I hear it so often, “The kids just aren’t responding to the music!” But I wonder, how are YOU responding? So often as volunteers we get into a rut. Week in, week out it’s the same routine. You get your Planning Center email, respond to it, look at the set list, practice the words and the moves, get to service, wait for the kids, start the songs, get through the set, done. But what is missing from this routine??
PRAYER! What happens on the days that you are just exhausted? Or out of energy? Or drained from the events of the previous week? Or just DON”T want to be here???
We can only give what we have asked God to help us give. A wise person once told me, “the kids will only go as far as you.” This means that if we lead with less enthusiasm, they’ll respond with less. If we’re not really enjoying ourselves, neither will they.
In the 16 years that I have directed Children’s Choir, you better believe there have been times when I’ve physically arrived to start but not been there mentally. I’ve even had frantic mornings trying to get to VBS on time and been so wrapped up in the craziness that I just wasn’t ready to be “on.” Most recently, I was headed to church for a Family Worship Night and my daughter got sick in the car. I had to turn around, take her home and then get back on my way. Talk about blowing the mood!
In each of these cases, I had to stop and ask the Lord to just use me; get my mind and heart in the right place and work through me. And each time, He delivered!
It’s very likely that you won’t end up with every child in the room singing and dancing their hearts out - but you will be. And the teachers in the room will be affected by you. And the children in the room will be affected by you. And the atmosphere in the room will be affected by you. And that affect will consist of the most powerful thing ever – the Holy Spirit. Because you have allowed yourself to be filled by Him you have also allowed yourself to be used by Him!
So, the next time your Praise Squad is up, remember to ask God to prepare your heart, mind and body. Ask Him to do the work. Ask Him to go before you. And feel free to ask the teachers in the room to do the same, or even join with you in a pre-service prayer. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
