I will not be afraid…I will not be afraid

When asked about your faith–do you freeze, mouth go dry, or get the “deer in the headlight” look?  I have.  By now you probably get the idea that I am not great at thinking on my feet when it comes to storytelling.  I am working on it. As Peter wrote we should always be ready to give an account for the hope we have within (1 Peter 3:15).  Scary stuff!

I have decided the way to be ready is to prepare in advance…starting with my heart.  I must honor Christ as Lord in my heart and leave no room for fear or intimation (1 Peter 3:14-15). Or as Paul puts it let the peace of Christ rule in my heart (Colossians 3:15)…The peace that Jesus promises in John 14:27…My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Next I have realized I need to think about it in advance…engage my mind before I am asked. I need to spend some time remembering God’s work in my life…remembering the events of the past. This is something that I am not in the habit of doing.  I am more of a ‘press on’ kind of a girl.  Yet it is the past that can help prepare me to ‘press on’ and encourage others to do the same.  I have found some tips to help me remember my stories–

1. story prompts–some phrases to get my mind going*

2. life time line–marking out life events

3. daily reflection–stop and think back through the day

As well as, remembering, I have come to understand I need to become  the “author” of my stories and write them down.  They don’t need to be long…I am beginning to jot down a few sentences about the experience, God’s work in it and what I learned from it.

Once I have my heart right with God, my mind engaged-remembering—at least long enough to write it down…now I need to do one more thing to be ready to tell the story of God’s work in my life.  I need to perform an attitude check.

As Peter said…give an account for the hope within you yet with gentleness and reverence, and keep a good conscience…(1 Peter 3:15-16)

I must speak having a spirit of gentleness and out of reverence to God. I must keep a good conscience before God.  What I share must in no way be used to “trash” others, promote self, but always and only glorify God.  I must remember to keep God the main character not an after thought.

I hope you will join me in preparing to share the work of God in your life, so that we can our faith and bring glory to God.

 *I have included some prompts to help with your story telling in the resource section. Check them out and join me in remembering and writing today!

Author: Sherry

Sherry is Precept Upon Precept Inductive Study trained leader. She is the Women's Ministry Director and leads women’s bible studies at her church in Bellevue, Nebraska. Sherry also writes materials for and speaks at women’s retreats. She and her husband have recently relocated to the Midwest after living on the East Coast for fifteen years and enjoy spending weekends in Kansas at the family farm. View all posts by Sherry