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