secret place with the public space, thereby drawing those gathered in that public place into their own secret place.

Encounter - both personal and corporate.

So don't get caught up in just doing church or ministry or leading worship.

Lead people to Jesus by bringing them into your secret place with Him.

In the end, what we all truly seek is an encounter with Jesus Himself.

Get back to basics and stay there - at His feet.

Nothing else matters.

Most people won’t do this.

Will I?

Will you?