As soon as you came in the front door of our farmhouse here on the farm — that’s what you’d likely hear first — the worship music of this man. No worship music plays more in our house than his & before a song ever finds its way to our lips, it often begins as a life surrendered in the quiet places. That’s but one of the reasons why our whole family so deeply appreciates Phil Wickham. Long before arenas filled with voices singing the songs he’s written, Phil was simply a husband, a father, and a man deeply captivated by the goodness of Jesus. If you’ve ever listened to one of his worship songs — his are our favorite! — and felt your heart lifted toward heaven, you’ll recognize that same invitation woven throughout the pages of his beautiful new book, Everyday Hallelujah. What I love most is that Phil reminds us worship isn’t something reserved for Sunday mornings or the moments when life finally feels put together. Worship is what happens when ordinary people discover that God’s presence has been waiting in ordinary moments all along. It is my absolute delight and honour to welcome Phil to the farm’s table today…

Guest Post by Phil Wickham

You can’t begin to imagine what a profound pleasure it was to sit down to talk with Phil Wickham in the belltower of our 1896 old stone church — this is really a NOT TO BE MISSED CONVERSATION….  Don’t miss our powerful video convo below…

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When we think about worship, especially in today’s world, it’s so natural to focus on appearances.

I’m afraid we too often measure our worship by the surface stuff: where we show up on Sunday, how well we sing, how well we serve (or how consistently we post about it on our social media).

Of course, God’s genuine concern is never what we project outwardly but what is actually happening in our hearts.

It’s almost unsettling how many times Jesus confronted the Pharisees on this very point. Remember, they were the religious incrowd of the day. They were the ones who knew the laws, said all the right words, and appeared to have everything together. But when the curtain was pulled back, their hearts were far from God. 

Jesus points to examples like the woman who fell at His feet, pouring out perfume and tears (Luke 7:38). Or the parable of the tax collector who was unable even to look up to heaven, so he prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Jesus seeks genuine repentance, authentic heartlevel worship.

“Jesus seeks genuine repentance, authentic heartlevel worship.“

In a world where so much is posted on social media, I often consider that Jesus isn’t after perfect words or public displays.

The posture of our hearts matters most to Him. That’s why the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is so powerful. The Bible tells us that both brothers bring their offerings but only one is accepted. Abel brings the very best of his flock to God. Cain brings “some of the fruits of the soil” but not his best. God isn’t just looking at the gifts but at the heart behind them. Abel’s offering reflects faith and trust. Cain’s offering reveals reluctance and a lack of devotion. 

I have to admit, it can be easy for me to feel like I’m bringing my best to God because of the nature of my work.

“Worship is about aligning your life so that the people closest to you see Christ in you every day. My worship wasn’t complete until I slowed down, lived in the presence of God, and led my family with love.”

I love leading the Church in praise, and because it’s communal and passionate, it often feels like a pure act of worship.

But if I’m being brutally honest with you, there have been times when my family took a back seat to my music ministry. I thought I was providing and doing my best for God by pouring all my energy into the songs and the ministry.

There was a particular season when my wife was at home, carrying the heavy load of raising our kids while I was pushing hard on new music or preparing for the next tour. Mallory is a complete rock star, but she was drowning and I didn’t notice. I thought my big calling was onstage, but God showed me that my first and most important ministry was at home. 

Looking back, I’m grateful for that unusual 2020 season of life. The forced slowdown revealed how thin I had been stretched. Mallory and I thought that the lack of margin we had been living with was just part of normal life, that doing music ministry meant we had to tread water and live on the edge of exhaustion. Even celebrations felt heavy, because the weight of our family responsibilities was entirely out of balance.

God really showed me in that season the ways I needed to revisit my priorities. That realization stuck with me because “right” worship means keeping the right priorities.

Worship is about aligning your life so that the people closest to you see Christ in you every day. My worship wasn’t complete until I slowed down, lived in the presence of God, and led my family with love. 

That shift also altered my perspective on private worship. It wasn’t about public perception but about the secret places. What does my worship look like when no one is watching? Do my financial decisions reflect my trust in God? Does my phone history reflect holiness? Do the people closest to me—my wife, my kids, my friends—see that my life is genuinely devoted to God?

One of the most transformative changes for me was learning to see giving as a form of worship. Tithing stopped being a duty and became a joy. The act of setting aside resources for God became more meaningful than any song I could sing. It grounded me in trust. It reminded me that everything I have comes from Him and everything I give is a declaration that He is first in my life. 

Worship has become about the daily rhythms of my life.

Something as simple as waking up and asking my wife, “What does your day look like, and how can I support you in it?” became one of the most profound acts of worship.

Committing to serve my family in practical ways has become a way to honor the Lord.

“Committing to serve my family in practical ways has become a way to honor the Lord.”

That kind of love, rooted in humility, is every bit as holy as lifting a song of praise onstage. I’ve also begun to experience true worship in my small group of friends. We run together, we meet for coffee, we talk about what God is doing in our lives. We spur one another on to holiness and remind each other of God’s faithfulness. Those moments are as much worship as any song I’ve ever sung. 

You see, I believe that Cain and Abel’s story shows us that worship is not about the gift itself. It’s about whether our hearts are in the right place.

Worship is about sincerity, alignment, priorities. It’s not the public display that matters most but the private devotion. So the question I believe we should all wrestle with is, What do the people who know us best see?

Do they see a heart of worship in the way we handle our family, finances, friendships, and secret lives? May that be our offering, our everyday hallelujah, and the truest test of willing worship.

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A Deeply Life-Giving Conversation: Belltower Stories

What if every ordinary moment could become worship? Ann Voskamp and Phil Wickham discuss Phil’s newest book, Everyday Hallelujia. Come join us in BellTower Stories, up in the 1896 bell tower our little Village Table church, as “the bells are the voice of the church, with tones that touch and search.” (Longfellow)

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