It is NOT about you...or me

I actually typed this blog a couple days ago and the funny thing is that I’ve struggled more with all of this in the last two days than I did before I typed it…interesting how that works out.  Gotta walk it out if I want to give it out!

One thing Jenn Johnson said during a class on leading worship was that “it is not about you!” As a worship leader (or any type of leader) it is NOT ABOUT YOU. It's about who you're leading and who/what you're leading them to. As parents do we lead our kids towards empowerment, giving them choices and opportunities to clean up their messes or do we lead them towards powerlessness where they feel they have no choice or power to change their lives? As business leaders, do we lead our co-workers in honor and excellence or half-heartedness and a mentality that says, “I'm only here for a paycheck?” As worship leaders, are we leading the church into an encounter with the One who it's all about, or are we simply leading people in a great musical chorus with all the bells and whistles?

I've realized to take on the roles God has set before me that my focus cannot be ME. Although I need to be the best “me” I can be and take care of myself in order to lead well, I have to remember that everything is first and foremost about leading others into an encounter with God and His Kingdom, which obviously looks different from the church to the workplace, but it's still possible. Next, it's about loving the people I'm leading. If I don't love people, then I'm not going to value them enough to lead them anywhere.

When my focus changes to myself, I've noticed I tend to get anxious and feel that I don't have what it takes to do the tasks at hand. I'm sure many of you know that anxiety and insecurity aren't really the best examples to lead with. However, when I change my focus and turn my attention towards Daddy God and the people that He loves, my whole attitude changes. I realize my “love for God and people will supersede my gift/talent/abilities, even on bad days” (Martin Smith) and also that the omni-presence of God is an opportunity to invite Him into any and every situation that comes up while I'm leading. It's an opportunity to show others His character and nature by showing them His Kingdom values in the way I act, respond, speak, etc. When the focus is on ourselves we can feel insecure really quick, but when it's on the One who is perfect and all-powerful, we can feel empowered for the task at hand. It really just takes all the pressure off; our thinking shifts from “I have to perform in order to lead well” to “I really just need to love God and love people well.”

Live well, love well, lead well.