The Power of Declaring Life Over Your Marriage
Unexpected Places
By Anthony Evans
Once when I was on break from traveling with Kirk Franklin , I got to go to my home church ’ s Vacation Bible School ( they have a big service for adults too ). I was trying to keep a low profile because internally things were a wreck and I was in a bad place that day . Somebody caught me off guard , handed me a microphone , and said , “ Hey , Anthony . Come up and lead worship for us real quick , okay ?” Every step I took toward the pulpit grew heavier . I lifted the mic and tried to sing . Nothing . I was so overwhelmed with emotion , I could not even get out one word . I lost it that day . I felt sure no one would ever ask me to lead worship again . Kirk happened to be at the service , too , and he walked up to the platform and wrapped his arms
40 • Solutions around me right there in front of the whole church . Instead of being a huge fail , the Spirit of God began to fall . In that moment , other broken people realized they were not alone . After a long embrace , I lifted the mic to my mouth , and even though my tone was ragged and rough , I began to sing “ Here I Am to Worship .”
That ’ s what good worship is . Realizing that we are not alone in our struggles , that God loves and cares for us . That we are all hurting inside , and the best we can do is come before God , worshiping in spite of how we feel , receiving His grace with nothing but gratitude and open arms . I finally got it together enough to lead the crowd in worship , and that was the first