Speak!
'It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak."
2 Corinthians 4:13 NIV.
I know we are apprehensive, afraid of being laughed at or insulted. But what reason do we have to be ashamed of Christ Jesus who never committed any sin, on the contrary, he is completely holy and yet he gave his life in favor of us to save us from eternal damnation?
How were you reached? It was because someone boldly faced their fear and allowed themselves to be used by God.
Have courage, I know it's not easy, especially if you're shy like me, but insist. Don't try to convince anyone, just talk about Jesus, if the person doesn't want to listen, thank them for their time and leave. The Holy Spirit who convinces others, it was He who brought us back to God.
Your part is just to say the message.
Don't wait for fear to disappear because it won't disappear, do it with fear. What is more inspiring : someone who is never afraid or someone who is afraid and faces their fear? Let me tell you a secret: there is no such thing as a perfect or fearless human being.
It's scary having to step out of the comfort zone, but with each small step towards progress we feel stronger and really become. God is with us - have faith, don't be afraid!
Most people are polite and will respect you, you'll find that half your fears were unfounded. ( Which is a really good thing, right?)
Problems will come up, some will reject you, mock you or even ignore you. Although it seems strange, when this happens - don't give up, don't be sad.
“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.
Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted."
Matthew 5:11-12 GNT.
Nobody likes to be rejected, sometimes we do everything to be accepted and exactly because of that we end up being rejected.
Can you stand being around a person who has no voice? Someone who looks more like a parrot repeats and mimics everything you say. Well, being around a person with no opinion of their own is exhausting - the conversation doesn't flow naturally, it becomes a burden because the other never feels confident enough to be honest and expose their ideas.
You feel like a villain making the other walk on eggshells, it's unpleasant. So accept yourself and be yourself.
Study!
Before anything else, don't forget to set aside time to study your Bible and meditate. ( I usually pick a verse and repeat it over and over until I learn it. ).
As our problem is linked to fear, I recommend looking for a verse that encourages you. I have two that comfort and motivate me to overcome fear:
"So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10 NIV.
"Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don't be afraid; just believe.”
Marc 5:36 NIV.
Also, spend some time praying, it doesn't have to be an hour, it could be a few minutes, be honest about your fears with Him and ask for His help.
I noticed that we usually forget everything when we are scared. ( even though we have The Almighty God on our side ) and we focus on the dire situation. For that reason, I will introduce you to my tactics to win on these occasions:
1°= Pray!
"Don't let me fall into temptation, but deliver me from evil and the evil one. May your will be done in my life, in the name of Jesus, amen.."
I pray like this regularly, before I'm having a problem or when I'm about to be tempted to do something wrong, I say this prayer and I manage to resist.
2°= Use the Word!
When fear comes, I repeat the same verse until I kick him out. Sometimes I use more than one verse. But the ones I'm most attached to at these times are my favorites: Isaiah 41:10 or Mark 5:36.
3°= Cry out for help from God!
My memory fails me from time to time, and I forget to perform the first two tactics, so I resort to this one:
"God help me!"
After a few seconds or minutes, I feel such a sense of security that it reassures me. God soothes me.
This third tactic, I use it any time I have a problem or difficulty. Even for the simplest things like solving a difficult math problem, when I'm taking a test and I don't remember what I studied.
One of the things I like the most is when I give up on racking my brain trying to find a solution to a problem and ask for God's help. After a while a brilliant idea comes into my mind. He has amazing solutions!
"God never did any of this for me." Don't get sad, you don't have it because you don't ask.
"Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you.
You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.
And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures.
Unfaithful people! Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy? If you want to be the world's friend, you make yourself God's enemy.
Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, "The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires."
But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you."
James 4:1-7 GNT
Sincerely, God always helps me and He wants to help you too, just ask!
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