When I am nervous, I get short of breath and struggle to get my words out before gasping for air. And I sweat…a bunch…while frantically waving my hands to-and-fro. For these reasons alone, I am a poor choice to represent anyone! However, I was chosen by the King of Kings to be His daughter and reflect His glory.
Whether identifying with Christ in a group or one-on-one, we all struggle with fear and lies that crowd our minds and emotions. Let’s tell God our fears out loud. I am not worthy, I just yelled at my kids! What if I am rejected? What if I get tongue-tied? What if I say something untrue and misrepresent you, God? I am not a Bible scholar. What if there is a question I can’t answer? What if my deodorant doesn’t work?!?
Okay, Breathe. Now, the ugly thoughts are out and we can battle them with truth from God’s inerrant Word. Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT says: God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. In this verse, God answers our questions and teaches us how to think. Let’s look closely at the Scripture and examine ways to fight fear.
Gratitude-God saved you by His grace when you believed. Phew, God does the saving of souls. We are fully forgiven and able to gratefully share what Christ has done for us on the cross.
Dependence-And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. We didn’t earn it. He wants our hearts, not our perfection. Dependence on God grows when we seek to know Him. Filling our hearts and minds with truth in Scripture causes the Gospel to naturally spill from our lips. (Luke 6:45)
Salvation and Humility-They are not a reward for the good things we have done, so no one can boast about them. We can approach others in humility. We all fall short and we all need a rescuer. (Romans 3:23)
Identity-For we are God’s masterpiece. Our Creator made each of us to uniquely reflect His glory. We do not need different gifts or expert knowledge of the Bible. We are already equipped to simply share God’s transforming truth in our lives.
Created Anew and Equipped-He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things. Christ gave us His Identity! We are not defined by our past or sin. We are able to share with vulnerability.
Planned-He planned for us long ago. Your story is actually His story, through you. He is the author, the director, and the main character!
Try writing down the story of God’s redemption in your life. Not just your salvation moment, but also how He transforms you daily. Who were you before Christ and what or who did you trust? How did you realize your sin and need for a Savior? Who are you in Christ? How has God rescued, challenged, humbled, refined, sheltered, and sustained you? It is not important to share every detail in each situation. The Holy Spirit will reveal what experiences to share. Remembering God’s faithfulness builds your trust in Him.
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