Ministry this month has offered many opportunities to grow in speaking. My team is partnering with Scripture Union, an organization focused on reaching youth in schools and in communities through youth clubs. As I said last week, I was able to speak to the youth as an Emcee during a Talent Show. This week, my team has split up into different groups and either go to schools or go to youth club. I’ve had been able to speak several times at the youth clubs teaching English, Bible Study, or Life Skills.
On one occasion, I was offered a chance to speak at one of the schools. One of my fears that I’m growing in is my fear of public speaking. It has been a slow, sloooowwwww, growing process, but I have been able to share at one of the schools here in Zimbabwe named Eveline, an all girls school. Mind you, when I speak in a public setting I usually have to pray, A LOT, and spend a SIGNIFICANT amount of time in the prep process.
This week, I found out the night before that I would be speaking in the morning, so my prep time is the shortest I have ever had to prepare my heart for something that terrifies me. I had NO clue what I would be speaking on and began to run through ideas in my head of something, anything I could share.
One of the things I have desired during the World Race is to hear the voice of the Lord so clearly. All I wanted as I prepared was God to deliver this beautifully wrapped message so I could confidently present it to those lovely girls at Eveline. Here’s what actually happened.
First, I ask for prayer from my team for me to receive a word from the Lord on what to speak on.
I speak to one of my teammates about some ideas. I go to bed early. “I’ll worry about it in the morning” I say.
I set my alarm for an hour earlier than I would usually wake up and drift into sleep.
My alarm goes off. I snooze it. It goes off again. Snooze. Again.
The time I usually get up to read my Bible is when I wake up.
I eat breakfast.
Quiet time.
“Okay Lord, show up!”
nothing.
Hmmmm
“I have my testimony. I’m worried about the future and the unknown. Okay, I’ll speak on that!”
Run through bible verses, talk to another teammate.
Go to the school and wait.
A teammate prays for me.
I speak for what seems like a minute, but actually turns out to be 8 or 9 minutes.
The painful fright and feeling of anxiety goes away. Jitters gone.
My teammates say that I didn’t turn red in the face. I did well.
So there it is, no picture perfect message with a bow on it given from the Lord. Or maybe it was? The Lord has lead me through life and experiences that I’m able to share on, maybe not gift wrapped, but still a spiritual message none the less.
Please prayer for all the fears and chains to continually be broken!
