Oh to be Able to Share His Story

What message will you be spreading by the way that you live your life? 

Though we might not all speak to a crowd on a weekly basis, your actions and words speak volumes to the values that you hold. I have had the opportunity to be a co-youth leader to teenagers and young adults. Speaking in front of your friends takes a lot of guts to do. Many of my friends and those that know of me, may think that public speaking and being in front of a crowd is like home to me. I have had the blessing of growing up performing and being in multiple films. So you could say that I should be extremely comfortable being in front of people, especially when it's talking to a crowd about my faith that leaps from my lips. The truth is, I am comfortable with public speaking, but when it comes to sharing my "faith" it can become a super scary thing to do.

 I often times feel that I'm not adequate enough to share my faith to others, It's a constant reminder that the Lord has forgiven me and redeemed me. I am justified through faith. Satan loves to remind us of who we once were. He brings up our past by giving us opportunities through old relationships, places, and thoughts. I don't have to live a perfect life in order to share my faith with others, that's what is so amazing about being a follower of Christ. Christ is the only man to have ever walked upon the face of this earth that never sinned.  I have prayed for the Lord's guidance and comfort so I could become more comfortable and willing to do so. I now love when I have the opportunity to share my story of redemption. I love to help others understand aspects of the Bible and how the Holy Spirit may work within them. Expression of faith is something that must be practiced in order to gain comfort to share with others. The Lord holds my life, I do not.

Gym Life

How scary it can be to share our faith at the gym (or fill in the blank with a place you find yourself often with potentially spiritually lost people) in front of so many people! Many of those people are at the gym with self glorifying reasons, but a few I hope are there to renew their bodies and build a strong temple for the Lord. We have the honor and responsibility to be a banner for Christ everywhere we go. The gym is a place that is spiritually dark and needs messengers of the Good News to be presented! If you have an opportunity to share your faith the next time you are at the gym, be courageous, give it a shot. You miss every chance you that you decide to not take.

A Christ-centered mind involves knowing why you are bettering your body. Consume yourself on the best energy source, Christ. Feel the burn in the gym for Christ. Put your everything into every workout, because Christ put everything on the cross for you. Set your heart ablaze.

How I Remind Myself 

I have found some crucial verses to remind myself of how I am to live my life for Christ. We are adequate through the justification process by God. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." 

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." 

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Encouragement to Share Your Faith 

1 Peter 3:15-16 " But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." 

Christ gives us divine appointments to share our faith, take these times and pour your heart and faith out. Christ is glorified when we have the courage share our story and His story. Christ is alive now! Our God reigns over everything for all of eternity. There is a reason to share His story of triumph! 

Sensitivity to Darkness

Keep your heart sensitive to the sin that creeps into your life. If we let our mind and heart become numb to the distance from God that is created when we choose to sin, it can easily become daily life. Constantly remind yourself that God is above all things. Ask yourself is what you are doing pleasing to The Lord. If God were to be accompanying you during your sinful actions or thoughts would He be happy or proud? Though we all fall short of the glory of God, we can strive to live and to love like Jesus. Habitually committing sin will keep you away from experiencing the Holy Spirit's power and direction. Mistakes happen and we will fall short, but it shall not be a habit formed for daily life. Keep yourself sensitive to sin and on fire for God.



Christians still Stumble

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. - James 4:17 

So what does this verse exactly mean? It means that as Christians we are given security in Jesus Christ. We realized that we once were lost and needed a Savior. As Christians we obtain knowledge from the Bible about what is required and expected of us. If we know that a particular action or thought is sinful and we still do it, it is sin. The Lord knows the knowledge that each of us obtain. Christians still stumble even though they have been justified through faith in Jesus. 

  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . - Romans 3:23

Sensitive Heart and Mind

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Christ wants your journey in life to be focused and directed in His grace, will, and passion. Christ has renewed our soul and has strengthened our minds with His word. In Christ we are made new! The old you has now passed away and you are born again through the love of Christ. He is our healer, stronghold, and giver of life. He has made each on of us in His likeness. Your journey has just begun. Take up your belongings and set foot on the greatest journey through life with the best tour guide you will ever follow. 

Facing Daunting Tasks

-Discipleship-

Surrounding yourself around fellow Christians will help keep your life on track. The people that you choose to spend your time with, will determine the actions that you accept. Surround yourself with others that are after God’s own heart, after His truth, His vision, and His pursuit to spread the word to others. During the toughest of seasons, these friendships can propel you forward. They can encourage you to continue to pursue greatness. These friendships will remind you that all that truly matters is what you do for the Lord, all the material things are temporary. Relationships have eternal value. Facing the daunting tasks of our tomorrows becomes a lot easier knowing that you are loved by those around you.

-Eternal Security-

Once you are saved by the grace of God, you will always have the Lord present within your soul. The Lord is your forever master. Living a life of obedience to the Lord is how one may secure such a gift of eternal life. The tasks of tomorrow end up becoming not as daunting when you realize that you have eternal security within the kingdom of the Lords.

-Process of Peace-

Though the tasks may be ever pressing and increasingly daunting, the Lord is with you every step of the way. The Lord craves your longing for Him to ask for his guidance and intervention. The Lord has a divine message within the struggles that we face. The Lord may be forming you into a stronger individual to be ready for the upcoming events of your life. Eternal peace will save you from so much worry and stress. The Lord is the ultimate stress reliever. Let Him take control over your situations. The Lord wants to soothe your soul with His promises and encouraging words. The Tasks that once were so daunting can become tasks that are doable with help from the Lord. Let the Lord set the pace. Leave your problems at the feet of Jesus, He longs to give you rest.

-Providence-

The Lord works each situation in life out uniquely. Though we may not understand why we have to face certain situations/tasks in life, the Lord is forever righteous. Food for thought: once the task is complete, it’s complete!! There is a new day tomorrow and the Lord is gracious to forgive us each and every single day. A priori, of how often we come to the conclusion that we know that the outcome will be awful before we have even started a task! Being a perfectionist is coming that has been a struggle with me in the realm of school work and other various forms of work that I partake in. Just because I don’t receive an A on every assignment or complete a task in the correct manner, does not mean that I’m a failure. It simple means that I’m human and that I’m capable of improvement at all times. The Lord is the only person to have ever achieved perfection. Through the Lord’s eternal gift of salvation, He clothes us in a robe of perfection before His very eyes.

Key Verses:

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10 ESV).

 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1 2-4 ESV).