The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
(Psalm 145:9-12 NIV)
When I play piano or keyboard during church services, I have a unique perspective from the platform. I’m one of just a few people—sometimes only the pastor and I—who can see the entire congregation. That sea of faces holds every kind of expression: familiar and new, young and old, joyful, fearful, hopeful, struggling, bored, curious, engaged. In those moments of worship or prayer, I feel like I’m sharing a sacred experience with each person, even if they don’t realize it. As they worship, pray, or are prayed for, I play. I see tears that others may not notice. My prayer is that through the music, they will sense, hear, see, and know God.
Today, let us pray for church leaders as they lead worship services.
God,
We come before you today with wonder and gratitude, thankful for the callings you have placed on our lives. We are grateful for the privilege of being your children and for the opportunity to serve in your Kingdom. We lift up all those leading worship services today—pastors, priests, lay leaders, prayer ministers, worship leaders, vocalists, choirs, instrumentalists, scripture readers, other artists, and tech teams.
Help us approach your throne with humility and pure hearts, ready to meet with you and honor you through our praise and worship. May each of us remember that we have an audience of One. Tune each leader’s heart to the direction your Spirit wants to take the church, and give us the courage to follow where you lead.
When we look out at the congregation, remind us that all people—red and yellow, black and white, male and female, young and old, rich and poor—are precious in your sight. Help us steward the sacred moments of praise, prayer, worship, preaching, and ministry so faithfully that one day we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to you, our Rock and Redeemer. In Jesus’s name we pray, AMEN.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NIV)
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:21 NIV)