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 The Heart of the IssueGood News Indeed! You don't need a soapbox or a tract to share your faith.
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I hate to admit it, but sometimes I'm afraid to open my mouth to tell others about Jesus. Oh, I love the Lord and want all my friends and family to know him—but when I try to witness, sometimes I feel as though there's a sock stuffed down my throat. Perhaps you've felt the same way. You're just not comfortable with witnessing tools like tracts, but you feel guilty about not sharing Jesus' love with others. If you can't relate to traditional methods, there's another option I've found successful in leading several of my neighbors to Christ—lifestyle evangelism. I let my natural personality show neighbors the love of Christ as I walk with Jesus moment by moment. Scripture tells us "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). This basic backdrop of truth to witnessing relieves me of the burden of perfectionism. It's God doing all the work—I'm just the vessel. As I align my life with him according to his Word, I can more easily share how the Lord has intimately changed the flawed woman I am into a usable woman. Here are some steps I've found helpful in sharing the Good News with those around me. Pray for opportunities. The Bible tells us that "the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results " (James 5:16, NLT). So I ask the Lord whom he is drawing to himself, and within that parameter, how he can use me. You can do the same—then make a list of those he brings to mind and pray that God will soften their hearts and give them faith to believe in him. Pray for their salvation and petition Jesus to help you meet their needs and reveal himself through your actions. When God nudges you to share your faith, say a silent prayer for him to give you his words. If all goes well, the Lord receives the glory. If disaster occurs, he takes responsibility. No pressure! Obey God's promptings. Several years ago, I invited an unchurched friend, Marion, to our church. Unfortunately, the Sunday she and her husband attended, our church was going through an intense fundraising drive. Marion wasn't interested in going back. But the Lord prompted me to invite her to go with me to a Bible study. I adamantly replied, "No way!" I still remember the battle in my mind. I arrived home from the Bible study and heard the Holy Spirit prompt, Invite Marion. I argued, She already gave church a try. I can't! and Who am I to ask her? But no matter how I tried, I couldn't shake the words, Invite Marion! Finally I picked up the phone. When Marion answered, I literally held my breath and said, "I feel God telling me to ask you to my Bible study. If you can't go or don't want to, I understand, but I can't get you out of my thoughts." Surprisingly, she agreed and has been attending ever since (this is her fourth year). She accepted the Lord and now has more Bible knowledge than most lifelong Christians! |              | |||||||||||||||||||
