One of my favorite things to do is sing! I sing with our church’s worship team, I sing at home, and I sing in the car.  The perfectionist in me wants to make sure that I am singing well. I often criticize myself to an extreme and worry about how I sound to others. When I practice on my own time; I am even more critical. I will start over, repeatedly, until I get a verse or chorus right. I am sure it drives my children crazy when they have listen to the same song over and over during car rides.

Recently, I was really getting down on myself. I was convincing myself that I was singing horribly because of my lack of music training and nervousness when singing in front of people. I e-mailed a good friend humbly asking for encouragement. I would like to share some of what she wrote back…

“Get that Devil out of your thought closet! That was the first thing that crossed my mind so I believe that is what God is trying to say to you! You don’t have to have a musical background to praise God on a worship team… “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!” You keep singing because you are just fine! Be nicer to yourself and remember this is for God and he just loves to hear you! The Congregation has nothing to do with the decision. As for you saying you mess up don’t worry! We all do it, music history or not. It is intimidating singing/playing/talking in front of people! Let it go and relax. Do it for God! Close your eyes it will be just fine.”

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:1-3 (KJV)

Over the past several years I have experienced deep sorrows and hurts in my life. During those times the only thing that I could do was seek comfort from my Father in heaven. There are many times when I don’t have the words to pray; so I just sing! I think of a song that says exactly what I am thinking and sing it as my prayer to God. Looking back; I have noticed that when I am pouring my heart out to God that I am too humbled to think about how I sound. God doesn’t care about how perfect I am. What He cares about is my heart. And when we get back to the heart of worship; it’s all about God not me.

Heart Of Worship–Matt Redman

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I’ll bring You more than just a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
It’s all about You Jesus

Its all about you
Jesus