Witnessing: The Lessons I've Learned
19th April 2010 by Amy Peterson
Sharing your faith with friends can be a scary task!
Sometimes it even seems impossible because everyone else around you seems to do it with ease, and you are the one who usually goes bright red, fumbles with your thumbs and does something embarrassing when anyone says, "So what's so good about God".
I know how it feels; I've been there. But over time, I've learnt some very valuable lessons and that by God's strength we can do it!
Lesson 1: If it's a duty, don't bother
You may feel as though you need to speak more to your friends, and that what you are doing isn't good enough. We feel pressure to witness out of duty, rather than out of a passion for God and a desire to share his love.
When we do things out of duty, we quickly lose our peace and become very defensive in situations when people come against us. This causes division and disunity and therefore helps Satan do what he does best – destroy lives.
I've experienced this at school, when someone has tried to pull me down because of my faith and accused me of hating them because they were against Christianity being expressed through performing arts. They tried to get me to "fight back" but instead I told her that I didn't hate her, I loved her. After a week of this, she came up and apologised if she had offended me in any way and said how much she admired the way I reacted in the situation.
Lesson 2: Share out of the Spirit
To do things out of a desire for God, and out of the Spirit, we need to spend quality time with God. This means stepping into his throne room everyday and spending time in worship and prayer. Those "highs" we get from conferences and gatherings with other Christians are available to you every moment of your life!
The more you get to know God and the power you have access to, the more prepared you will be when asked about your faith. You will also be more sensitive to the Spirit when God tells you to speak or pray with someone. Or even when he just challenges the way you act. Get to know who you are in Christ and live it!
Lesson 3: Watch your actions
The old saying is quite true: "actions can speak louder than words". Your reaction to a kid being bullied, your respect for your teachers, the way you take time to talk to people, your input in a conversation or even the peace you have in exam week speaks very clearly to those around you.
Right now, you are probably having more of an impact on your friends than you know! You can always say something, but then you might do something entirely different. Your actions are an honest reflection of who you are and what you stand for.
Lesson 4: Don't be fooled
One thought that the enemy will try to deceive you with is this, "They are obviously more gifted in this area than me. I'll leave evangelism to them. I could never do what they do!"
That is one big lie. Don't listen to it! God is not a respecter of persons! So if you read, hear, or know about someone that God is using in amazing ways, he wants to do just as amazing things through you! Are you going to step up to that? Are you going to embrace that? Claim it, you child of the Most High!
Lesson 5: Make God your fortress
I'll leave you with a song of David that has helped me a lot in my journey and may help you too!
"Oh Lord, You are my Lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. God's way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights. He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arms to draw a bronze bow. You have given me your shield of victory, your help has made me great. You have made a wide path for my feet, to keep them from slipping."
By Amy Peterson
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Comments
Good word Amy ... you are an amazing young woman and it is such a blessing to see how God is growing, teaching and using you. Keep pursuing His plan for your life. It is incredible! And, young people who have read this article, receive it and know without a doubt that God wants to, can, and will, use you to do awesome things in His name.
man, great word amy! spot-on lessons from someone who walks the talk - thanks for sharing this! :)