Creating a Journey

In the penultimate episode of Paul Baloche's Youtube series "Leading Worship", he emphasizes the need to "focus on the journey". Rather than simply throwing four songs together for a service, the songs should be intentionally ordered and structured in order for the Spirit to do the last part in the hearts of everyone involved. Baloche points out, as he has done all series, the necessity for honesty in the hearts of the worship leader. It's not only the congregation that should experience this "journey", but rather the worship leader should TAKE them on this journey, which is dependent on both parties experiencing it. 

As always, I appreciate Baloche acknowledging the importance of listening to the promptings of the Spirit. While we may TAKE the congregation on the journey through the serivce, the Spirit CREATES the journey for us to go on and guides us collectively through it. In order for us to fully "colabor with the spirit", as Baloche quotes from Scripture, we must "set our hearts on things above" as it says in Colossians 3. Only then can we fully and personally experience God in Spirit as we present ourselves as living sacrifices to him. 

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