we went from the Gulf of Mexico to the north georgia mountains. we’re up in Toccoa this week for a week with GoTell Ministries. it’s our first time with them and i sure hope it’s not our last. amazing people and amazing students. our time so far has been powerful…
i think i’m realizing that playing live is my favorite part of what i get to do. i love the guys in my band, i love the unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit and i love watching people come alive for the first time. there was a time in my life when i did not like playing live so much. i haven’t always been so good at embracing the unpredictable part of live music. somewhere along the way though i lightened up and began to love the spontaneous ways of God. i’ve heard people say before that God can inspire and lead 3 weeks before an event just as much as He can at the event itself. i think that’s totally right on and worth living by…as long as we are willing and ready to follow when He leads live as well. i always walk on stage with a plan…but i hold it loosely and i’m constantly readying myself to follow where He leads. like i said, i haven’t always been this way. there was a season of my life when i held on tight to my gifts as a leader and musician. i’m not sure what was going on or what made me be that way, all i know is that i was uptight. the problem with that way of leading is that it’s all up to you and so it’s never good enough. i would walk off stage thinking and saying to myself, “dang it, i coulda done that better. why did i do that that way?” i hate to admit this but i would walk off stage sometimes and give myself a grade…seriously. and this won’t surprise anyone, i never gave myself higher than a B+. so you can imagine the freedom i felt when one day i walked on stage and said to God, “You do it,” and He did. and when God does it He glorifies Himself…ALWAYS!! it’s a great feeling knowing that what i do is in the hands of God. sure we rehearse and i learn lyrics and walk on stage completely prepared, but after that, it’s all Him. it’s gotta be or I’m gonna burn out.
i think of Moses. when God sent Moses to Egypt he had several concerns. he worried that no one would believe that God had sent him. he worried that he wouldn’t be able to communicate clearly. he worries that they won’t listen to him. God basically says, “I will be with you, I will give you the words to speak and I will perform miracles through you.” so Moses goes and we all know how it turns out. he listens to God and follows when He leads and God delivers His people from the hands of the Egyptians. God didn’t give Moses a minute by minute rundown on how things would go down in Egypt, essentially all he said was, “Go, I will be with you.”
that’s how i want to lead. knowing that God is with me and trusting that He will accomplish His will if i make myself available to His Spirit.
Tags: Moses
Kristian, your outlook on worship leadership is very inspiring and honest. Especially to someone who is where you used to be, I know exactly where you’re coming from. Worship leading has become a very unique animal these days, and I know I’m not the only one who finds himself totally clueless some days as to how to approach what should be a beautiful and vulnerable encounter with our incredible God. I think you’re hitting the nail on the head and I for one am thankful that you’re vocalizing it for the rest of us who are struggling with this balance between being in control and vulnerably yielding to the Spirit. Your insight is very encouraging brother
Saw you guys at Stone Mountain this week, and it was my second time seeing you guys. You all are doing a great work for the Lord. Keep on rocking!
Shout out to Matt & Joe! Miss seeing you guys with Honestly, but happy to see you praising the one that gives us life!
Kristian, I hope and pray that you always let God be God and do just as you are now, follow him with all your heart. Showing that God is love and that you have a relationship and just something that others tell you to follow, you follow because you believe and you know why you believe. I pray that fire will spread and that you contiue to stay humble before man but most of all before God. May Daddy God always bless, lead and guide you always.
AMEN!!!
Thanks for this post Kristian! It helped me a lot in thinking of worship leading as something that God does through me rather than something that I do through my own abilities. I can really relate to the part you talked about grading yourself – I do that all the time! And too often I walk off bummed and worried about whether I did a good job or not. This past weekend, I led at a retreat, and I was able to have peace after the worship sets because like you said, it felt good to know that what I do is in God’s hands. It’s funny how what we do for God is really what God does through us. Great entry!
sweet blog. I saw you guys at student life like two weeks ago. Wow, were you amazing. The holy spirt truely does work through you. My youth group was blown away that week and God really worked on us. I did’t leave a night not in tears. I honestly believe that you guys are full of the holy spirit and that I wouldn’t have been impacted like I was if you hadn’t been there.
ps you guys and francis chan rock!
hi my names hunter.
i LOVE your music.
please come to charlotte, NC USA
i would LOVE to see you in concert i would be the first one to buy tickets.
god be with you.