I’m reading through Isaiah at the moment, and I was struck by Isaiah 26 the other day, verse 8 in particular…

“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;

Your Name and renown are the desire of our hearts”

(Isaiah 26:8)

 I want to encourage you that, in the midst of all of the hubbub of band, instruments not always behaving, in-ear mixes, background noise and perhaps nervousness of being at the front, the sole purpose of our worship is to eagerly desire the Name and renown of the Lord, and to encourage our congregation to do so too. He has graciously given us these gifts, and what a joy it is to offer them to Him in praise, waiting on Him and seeking to exalt His Name together (Psalm 34:3).

 So, the next time you’re serving – whether that’s this week, next, or further into the future – think about how you can simply, deeply and wholeheartedly seek Him and His Name, and worship all for His renown. This is going to look different for all of us, and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution, but I wonder if it looks a bit like the attitude David took in 2 Samuel 6 (from the NSV)… “I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!” Let’s cast aside all that hinders us from approaching God with our all, just as we are, and instead approach Him simply with the gifts He has given us to glorify Him with.