There may be a time where you feel that your guitar game is on point. You have all your songs down and you’re feeling unstoppable and you can’t wait to praise the name of Jesus, pumped to shred, crank up your amp and dance! That’s awesome, but I have to bring up one question: do you know your place as a guitar player?
Too many times we get a little ahead of ourselves when it comes to ourselves as guitar players. I’ve fallen victim to that plenty of times. I think I’m good on all my parts, maybe even showed off a little at soundcheck, didn’t pay attention to my teammates and only worrying about myself, and when it comes to playing live I was loud and a little obnoxious trying to play new riffs and what I though were clever leads only to play them wrong, but over all I just didn’t mix with what the team was doing. I hadn’t approached His altar humbly.
For those who exalt themselves, will be humbled, and those who humble themselves, will be exalted. –Matthew 23:12 NIV
Keep this as a reminder every time you pick up your instrument. You’re here to worship and honor your team. With the goal to lead His people into His presence with praise. Or, you just might have the “Matthew 23:12” Message translation happen, which sounds a bit more consequential, yet promising:
If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. –Matthew 23:12 MSG
Yeah, that hurts me to read that too! Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t worship in dance and joy and celebration, but just a reminder on who you are and what you’re a part of. Maybe even where you came from.
So before you dish out a face melting guitar solo, scratch your strings, our add guitar leads of your own, take a quick second and make sure that it’ll better your team and that it’ll cooperate with what the Holy Spirit is doing. You have a place and as a guitar player, and it can be pivotal. Just remember to stay within your boundaries, have an eye on your teammates, worship the Lord with a pure and honest heart, and of course, have fun.
I hope this has blessed you and would love to hear stories here, or on Instagram or Twitter @anhonestsound!
-AO
anhonestsound.com 
Great post, man! I love your spirit. As someone that leads p&w from electric, I agree with everything you’ve said 100%. I find that some times, especially leading for a youth group, there is such a fine line between leading people into worship and performance. I’ve had many a disagreements with others over the years. On one hand, you have the “all performance” people and then the “all worship” (what I mean is like leading a praise song with your eyes closed). That’s where the balance lies. You have to worship FIRST, no doubt, but as a leader, you have to also make sure that you’re – leading. You can’t lead if you look dead. In the school of worship I attended, the pastor teaching class said that if he saw us with our eyes closed the whole time, that he’d yank us off the platform. The reason being, how can you lead someone and build their expectation (to receive something from the Lord) when they’re not connecting with the people. The other side once again is that if you’re trying to be some “hype guy” that’s also not good, because your heart should not be in bringing attention to yourself, but to the Lord. Like I said, it’s a balance. I love your article, because it’s so important to know your place.
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