Up 1. Prelude 2. Pray 3. Pictures 4. Pitfalls

2. Pray


Want a clear Vision for Fruitfulness in Music Ministry?

This seem so obvious! If you want a clear vision, go to the source of Light! If you want see clearly, have the veil that obscures and distorts your vision, taken away from your eyes. But do we do it? 

"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:13-18)

To become those who reflect the Lord's glory, we need to be in the process of being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory. But how? Well basically, we can't! We can't transform ourselves into His likeness. We seem to want to try. We try putting on Christ-likeness like a mask - facades disguising our inner self, and veils hiding our true selves from the Light. But Paul says this glory come from the Lord. His Spirit is in us and is transforming us to reflect the glory of God! Wow! 

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

(2 Cor 4:6-7 NIV) 

As we turn to the Lord, He takes the veils from not only our eyes, but also our hearts, so that we can see Him, and others can see Him in us. It seems so simple - simply turn to the Lord. But that's what Paul says:

Turn to the Lord!

Pray:

"Oh Lord, You are my lamp. Lord, turn my darkness into light"

2 Sam 22.29

"Lord Jesus, I fix my eyes on You. You are the author and perfecter of my faith..."

Heb 12.2

"Take the veil from my eyes, so that I can see You, and reflect Your glory. Transform me into Your likeness with ever-increasing glory..."

2 Cor 3:18

"Lord, I am so much like Zacchaeus. I want to see You - to see who You are, but I am so short! I strive for vantage points to try to get a better vision, but You simply ask me to 'come down' because by Your grace, You want to reside with me. I want to be like Zacchaeus, and hurry down from all the vantages points I've found for myself, and I welcome You gladly. Come in and stay with me! "

Luke 19.3-4

Pray / Sing songs:

Too often we can sing songs, but not really connect with the words we sing. If we get in the habit of praying the text of songs before, after and as we sing them, the expression will become more and more our real experience. For a good part of my worship leading experience, I have been an instrumentalist and I have found that all too often my attention and affection are bound up in the music, and not in expressing, knowing and feeling the essence of the prayers and praises we are singing. Spending time to express the words devotionally, both privately and with the congregation, can help us really connect with the Lord in prayer and praise. Pray the words, pray them as you sing, and sing them as you pray. 

Don't just sing ABOUT love, LOVE! 
Don't just sing ABOUT praying, PRAY! 
Don't just sing ABOUT praise, PRAISE! 
Don't just sing ABOUT being in awe, WORSHIP!

Pray:

Sing:

Lord, I turn my eyes upon You,
I want to look full in Your wonderful face,
All the cares of this world grow strangely dim
As I bask in the light of Your glory and grace...
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace....
Oh Lord Jesus, I come to You - You are the fountain,
You are the deep, sweet well of life,
I come to drink again of Your Living streams,
which save & satisfy me despite all my grieving & striving
Oh Christ, He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of life,
Its living streams I’ve tasted
Which save from grief and strife
Lord Jesus, I turn to You, and rest,
secure and content in the joy of Who You are,
Everyday I am finding out more of the greatness
Of Your loving heart. Thank You, and Praise You!

Lord, I turn my eyes upon You,
And let Your beauty fill my soul.
Thank You, Lord, that Your transforming power,
Has made me whole! Continue to transform me.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of who You are;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Your loving heart.

As I turn my eyes upon You,
Then Your beauty fills my soul,
For by Your transforming power,
You have made me whole.

 

Back Up Next