As a tech director it is easy for us to just think that everything that relates to our ministry is technical. We tend to like things like number, buttons, and knobs. We feel safe and secure with our noses buried in manuals, making spreadsheets comparing products, and coming up with complex ways of piecing together technical systems. We thrive in this environment, but it is easy to ignore less technical things, like prayer.
It is important for us to learn our craft and excel at it. We should know as much of the technical aspects of the components we use as possible, however we need to also balance this with a reliance on God. He is the one that gives you the capacity to grasp the complexities of your job and it is important to include him in every aspect of what you do.
Jesus prayed more than any other individual in the Bible. And if He, the Son of God, needed to pray, how much more do we need to?
In Matthew 21 we see that Jesus got really ticked off at the merchants in the Temple and he went on a tirade flipping their tables and swinging his whip around. As we was doing this he said:
Matthew 21:13 "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!"
Did you catch that? He didn't say his house would be a house of moving lights and slick videos. He didn't say that it would be a house with great sound quality and eye-catching graphic design. Let's take this a step further shall we? He didn't even say it would be a house of great singing and inspiring preaching! He said that it would be a house of prayer.
Are you bringing everything that you do to God in prayer? When you are researching, buying or installing new equipment are you praying over the process or are you relying on your own understanding? As you plan the technical aspects of an upcoming service are you praying to seek God's wisdom or are you just relying on your grasp of the equipment?
How about when you and your team gather together to provide the technical support for a service or event? Are you taking the time to lead your team in a few minutes of prayer or are you only using your own wisdom to instruct and lead the team?
No matter what you are doing, whether learning a new system, teaching a new recruit, or actually running the technical support for a service, make sure you keep good communication lines open with the Creator.
It can be easy to forget the importance of prayer, but it is critical. Jesus prayed more than any other individual in the Bible. And if He, the Son of God, needed to pray, how much more do we need to? Jesus lived a life of prayer, and it is His desire that we incorporate prayer into every aspect of our life as well.
No matter what you are doing, whether learning a new system, teaching a new recruit, or actually running the technical support for a service, make sure you keep good communication lines open with the Creator. Take the time to pray and seek His wisdom in all you do. It doesn't matter how technical or complex your system is, it is child's play to our all-knowing God. He is the one that gives wisdom and you might just be surprised at the ideas that He gives you.
As you go through this week and prepare for the weekend, make sure you seek the Lord first. As you serve during your time of worship, be a leader for your team and guide them into the presence of God before leading them in the running of your ministry.
[Editor's note: this timeless piece was originally published in 2017.]
