Be In the Moment

“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11

I saw a T-shirt online this week that made me laugh because I think it applies to me. It read, “Wait a minute, let me overthink this.”

I’ve come to realize that I spend a great amount of time preparing to do something and less time actually doing it. I am so afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing that I over-analyze or talk myself out of doing anything. But when I do something, I often ruminate on it over and over again. The desire to be perfect can be paralyzing.

Jesus spoke to his disciples about what would happen to them as believers. He knew they would be persecuted for their faith. But Jesus encouraged them by promising they would not be alone. When they were asked to defend their faith, the Holy Spirit would give them the right thing to say in the moment they needed it.

I don’t think it is a mistake to know Scripture in order to promote the Gospel to others. But we can’t dismiss the work of the Holy Spirit in moments when we speak to others about Christ’s salvation and his work in our lives. If fear of saying the wrong thing overtakes us, we could possibly neglect the most important work of the Gospel — telling those who are lost about God’s love.

No matter if we are defending our faith or we are sharing God’s Word with someone far from him, the Spirit inside us will guide our words so that, as Mark recorded, “..it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”

Lord, help me not give in to fear when speaking about you. Give me confidence in the Spirit’s ability to give me the right words to say at the right time. Amen.

By Debbie West
Used by Permission

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