Of course, we all know (or at least we should know) that worship is meant to be an all-of-life response to who God is for us in Christ (Romans 12:1; John 4:21–26). Just like breathing, worship can’t be limited to one portion of our day or one day of our week. We’re always doing it.

Sunday afternoon conversations with my family inevitably drift to what took place as the church met that morning. We might cover impacting points from the sermon, prayer needs, guests we met, unusual happenings in the children’s ministry, and of course, the “worship.”

Was the mix good? How about the song selection? Were the songs arranged well? Did the transitions make sense? Were there any dead spots? Was anyone emotionally moved?

Such are the questions that arise in a family where the patriarch has been involved in music ministry for over forty years. Of course, we all know (or at least we should know) that worship is meant to be an all-of-life response to who God is for us in Christ (Romans 12:1; John 4:21–26). Just like breathing, worship can’t be limited to one portion of our day or one day of our week. We’re always doing it.

The same can be said of our leading. Leading worship starts and ends with the way I live my life, not what I do on a public platform. Encouraging others to glory in Jesus Christ is an activity that extends far beyond the twenty to thirty minutes I give to it on Sunday mornings.

But how do we realign our hearts and thoughts to that reality?

1. See your preparation as worship.

Most weeks I spend about six hours planning and rehearsing for the Sunday gathering. Some leaders I know invest even more time. All those hours of planning, preparation, and practice are meant to be worship too. Jesus is no less on his throne before the meeting as he is during the meeting. He’s no less of a Savior. The lyrics to the songs we’re going to sing are no less true. And God wants my attitudes to reflect a grateful response to the gospel, even as I “prepare” to worship.

That means that even as I plan, I can allow the significance of the lyrics we’ll be singing and the Scriptures we’ll be reading on Sunday to affect me. I can glorify God by serving band members when I communicate with them in a timely fashion. I can pause during rehearsal to remind myself and the other musicians why specific truths we’re singing are so important. I can do all my preparation with faith and joy, knowing that the Holy Spirit is just as present with me before the meeting as he will be when we gather.

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