I’ll never forget the power of a dad’s words. He came early to pick his daughter up from our kids worship team rehearsal. He stood in the back watching and waiting, while we finished practicing for the service that weekend. As he watched, our kids worship team was singing their hearts out. This dad looked me in the face afterward and said, “There is power in their worship. Adults could learn a lot from watching children worship.” That day, he left differently than when he had first walked in. He had seen something that felt unfamiliar to his adult mind. The children worshiping had impacted him, and he was changed.
I don’t know if you’ve had the fortunate experience to be in a room with a group of kids while they participate in worship, but it is the sweetest sound you will ever hear. Their voices united. Singing with love. Completely pure. Giving who they are for the glory of God.
It’s in this moment that they are doing the very thing they were knit together in their mother’s womb to do. Praising their Maker who knows everything about them. He counts every hair, numbers every day and collects every tear in a bottle.
When they sing, demons flee. When they worship, darkness is drowned out by the light. When they posture their heart for the delight of the Father, they are resting in His arms. They are known. They are loved. And they are responding to His love with their awe and wonder.
One afternoon, I came across a scripture that I still hold dear. It’s a bit of a promissory note from the Lord where He reveals to us what is at stake. He pulls the curtain back to show us what is happening in the spiritual world when children take part in worship.
Psalm 8:1-2 says, “God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.” (MSG)
I remember reading that verse and being gobsmacked by the truth that fills each line. It was an endorsement from God that what I was navigating by creating spaces for kids to engage in worship, mattered. And not just that it mattered, but that it was important. My vision for kids worship began to form. My spirit began to see, truly see, for the first time.
Every time you push play on a song of worship, you are unleashing God’s power to be at work. I believe their praise, whether it’s singing every word or a completely inaudible language goes straight to God’s ear. Our worship is for His delight. Our testimony is for His glory. Worshiping God is the most natural thing we can do. Just like our bodies were made to breathe, our spirits were made to praise the King of kings and Lord of lords. As a parent delights in the love of their child, we have a Father in heaven who desires nothing more than to engage in an exchange of affection with His children.
Whether it’s in your living room, the family car or part of church on Sunday mornings, help your children learn that there is power in their worship. Help them sing and honor God with the words of their mouth and the meditations of their heart. It will be pleasing in God’s sight.
*Adapted from “Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship”.
About Yancy: She is a worship leader, songwriter and producer of hundreds of songs that make Jesus loud. Her Dove Award-winning music is all the things kids love and everything adults value. She is a powerhouse at leading and teaching kids from birth to preteen how to worship and creates popular worship resources for churches and homes around the world. Yancy is a passionate advocate of raising disciples to worship and recently authored the book Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship. Because of her passion to serve the Church, she created “Heartbeat,” a curriculum to teach kids the heart of worship. With a family legacy of children’s ministry, her authority and PK (Preacher’s Kid) perspective help encourage and champion the Kidmin community that the seeds they are planting will reap a harvest that will go on to affect families for generations. Yancy lives with her husband and two sons in Nashville, TN. For more information or to connect with Yancy, Follow her on Social Media: @YancyNotNancy
