I’m always tweaking things. I tweak my phone, my computer, my office, and even my house.

I’ll work at something until it fits, works, or just looks right. As a guitarist, I’m never satsified with my tone, my action, or my ability. I’m always tweaking things to try and get better, smoother, or faster.

We Can Always Get Better

There are great similiraties in the realities of life and the journey that every single soul is on with the journey of faith. We are constantly being pressured, challenged, and changed.

As a worship pastor, I’m always looking at ways to tweak my team. To find better and more effecient ways to communicate and practice. Stepping up my leadership is one major factor and if you are looking for some books to get started, I’d suggest these.

But even more so than reading a few books and blog posts, I’d like to offer something my team and I have been doing a bit differently that has already made a big difference.

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I’m starting this series off with the most obvious expression of worship… the raising (or lifting) of our hands.

I know it may not seem like much, but this somewhat simple gesture, is a wonderful expression of surrender.

Think about it. What happens when an enemy force finally gives into the more powerful army? They raise their hands in surrender. Meaning, they give up and submit themselves to the stronger or higher authority.

We Suck at Surrender

Let’s be honest for a minute… this is something we really struggle with isn’t it? We will fight and wrestle with God in a myriad of ways each and every day holding onto our pride and egos. We’re a self reliant bunch that is bound and determined to find our way on our own.

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There is a battled being played out every Sunday morning in North America.

The war isn’t necessarily between the invisible forces of this world, although it certainly happens. The fight isn’t even between our biggest enemies or adversaries.

The battle we face is internal. It’s a struggle between performance based worship vs. authentic heart-felt worship.

Between going through the motions and mechanics of worship vs. being lead in spirit and truth.

I was recently challenged by chapter seven of Matt Redman’s book The Unquenchable Worshipper called The Unnoticed Worshipper. As I read through it, asked questions, and then proceeded to be honest with myself, I felt the tension.

The tension between wanting to honestly and authentically worship God and lead his church in worship and the internal struggle I face with my own pride. The fight between glorifying the unseen and glorifying the seen.

And although we must confront this pride and need for attention head on, it’s really only a sympton of what’s really happening beneath. Or rather, what’s not happening beneath… personal worship.

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