Heart of Worship

by Caeden Arceneaux

Since I was ten years old, I have been playing the drums on Sunday mornings. 
For most of that time, I was bringing people into worship without worshiping. 

I have grown up in a Christian household, where both parents led by example and led worship. I remember watching my dad play an old electric drum set in our house and asking him to show me something. He showed me a simple beat, and I was hooked. 

That one simple beat sparked a love for the drums. 
I watched videos while I was at home,
and watched the drummer every Sunday morning. 

I eventually started playing the bongos at Victory Life Church where my parents served as the worship leaders. After practicing on drums with the team, I got to play drums on Sunday mornings.

I was a part of Victory Life’s worship team until we moved to Bridge City when I was in 8th grade.
My pride took a hit when we found our new church home, Bridge Point Fellowship. 
I was no longer the only drummer and had to learn to worship from the pews.

I quickly realized that leading people into worship and actually worshiping
God can be two completely different things if you aren't careful.
For years, I had simply been playing the drums. 

I was playing to play, only because I liked to play.
I was serving myself and working for the church. 
I wasn’t worshiping God. 

I slowly got plugged into Bridge Point’s worship team.
As more drummers got into the rotation, my pride took another hit.
I loved being on stage and hated sitting on the sidelines. 

I spent two years loving mornings that I got to serve and
dreading mornings that I would have to watch during worship.
That was because I was doing just that: watching, not worshiping. 

Last summer, God started working on my worship.
I did 252, the summer internship at my church.
I dug into God’s Word and started praying.
I learned that I loved being in His presence.

Matthew 23 really convinced me and ultimately changed my worship. 
Jesus was teaching the crowds and disciples, and said, 
Everything they do is done for people to see: 
They love the place of honor at banquets and
the most important seats in the synagogues; 
They love to be greeted with respect…
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Through that summer, God changed my heart. 
He took out my prideful, self-seeking heart
And replaced it with a heart of worship.
A heart that serves Him, not myself. 

I no longer cared if I played the drums, I just wanted to serve God.
I didn’t care if I was on stage, I just wanted to worship God.

And that’s what worship is: serving and honoring God wherever you are.

After graduation I am going to Highlands College.
My plan is to serve in music upon graduation. 

My goal is no longer to be a better drummer,
but to be a better worshiper. 

I want to get people into church, then get people worshiping God. 

Psalms 15 has been a foundational passage for my worship. 
David asks God, Who may dwell in your sacred ten and live on your holy mountain?

God’s response:
The one who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
Whoever does these things
will never be shaken.

 That is my prayer. 
That God would continue to renew and grow me.
That He would replace all lies with truth.
That He would give me a heart for people. 
That He would grow my heart of worship.

Above all, God reminds me of this:
Don’t serve people, serve God.

A life lived serving God is a life worth living.
A life that is beyond anything you could imagine.