Kingdom Tooling
As an educator I am constantly teaching skill building methods and creating an environment where one can master a fundamental and add the next fundamental - and so on. Most of my students simple like to sing or dabble on the keyboard, however there are others who desire to invest the years of their lives in singing, directing, performing, and creating music. These tools help shape the innate talent and expressed interest, and put them on a path to take that talent and use it for long-term purposes.
Tools, tools, tools. In reality the tools I teach are external applications of internal realities. What we do with music, or– what music does with us, is totally different than what we know about and do with the music. You may need to re-read that sentence. Likewise, the difference of what we know about worship and who we worship is totally different and life changing.
As a musician, Worship Pastor, songwriter, recording artist, and concert artist Paul Baloche is often called upon to teach on worship. He ‘tooled’ people for many years by teaching the externals of worship; lifting of hands, kneeling, - which are all good but, he came to realize that this is all in vain people don’t first and foremost “respond to the heavenly father without being taught what to do.” The externals are not the heart of worship but they overflow revelation of God.
This scripture has been embedded into the lives of countless believers through the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart” first formed in a personal moment of worship of Paul Baloche.
“I pray also that the eyes of your heat may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:18 NIV
This is it! As a child of God we operate from a position of defense and defeat if our eyes, our hearts, our minds, our strength is not first turned upon Jesus. Perhaps this is the incredible truth behind Jesus response to the question posed by a teacher of the law that we read of in Matthew 22: 26-40.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
As the flood of televised news briefings and social media begin to seep in and erode your confidence and hope in the Lord’s plan and purposes, give yourself first to sitting at the feet of Jesus, loving him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. There is little place left for Jesus without the discipline of a surrendered mind, renewed by his word and full of his presence.
Tool yourself for peace through the practice of the presence of God.
See you soon with a song in my heart! - Morgan
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Source - The Sacrifice of Praise - Stories Behind the Greatest Praise and Worship Songs of All Time. Berntwood: Integrity . Lindsay Terry