I have a new catchphrase to live by. "Every Breath, Every Moment." It's quite simple, really, but the implications are life changing. I've been singing the song for years. I've led it so many times, I couldn't count them all. I've sung it fast and I've sung it slow. I have it recorded by several different artists. It's never really affected me. Until tonight.
I am afraid that "corporate worship" has become about emotions, great chord structure and moving melodies. Don't get me wrong, I think that the worship songs that have been written recently are some of the most profound, intimate, life consecrating music that the church has seen in years. Worship leaders like Joel Houston, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and others are without question writing songs out of a life rooted deeply in an intimate relationship with the Father. Their songs are being sung in churches all over the world. Their songs are bringing people to the throne of the Almighty on a weekly, even daily, basis.
But there is danger. Their music is so good, and their melodies are so moving that, I think, we'd love them no matter what the words said. So we get wrapped up in the emotion of the song that we don't really pay much attention to the words that our lips are singing. We walk out humming the melodies, not living the lyrics. How many people have sung "consume me from the inside out" and not meant it all. How many of you reading this (there may be only one or two people reading this actually) have stood in your church and sung "Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause?" Do you mean it? EVERYTHING you are for HIS cause? I am as guilty as the next guy.
Again, I don't want you to misunderstand this as a rant. I don't think it's complete hypocrisy if you haven't meant 100% of what you sing 100% of the time. I think the point is to take the lyrics and use them to be brought closer to Him and to become more like him. My heart doesn't break for everything that breaks His heart. I want it to, and it's my prayer that it does. I don't give everything I am for HIS cause, but it's my prayer that I can and will. I want you to pay attention to the words of the songs you sing in your church or whatever worship experience that you encounter and pray that you would latch on to not just the melodies and music, but to the words of the song.
So what caused this post? We sang that song tonight at Catalyst that I have sung and led hundreds of times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uqBxizNZJ4
This is my desire to honor You
Lord, with all my heart I worship You
All I have within me I give You praise
All that I adore is in You
Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul
I live for you alone
Every breath that I take
Every moment I'm awake
Lord, have Your way in me
I want God to have His way in me Every Breath and Every Moment.
