Heart of Worship: 30 Days to Deeper PraiseSample

Hi there, it’s Davide Mutendji from Elevation Worship, and I’m excited to bring you today’s Scripture from Romans 14:11 (NIV).

“It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

I have a confession: I sometimes walk off stage after leading worship and secretly wonder if God was scrolling Instagram during the set.

Okay, maybe not literally - but it’s so easy to try to read the room during worship, judge the response, and secretly grade myself on how worship “went.” Did that work? Did people connect? Or was I just up there singing while everyone thought about lunch? But this verse reminds me - the only One who can measure the worth of worship is the One we’re worshiping.

My job? Bring my best. Offer it with a pure heart. Point people to Jesus. God’s job? Everything else.

At first glance, Romans 14:11 can feel like it’s all about the outward acknowledgement of God - every knee bowing, every tongue confessing. But if you look at it in the context of Romans 14, Paul is actually speaking about something deeper: the reality that God alone sits on the judgment seat.

That changes everything for me. My primary responsibility is not to evaluate whether the people I led responded the way I hoped - it’s to make sure my own offering to God was sincere, pure, and wholehearted. When I remember that, the pressure shifts off me and onto the One who deserves it all. As worship leaders, our role is to invite people into God’s presence, not to critique their response.

That’s God’s territory. And honestly, even if you’re not a worship leader, this applies to every area of life. Whether it’s your work, your relationships, or your ministry, our job is faithfulness; God handles the results.

So lately, when I step off stage, I don’t start by dissecting the “room.” I start with one simple question: God, were You pleased with my offering today? Because at the end of the day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess - not to us, not to our setlist, not to our ability - but to Jesus. And that’s the seat I want to leave for Him.

Reflection:

Where in your life have you been sitting in a seat that belongs to God? What would it look like to step out of that seat, bring your best, and trust Him with the rest?