Where are you originally from?
Lockport, New York

How long have you been in Kansas City?
I moved here in January 2004

Why did you come to IHOP?
I never liked school and I always told my mom that, “If I ever go to college it will either be for ONLY Music or ONLY the Bible, I don’t want to do any other subjects (Math, History, etc).”

What does a normal day in the life of Justin Rizzo look like?
Wake up at 5:30AM and in the prayer room by 6. I spend my days studying the Bible, meditating, interceding, praying in the spirit, and also leading or playing on worship sets throughout the day.

What keeps you going?
Living my life for another age and having an eternal perspective, knowing that He is watching the movements of my heart, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

I am convinced that my biggest and most important function as a believer will not be in this life and what I will be doing in the age to come will be far bigger in power and impact than anything I will ever accomplish in this age. I know my function and calling in eternity is determined by the way that I live my life in this age.

What is your life vision?
To be a wholehearted lover of Jesus. I want to be great in His eyes and I believe that servanthood, giving, fasting, prayer and forgiveness is the pathway. At the end of my life I want to hear him say that I lived my life to the fullest potential that I could and I lived a life worthy of His calling.

In every season of my life I want to give myself whole heartedly to prayer, the Word, fasting, serving and giving. I want to be alive on the inside of my heart and running hard after the Lord when I’m 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 years old. My biggest fear is looking back and regretting  the way I chose to live my life. As I grow older, I don’t want to grow in disappointment and bitterness. I want to grow in love and meekness always being alive on the inside and flourishing in Him, alive in the Spirit.

What is currently burning on your heart?
I have been studying and meditating on the humility and meekness of Christ. Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully man. Luke 2:52 tells us that He had to grow in wisdom, stature and favor with God as well as man! He displayed His humility and meekness not only by dying on a cross and bearing the full wrath of the Father for all of humanity, but by spending every single day of His life embodying the principle that; “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life … will truly find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25) Day after day, for 33 years, He perfectly modeled the life of servant hood, humility, loving your enemies, and laying down your life which we are to follow. I’m also currently studying the book of Zechariah and Ephesians.

As a worship leader, what is your vision FOR worship?
To have a corporate unified agreement in one voice before the Throne of God. Music is the world-wide language spoken by everyone, and though sermons are powerful, I believe music is the most powerful way to get people to join together with one heart, one mind and one voice. When people join together in agreement and cry out for Him to come, or declare His attributes and who He is—His presence is ushered in.

Why choose this kind of lifestyle?
In the natural sense: my personality is that I always have to be doing something; I cannot sit still for very long and I need to know that I am going somewhere. The places I can go in the Word and the depths of revelation from the heart of God are endless. They are like a never ending challenge and invitation to come deeper, further and to run harder.

What’s in it for you?
There is eternal reward as well as reward in this age. I believe that I will see most of my reward in eternity and not in this age. The reward for me in this age is when I see my heart beginning to change more and more into His likeness. My soul (mind, will, emotions) slowly aligning more and more with His nature.

If you could give any advice to someone wanting to live this kind of lifestyle, what would it be?
Do it! Whether you work full-time, go to school full-time or are a stay at home mom, give yourself to prayer, fasting and the Word.

If you had to name one key element that has sustained you in your pursuit of a life of the one thing necessary what would it be?
Fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit and cultivating a ‘secret life’ in God. When no one else is watching, going into your room, closing the door and communing with Christ within (2 Corinthians 3:18).