I'll post this, and it probably will make no sense to anyone. But, Poppa Gator drew my attention to this thread, and I thought it worthwhile to share my experience. As it involves my faith, it may or not be meaningful.

I sing in a black male gospel chorus... have been now for 9 years. When I first was asked to sing a lead, I was somewhat self-conscious about the whole thing, because I am the only white member of the church. I concentrated mostly on leading the chorus (that's what a lead is supposed to do,) and tried to be as solid and on beat as I could so that the other singers could respond to me with confidence.
As the years went by, I became more self-assured and at the same time, less self-conscious. That allowed me to relax, feel the words, improvise, play with the rhythm and phrasing and immerse myself totally in the experience.

About three years ago, I started praying before I sang leads, asking the Lord to take over and use me. It caused a very pronounced change in the way that I sing, and the response from everyone was dramatically different. I actually reached the point where it felt more like an out-of-body experience... as if I could stand aside and watch the Spirit using my voice and my body to sing. Afterward, it was almost as if I had been in a trance. It's an experience that defies description.. giving yourself completely to the song. While it is an intensely spiritual experience for me, I believe that a very similar experience is available to anyone who gives themselves completely to the song, letting the words and the message of the song take over. It is one a them pair a ducks... by complete submission of your will, you experience complete freedom. Soaring freedom.

Jerry