The Missing Piece: Because without Him, worship is only noise.

I still remember the day I became part of the worship team at my church. It was an exciting, yet nerve-wracking experience. Not to mention, I’ve been a timid person my entire life, so you can imagine how my first time on that stage went… And after all these years, I wouldn’t say I’m much better, but what I can tell you is that something inside of me has changed.

I knew what it was like to be up there on stage and feel the Holy Spirit. I knew what it was like to cry because a song moved me so much. But as time went on, I found myself just singing the words without any depth behind them. I had a relationship with God. I prayed, I read my Bible, I went to church but when it came to worship, I felt like something was missing.

One day, I shared this with my good friend Kassie. I had always admired the way she worshipped. On our way home from a Sunday service, I told her that I felt there was something deeper in worship that I hadn’t yet tapped into. We had a brief conversation about the Holy Spirit and His role in worship. I prayed about it, I thought about it, but I still didn’t fully understand.

That year, for my birthday, Kassie gave me a book called Good Morning, Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn. As I read it, something inside of me began to shift. I realized that the Holy Spirit isn’t just a ghost, a mist, or an unseen force. He’s a person. He can be known, loved, and welcomed. That truth changed everything for me.

When I started inviting the Holy Spirit into every part of my life, even the ordinary moments, my worship transformed. The way I prayed, the way I read the Bible, and the way I sang were no longer the same. Worship was no longer about singing songs well. It became about making room for His presence.

From then on, whether I was alone in my room or on stage in front of the congregation, my one desire was to move the heart of God. To minister to Him. To create a dwelling place for His presence. I longed to be like Mary of Bethany, who broke her costly jar of perfume at Jesus’ feet. She didn’t care what anyone thought. She only wanted to pour out her love on Him. That’s still my desire to this day.

The Holy Spirit transformed the way I worshipped. I realized that without Him, worship is just sound. I could have the voice of an angel (I don’t!) or play every instrument on earth, but without the Spirit, it would still be empty. It would be performance and emotion. But with the Spirit, worship becomes encounter. He reveals Jesus and glorifies Him. John 16:14 says, “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

So…….how do you even “get” the Holy Spirit? I know that might sound like a funny question, but honestly, that’s what I used to think. Was He something you had to chase after? Was there a secret formula?

The truth is, the Holy Spirit isn’t something you earn. He’s a gift. Acts 2:38 says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” From the moment you give your life to Jesus, the Spirit is available to you.

But here’s what I’ve learned: while the Holy Spirit is a gift, we have to welcome Him in. He doesn’t force His way into our worship or into our lives. He waits for an invitation.

For me, receiving the Spirit looked like a few simple (but life-changing) steps:

1. Ask Him in – Jesus said in Luke 11:13, “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” It really is that simple. Just ask.

2. Surrender – The Spirit fills the space we give Him. When I let go of control and gave Him every part of my heart, I started to experience His presence in a deeper way.

3. Stay in the Word – I noticed that when I read my Bible with the Holy Spirit, it came alive in a way it never had before.

4. Worship & Pray – Not to check off a box, but to spend time with Him. He delights in a heart that longs for God. He wants to be your friend.

That’s when it clicked for me: the Holy Spirit was never far away. He was right there, waiting for me to ask, waiting for me to surrender.

Another verse that deeply speaks to me is 2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” That’s what true worship feels like. Freedom. Not striving, not performing, not trying to impress anyone. Just being free in His presence.

So if you’ve ever felt like your worship is dry, routine, or “just singing,” I want to encourage you: invite the Holy Spirit in. Get to know Him. Welcome Him into your songs, your prayers, your daily life. Because worship without the Spirit is just noise. But worship with the Spirit is where heaven touches earth. It’s where your heart connects with God’s heart. And that’s the kind of worship the Father is seeking. (John 4:23–24)