A devotional for those leading worship…but not just for them
The text below is a devotional I shared with the Watford church of Christ worship team shortly before one of our Sunday services. Take a look, and then reflect/respond using the prompts at the end.
This is the time to prepare ourselves for ‘who’ we are worshipping with. It is vital to be aware of who we are meeting: the living God, and then one another in his presence. When we gather to lead worship, the first preparation is not soundcheck, slides, or song order, but the posture of our hearts before God.
Silence is one of God’s most powerful gifts for preparing us to worship. In silence we are prompted to remember that worship is about encounter, not performance; presence, not production.
Scripture shows us that those who walk closely with God make room for silence. Moses, David, and Elijah all meet God in quiet places, away from the noise of the camp, the palace or the battlefield. Jesus himself “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5.16). He chose solitude as the context for communion with his Father. If Jesus needed it, we do too.
Engaging with silence is not empty. It is a work of substance. Silence is a space for praise and prepares us for praise.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.” Psalm 62.1
As Robin Daniels put it in his book, The Virgin Eye:
“If we do not keep attuning to silence, we lose gravitas, we become lightweight.”
In other words, silence helps us carry spiritual weight when we speak, sing, and serve.
Let’s take one minute of silent reflection on this phrase – “For God alone”. Allow it to develop into a silent prayer.
Reflect/Respond
- How do you feel about silence as an aid to preparation for worship?
- What do you see as the value of silence as worship?
- What will help you to prepare for your next time of worship with fellow believers?
I’d love to hear your ideas.
Your brother, Malcolm
