What if you have lost your passion as a worship leader… and you’re still called upon to lead? What do you do?
As a disclaimer, this quick blog post is only scratching the surface with some practical ideas for overcoming a slump. If you sense your passion for ministry or life is a result of full-blown burnout and depression, we’re very supportive of seeking a professional.
But what about those other times where things have gotten a little stale and you just don’t have the fire?
You’re in good company. Too often, ministry leaders – especially those in front each week, like pastors and worship leaders, feel like they should have it all together. If you think about it rationally, everyone has a down day and you can’t schedule those off in advance very easily! If you knew you were going to be feeling like you needed a break, you could have taken a vacation, but most often, this season of waning passion for your people and your work creep upon us based on circumstance or a particular issue or a long period of unresolved smaller issues and/or friction.
What I’m talking about today is the worship leader who is very happy to be serving in their church, loves their people, and things are clicking away just fine, but there just seems to be something a little off. The passion and enthusiasm just don’t seem to be there as it once was!
Here are nine ideas for rekindling your passion for ministry and worship leadership
1 REMEMBER A TIME WHEN YOU WERE MORE PASSIONATE!
It’s always good to step back and remember why you took this job, how you got into it, why you wanted to do it in the beginning. You want to think about how God has been at work in your life.
2. IDENTIFY THE NEED:
Maybe your need is for a break, a vacation, maybe you need to read a book or visit another worship service. Maybe your issue is something going on at home, financial pressure or something similar. Pinpointing the problem will begin to define it and, in many ways, will lessen the overall feeling of lack of passion for your worship leadership or ministry.
3. A SINGULAR FOCUS ON GOD’S WORD
There are seasons when even ministry staff leaders fall away from intentional times of being in God’s word – you look back and realize, “wow, it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve even cracked open the bible app!”
Take some time to fully immerse, read, study, memorize… and take time to be refueled by God’s living and active word.
4. FASTING FOR A PARTICULAR DAY, SEASON, EVENT
Fasting for a season is a huge blessing – and does so much for your personal focus and desire to lead God’s people well! There are many ways to do a fast and here are a couple of ideas to get started:
24 Hour Fast – have dinner one evening, then wait until the next day’s evening meal before having food again. In that short time span, you get a sense of the hunger that prompts you to turn to God, fully rely on God and seek God in prayer.
Daniel Fast – You can take a short season – 10 to 21 days – and incorporate the Daniel Fast into your life and prayer times. A quick google search can give some basics on this fast that comes from the book of Daniel, but the nutshell is no meat, no dairy, no sugar, no flour – just veggies, water, whole grains, beans, etc. I’ve done this for one month most of the last ten years.
5. RELAX…
The church needs the supernatural power of God – and you’re a vessel, a conduit – God does the work – relax, seek and pray and watch God move. Sometimes, especially in the modern worship movement, we put too much stock on the “worship team”, the “worship music” and the “worship times.” Of course, they are all important, but we just need to relax and enjoy it – God is doing the work in the hearts of people.
6. DO THE BASICS…
Sometimes just sticking with the basics is the best way to get through those seasons of ebb and flow of passion…sing the well-loved songs, pull in the simple worship team structures… or focus on preparing for some major weekends coming up!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE #55
7. INVITE PRAYER
Invite your small group to pray for you. Invite others in your ministry to pray for you. Be real with people – let them know that you are struggling and that you need the Lord to give you a fresh dose of energy, enthusiasm and passion.
8. LISTEN AND BE WILLING
The Lord may also use our sense of purpose and passion in one ministry role to move into more of a desert season because God is preparing us for what is next. Don’t freak out, just begin to pray: Lord, I’m committed to my ministry role until I really hear differently from you. But you know I’m in a desert and not feeling it – breathe your Spirit into me and show me your steps toward renewed passion here or a new passion for something else! I’m willing.
9. WAIT ON THE LORD
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:3
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