When I signed up for the World Race I knew that I was going to have to preach.
There were many things that made me want to say no to the world race. I didn’t want to leave home for a year, I wanted to get a job, I wanted to stay in my comfortable little bubble. But one thing I REALLY didn’t want to do was preach.
If you know me at all you know I’m outgoing and I’m not shy…at all. So it may come as a shock to you…but I HATE public speaking.
Speech class in college was my least favorite out of all of my classes. I just get so nervous and stumble over my words and try to make it to the end as quickly as possible, which leaves me talking way too fast.
Stick me in front of 30 kindergarteners and I am fine! Stick me in front of 30 church members and I am frozen in my tracks. I get that whole ‘deer in the headlights’ look on my face and freak out.
Since being on the race I have preached a few times. Every time I think how much better it could have been but I also think that it could have went way worse.
The first day we got to Ghana, I mentioned to my teammates that something I wanted to grow in this month was preaching.
Next thing I know our pastor says that he would like one of us to share that night at Wednesday night church. He only wanted a quick 10 minute sermon. Nothing too in depth just a few words of encouragement.
All eyes turned to me of course. I volunteered and then went to my bible to find a sermon.
I remembered something I had read in a new book I am reading. It was about building a relationship with the Lord and not just going through the religious steps of walking with Him.
I jotted down a few notes from the book, added some scripture, added my own words and BAM, I had a sermon.
When we got to church my nerves were there but they were not bad yet. We sang some worship songs and did a few prayers and then they called me up to preach.
NERVES!!
The best thing about preaching in other countries is that you have to wait for a translator to translate what you just said, so you have time to think about what you are going to say next.
I got through the sermon with only a few stumbles and of course I spoke quickly but it was actually pretty great!
After the church service I shook hands with almost everyone in the church and several of them called me Pastor Niki and said that my message was very powerful.
How cool is it when you let the Lord speak through you!?
That message came completely from the Lord and I just spoke what He wanted me to speak.
When you say what the Lord tells you to say the response is amazing! The message was powerful for many people because it is what they needed to hear from the Lord.
My encouragement this week for you is to speak truth in love! Listen to what the Lord is saying and say it! No fear, no worry!
Blessings,
Niki
