In July I had the opportunity to share briefly on what worship looks like in a “Presence-Based” church, how I prepare when I lead worship, and how we, as a team, seek the Lord for what he wants to do during the worship service. We prepare prayerfully, and we are led by the Holy Spirit both before and during the service, so that we can facilitate what He wants us to accomplish and release what He wants us to release. But even more importantly, being a presence-based church is the direct result of the members leading presence-based lives.
Read Psalm 34. David exhorts us to extol the Lord at ALL times. It is important that we worship the Lord throughout the week, with His praise always being on our lips. “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” When we do, look at the results that unfold in this chapter. He answers us, delivers us from our fears, and we are radiant and never covered with shame. It is promised in this passage that those who fear him lack nothing, that He will deliver them from trouble, and that He’ll be near and save those who are crushed in spirit. Not only do we really need that right now, but the whole world needs that! If this is the fruit of our lives, I can’t imagine how we wouldn’t be having an impact on those around us who really need that kind of help.
For me, this is the vision for our corporate worship. We seek the Lord daily as individuals, worshipping him and praying and growing in relationship with Jesus. We pursue an intimate walk with Him, seeking His will for our lives. Then, when we come together as a church, and we bring our worship as a whole, we experience the rich presence of God together. We have genuine, life-changing encounters with Him and enjoy that majestic overflow of the Spirit because we have all sown into pursuing Him!
In Ephesians 3, Paul is praying for the Church, asking God that they “may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”. Read that whole chapter. I’m convinced that we won’t experience that fullness unless we seek it TOGETHER. I believe when we come together in one accord, it will create an atmosphere of power and authority in our meetings and we’ll experience his FULLNESS. Let’s sow in prayer together so we may reap the manifestation of that answered prayer in our corporate meetings.
Carrie Miller is the Worship Director at New Day’s Nichols campus. She has been a worship leader for over 20 years, and has been a member at New Day since 1986. She is married to Greg Miller and they have four amazing children.