Creative Space Music
My Story — leading me to create space!
—23 years growing up, involved in ministry groups, bible college graduate, all within the same denomination.
—20 years serving in two non-denominational ministries as youth and assistant pastor.
—43 years old, and I resigned asking, “where’s the life?” Throughout those prior years, ministry was my life. But it more and more began to feel lifeless, why?
—It’s when I began to pray, “God, would You give me a Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know You?” Ephesians 1:17. He opened my eyes to the Life, Jesus, who was already in me.
—I saw clearly that ministry wasn’t my life. My life was the ministry. I had it all backward.
—At this point I no longer knew how to preach, lead music, even pray. What did any of that look like as I stepped into the New Covenant expression of Christ in me?
“Create Space”
—One year later I was asked to bring the music to a ministry leader retreat. I was still asking what that looked like. The night before our retreat God said to me, “create space.” It wasn’t about performance. It wasn’t about leading verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge of a song.
—A hesitant approach to this retreat led to a clear vision for how I can personally “bring the music.” With a past in musical training and vast musical involvement, what sunk deeper were the nights… hours of time together; God, me, and my guitar. With revelation, now vision… I see that space is something I can now share with others.
—Outside the bands I played with, that space in my living room with God, me, and my guitar was a space where God brought healing and rest. It was my reset. I couldn’t find it in the busyness of ministry life. I couldn’t find it in the 7 years of single parenting after divorce, except in those special nights, sometimes 8pm and beyond when everything else subsided. No more demands, just pure expression. Slowing to the pace of God, a work of the Holy Spirit in me.
Do you know groups that could use this creative space? Retreats. Services. Special events.
I am available. I can bring the music, what I’m really bringing is the space.
“What is learned from man can be unlearned, what is seen by revelation cannot be unseen.” — zr
zach@zachrasmusson.com
Continue reading to understand a little of what this looks like…
Creating space for the Holy Spirit in us to speak isn’t about conjuring God’s presence. It is about resting in a present reality that He lives in you and will never leave (Colossians 1:27, Hebrews 13:5). It becomes natural to trust this reality the more you receive God’s love. Acknowledging the love of God, I mean personally; ‘God loves me,’ say it aloud, even when it seems a distant reality. In Christ, it’s your present reality. Everything for the Believer is summed up in this beautiful truth (Ephesians 2:4-5, 3:17-19).
Transformation in your spirit is manifested in your soul as you renew and set your mind on the finished work of Christ.
—Changed is the state of your spirit in Christ, you are in union. Born again means you were placed in Christ, the Spirit took up residence in you, and the Father embraced you as His own. (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 6:17, Hebrews 10:14)
—Change still happens in the soul. This isn’t because you’re not fully new, rather because you don’t see it yet. As Apostle Paul rhetorically asks, “Do you not know?” You’ve been taught, you’re a new creature, you just don’t see it yet (Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1-3, Ephesians 4:22-24, Galatians 5:16, 22-23).
This is why we need space. “God, would you open our eyes to what we are not seeing” (Ephesians 1:18).We cannot standardize this, there is no technique, simply trust. What that looks like will be different for every person, as unique as personalities.
Offer, Don’t Strive
Romans 12:1, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 4:16 say, “present your body to God” … you are “acceptable to God” … so “approach God, in confidence.”
This is about availability, not anxiety. It’s not an attempt to prove myself worthy; I am worthy, I’m His child. If I had to prove myself daily that would produce a lot of anxiety, and this is were many people are today. Knowing that I can present myself to God because I am approved and I can approach God in confidence produces rest upon rest. John 1:16 says “grace upon grace” — same thing.
So Believers can offer themselves to God because we are pleasing to God already. We don’t have to strive to become acceptable. Nor do we need to strive for holiness to approach God. We can rest rather than strive. We are a good and pleasing aroma to God, right now!
Agree, Don’t Beg
Crucial truths for Christ one’s: You don’t need more of God. You don’t need more forgiveness. You don’t need to clean your act up.
Much of our music is geared towards begging God for more of Himself. Ephesians 1:3 says we have been, “blessed with every spiritual blessing.” You’re not lacking, including God’s presence. He’s not going anywhere, He also can’t get any closer than us united with Him. Walking away from an emotional time we say, “we want more.” It’s really a soulical cry, we are not seeing the truth that Scriptures say are true. However, they were not more true in that emotional moment than before or after it.
Most believers approach corporate prayer, praise, and fellowship from a mistaken mindset they need more forgiveness and that is where they will find it. So attend a service, bible study, or prayer meeting and beg for it. Community is crucial indeed, more forgiveness is not. Hebrews 10:14 says, “perfected for all time”… Confession yes, forgiveness, no. Forgiveness is once and done. Confession is on going, and it’s crucial to understand; confession is agreeing with God. What you’re confessing isn’t your sin—that’s already forgiven once for all time. What you’re confessing is that we are already cleansed. So agree, don’t beg.
Jesus saves sinners. He doesn’t save because you cleaned yourself up enough, He saves because He loves you and He wants you to know it. Colossians 2:6 says, “just as you received Him, so walk in Him.” Saved by Grace through faith. Walking it out by Grace through faith.
Trust
Creating space is choosing to trust Christ in you—faith. You quiet the noise of self-effort and live Spirit-led, He’s in you. It’s His effort. Spirit-effort you can rest in. Your new heart is overflowing with His indwelling life, let that lead the way.
I assist in allowing people space to do that through my leading of music and song. But you don’t have to wait for me. Stop, even for a minute, say yes to a truth of God. The more that truth resonates the more you’ll see it throughout your every day.
Here are a few examples:
1 Corinthians 6:17 — I am one spirit with the Lord.
Romans 8:5–9 — I am not in the flesh (unregenerate).
Hebrews 10:14 — I am sanctified.
Titus 2:11–12 — I can say no. I can live self-controlled (from the new heart).
What are some other truths from God’s Word that have equipped you? Comment below.
