I have been a part of a worship team since my high school days in the 90’s, back when we called it “a praise band” in an effort to be “contemporary”. And I have been singing as a part of our Wave worship team since the very first women’s conference, back when it was called Just For Her. And I can honestly say that there is nothing like the worship when it’s just the women that gather together. The women of God love to worship their Savior, their First Love. For so many, the act of true surrender to Jesus could not come soon enough.
There is such an expectation and faith in the atmosphere at Devoted; we know God is going to show up; there is no doubt. When the women of God cry out to Him with a holy desperation, God’s presence and glory falls and it is undeniable.
We find it easy to be so expressive in worship because women are such emotional creatures. But I hope our worship to Jesus is so much more than just emotional but we must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:23-24 in the Message says, “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”
Let’s come to Devoted this year with such vulnerability and an honesty that says, “here I am God, this is me; you have it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly.” And then allow God to speak to your spirit through His Spirit.
My prayer, ladies, is that from the moment we step into that auditorium even before the first note is played, that we come bringing our faith and our expectation that God can do something fresh in our hearts. Don’t be intimidated by the sound of your own voice but be encouraged by the collective voice of us together and what we are offer up to Heaven. God is ready; He is waiting for us.
Father, we long for Your presence and we come to Devoted with our faith and our expectation that You will touch the heart of every woman that walks through those doors. Let every woman know and feel Your presence in a real and fresh way and I pray that we would be changed and transformed by the power of Your presence. As we take our eyes off ourselves and off our circumstance during worship, speak to our hearts. Draw near to us as we draw near to You. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Much love,
Lydia Kicker