“When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you will answer or what you are to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.”

Luke 12:11-12

Which would scare you more: Having to testify in court or having to testify in church?

It seems like some people have that gift of a silvery tongue. They open their mouths and out comes coherent, eloquent speech. And when it’s time to share about their faith, they do it seemingly effortlessly.

Then there are most of the rest of us. Sharing about what God has done in our lives is difficult, if not down-right panic inducing. The fear of public speaking is called glossophobia, and according to NBC news (presentationskills.me) an estimated 75% of adults suffer from it. Some folks might be willing to stand up at the board meeting, but sharing in a church small group? No way.

If that’s you, I have good news, right out of the mouth of Jesus. When it’s time to testify to your faith, you can count on the Holy Spirit to put the words right on your lips. Easy Peasy.

Well…

I hate to argue with my Lord and Savior, but there’s still a bunch of us down here that aren’t exactly flooded with the right words at the right time. Talking to others about our faith can leave us feeling highly vulnerable, and worried we’ll say the wrong thing. If you are one of those folks struggling to go public with your faith, here’s three things to consider:

1. It’s a worthy challenge. Opening your mouth and letting your faith spill out is not always easy. It’s like jumping into the deep end. You take a deep breath, and dive in. Chances are, you’ll be glad you did. It helps to be sharing in what feels like a safe place, although more advance “testifiers” find themselves able to talk with total strangers!
2. It’s giving a gift. What could be more intimate than your connection with God? The stories you tell are some of the most personal stories you could share. You share them as a gift to the listener, who learns from your experience, and a gift to God, on whose behalf you reveal your glimpse into the Kingdom.
3. It’s more about listening than it is about speaking. The more we listen for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the more we’ll have to say about it. What if you asked yourself each evening, “How did I experience the Holy Spirit today?” By listening for God’s presence, the words will be easier to generate.

All that said, it’s still a really hard thing to do. Perhaps you’ll find yourself in the right circumstance where it’s just too hard not to speak. Or maybe you can start with a trusted group of friends and launch into a “deep conversation”.

Not everybody is built for public speaking, but everybody is built for faith-sharing. It’s part of that faith muscle each of us has. The more we exercise it, the stronger it gets.

Don’t worry, you’ll never get a subpoena to stand up in church and tell your truth,

But if the moment arises, it wouldn’t hurt

to put your hand

on the Bible.

Have a great week,

Mitch