I remember in college a friend said to me, "what does Sariah sound like?" Honestly, I really didn't know how to respond or what to think. That question bothered me for awhile, but then I seriously sat and asked myself, "What does Sariah sound like?" I had listened to other artists and singers for so long that I really didn't know what my sound was versus someone else's sound. For much of my childhood, I was told that I should sing like this person or sound like this person. It was to the point that when I sang, if I didn't sound like the "record" I was told that I needed to practice more. Growing up it was devastating to hear that. I thought that nobody would accept me or my gift if I didn't sound like the artists who were popular at the time. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with listening to other artists and being influenced by them but it is never good to take on their personality or their identity because it has already been taken. There is already one of them on the earth. The world doesn't need another them, they need a YOU! They need an authentic you, not a bootleg somebody else.
Something I learned in college was there are people that are assigned specifically to you and your gift. So if you aren't doing what God called you to do then what happens to the people that are assigned to you? Who is going to reach them? Who is going to show them Jesus? If you don't do it, God will raise up someone else who will. Personally, I am not ok with somebody else doing the job I was supposed to do. I want to reach and touch the people that are assigned to me. I don't want anyone else to do or accomplish what God created for me to do.
So how does this relate to leading worship? There are some amazing worship leaders on the church scene today. They are so powerful in their vocal abilities, song arrangements, exhortations, and ability to inspire audiences to worship corporately. There is nothing wrong with watching them to be inspired or gaining insight on how to lead, but when it's your turn to lead, you must be YOU! You have to be authentic to who you are. If you aren't authentic to who you are then the worship experience won't be effective. Trust me, the audience can read you and see straight through any inauthenticity you may have.
If you aren't a talker like your favorite worship leader, then don't get up there and just start talking and repeating what you heard them say. My personal experience is I am not a talker. Unless the Lord tells me what to say, I don't say anything. This is because I have tried to talk when the Lord didn't give me anything to say. I got up there and made a complete fool of myself because what I said made no sense. On the flip side, I've also had experiences where the Lord told me to say something and I didn't. I also looked like a fool in this situation too. So I have just learned to be obedient. When He tells me to speak, I speak. When He doesn't tell me to speak, I don't. Simple as that.
If your favorite worship leader is a "runner" meaning they do a lot of crazy trills or runs with their voice but that's not your strength, then don't get up there to lead a song trying to be a "runner" like them. First of all, it's inauthentic. Second, the audience knows its inauthentic because of how you sound. Third, you are being a distraction. The people can't focus on the message of the song because you are doing the absolute most and failing. Personally, I do not consider myself a runner. I got a few good ones that I use here and there, but other than that I am as plain as they come. First reason being, I know that runs aren't necessarily my strength. Second reason, I refuse to be a distraction to the people. I refuse to take the attention away from what God is wanting to say to His people because they can't hear for me doing the most unnecessarily.
As I close this post, let me admonish you with these things. Be authentic. Be who you are and nobody else. Be the first YOU! Nobody can beat you being you. Don't feel like you have to look like or sound like anybody else in order to be accepted. God created you for a specific purpose. There are people assigned to you that need you to be you. If you aren't sure of who you are or where you fit in the kingdom, seek the Lord for the answers. He will show you and mold you into who you are supposed to be. I know this for a fact. God will show you who you are and what His plans are for you.
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