No matter what we are working on or how much is on our plates, we can’t forget to pay attention to what God is doing around us.
But for some reason, after our staff meeting this morning, I had a burst of productive energy coursing through my veins. So I put my head down and got to work in our meeting room. Slowly, the rest of the staff dispersed to their various offices. All except for one of our youth and campus leaders. He’s been hard at work the last two days, preparing to preach at one of our college large group gatherings. His first time preaching, so he really wants to get it right.
I barely noticed him out of the corner of my eye, until I heard his voice say, “So Kylie, do you get nervous with public speaking?” Without looking up or even acknowledging him, I rattled off my answer, “No, not really.” Then continued typing away on the next batch of church curriculum I’m writing.
Almost instantly, the Holy Spirit nudged me.
Almost instantly, the Holy Spirit nudged me, saying, “Now you know good and well this boy was not asking about you. Look up and talk to him.”
But Lord, I can’t! I have so much to get done… we’re backlogged, here! And having conversations like this is what distracts me. Believe me, I’d love to talk to him…I’d love to do just about anything except the work in front of me, but it can’t wait any longer. I have to focus!
Radio silence. In the room, and in my heart. No Holy Spirit rebuttal. No need for one. He said what He said. The only left to do was listen to Him.
I closed my laptop and started a conversation with my co-laborer in Christ.
“So are you nervous to preach tonight?”
“Yeah, I have so many questions about how to do this well. Mainly, how do I get over these nerves so they can hear the gospel instead of me tripping over my words?”
He said what He said. The only left to do was listen to Him.
Bless his heart.
This man has sat in every class I’ve taught, multiple times, seen me on stage every Sunday either in worship or in preaching. All he wanted was some help to do the same thing, and I was almost too busy.
“Thank you, Lord, for not letting me miss this moment,” I silently prayed.
We talked about one particular Sunday when I was preaching and anxiety almost took me out. I told him how on that day, I could barely put one foot in front of the other; I was very near a full on panic attack. But as soon as I crossed the threshold of the stage, all anxiety left. I delivered the word out of obedience, and no one knew the anxiousness that had nearly overtaken me.
“Thank you, Lord, for not letting me miss this moment,” I silently prayed.
I told him that if he shifted his focus from stage fright to obedience, maybe that would help. One thing about this young man is that he is going to obey God with every fiber of his being. He will make a disciple out of anybody willing to give him 2 minutes of their time. God is using him mightily amongst our youth and college students.
So I knew that helping him see his nerves as spiritual warfare meant to keep him silent would cause him to fight them well. We talked about his outline, I gave him some things I’ve learned along the way, and then I left him alone with the Lord to work out his message with fear and trembling.
Pay attention. Don’t miss your mission.
Absolutely great message.
Thank you 🙏🏼
“He said what He said.” Time to listen and obey. Love this!
Yes! Amen!