Worship-Shaped Leadership
3 February 2023 · Simeon Taylor
If someone were to ask what your worship life looked like, what might you say? I know for myself, the answer on one day is very different to another. The more I’ve sought to become more consistent in this area of my life, the more I’ve noticed the connection between my worship and my leadership.
We all worship something. It might be a sports team, or a celebrity or band that we follow. The question is not whether we worship, but what we worship. It’s because we are created to worship – and whether it’s with our time, money, resources, actions, or relationships, we each ascribe worth to different things in our lives.
But our worship and our leadership are more than just connected: our leadership is shaped by what we worship. When we talk about aspects of good leadership – the techniques, competencies, or soft skills – it’s easy to overlook character. Yet when we consider worship, which reveals our character, we can’t ignore the impact it has on our leadership.
Here are three ways that our worship shapes our leadership.
Worship births leadership
“I will not enter my house
or go to my bed,
I will allow no sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
till I find a place for the Lord,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”Psalm 132:3–5
In Psalm 132, David makes a vow to God that he will allow himself no rest, embracing self-denial, until he finds a dwelling place for the Lord’s presence – represented by the Ark of the Covenant. David’s worship in the secret place deeply influenced his leadership as king.
Playing drums is one way that I express worship to God. In the middle of a busy schedule and lifestyle, it’s recently become a battle to create space for playing. As I’ve fought for this time, I’ve noticed this practice shaping my view of God as one who is worthy of my whole life – including my leadership.
What decisions are you making in the unseen place that shape your lifestyle and leadership? How do these decisions honour God, allowing him a dwelling place within you as a leader?
Worship gives perspective to our leadership
The decisions David made to prioritise worship above all else did not prove particularly popular. Yet it brought crucial perspective both to himself and to those around him who he was leading.
In our world today, we are often sorely lacking in perspective. So many things claim to be the most important thing in our lives – work, money, popularity, power, sex – and yet by worshipping God alone we gain the perspective that only he is truly worth pursuing.
When I have felt my heart pulled by things that the world worships, it has consistently been the choice to worship Jesus alone that has brought me perspective. Making this decision influences those around us.
How does worshipping Jesus give you perspective? So often we can underestimate the power of quiet obedience and the decision to pursue God in everyday, unseen moments – how can you choose quiet obedience today?
Worship refines our Leadership
So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 15:14
In 1 Chronicles, before a dwelling place is found for the Lord’s presence, the Israelites see first-hand its dangerously refining power. Eventually, in 1 Chronicles 15, those carrying it are compelled to consecrate themselves in order to carry the ark of God’s presence.
Recently, I’ve felt convicted about the influences I allow to shape me. As I’m becoming more aware of God’s presence in my everyday moments, watching certain films, TV series, or social media content has felt challenging. I am choosing to allow God space to show what is and what is not pleasing to him, allowing his refinement in my life.
Are we willing for God’s presence to bring an end to things in our lives that are hindering our leadership – even the things we enjoy or find comforting? And are we willing, as those carrying God’s presence, to consecrate ourselves – saying no to things of this world in order to say yes to him – so that we might be marked out as leaders carrying his presence?
In two weeks’ time, at the Onelife Conference, we will be learning from encounters with God in the life of Moses through the story in the book of Exodus.
In one of its concluding chapters, we see that God’s defining mark over his people is to be carriers of his presence. What God longs to do in and through us in this way all begins with worship. Through worship, let’s take hold of his presence that he promises us, that we might lead from God’s rest, peace, and wholeness.
Simeon Taylor is Onelife’s Training and Resources Coordinator.
Onelife Conference 2023: Encounter
16–18 February, St Paul’s Hammersmith
