Are You Shy or Bold?

“Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, ‘It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles…’” (Acts 13:46 NLT)

It’s bordering on the miraculous that I ever had a date in high school. Self-confidence wasn’t in my vocabulary, and though I wanted to date, it was nearly impossible for me to take the initiative in asking someone out. Unfortunately, that’s how many people feel about their witness as a believer.

On some levels I attribute shyness or boldness to whether we are an introvert or extrovert, but there comes a point in each of our lives when regardless of how we see ourselves, if we’re born again of the Spirit of God, we need to speak His truth in love.

Though I’ve walked with the Lord for many years, at times it’s still hard for me to initiate a conversation with someone I’m just meeting or with a stranger. Scott Sauls shed light on this subject when he wrote: “In every Christian, there should be a holy shyness about self and a holy boldness about Jesus.” 

It’s never been an issue with me to be shy about myself but sharing my faith has been a priority since very early in my walk with the Lord. Though it was a struggle and I learned much from my failures, over time I learned some key elements that gave me a track to run on.

Regardless of our maturity in Christ there are effective ways we can share that can be liberating for us and life changing for those with whom we share. It’s very common to be fearful when having a conversation with someone about the Lord, so I’d like to share a few things that have been helpful to me.

First, it’s not about you. When the Lord opens the door for us to have a conversation with someone about Him, His Spirit will lead the conversation. The most important thing for us is to “get out of His way.” But how? Prayer! Pray before the conversation begins and breathe prayers even as you are listening or speaking.

It’s also essential to remember that the Lord is speaking into the heart and mind of the person with whom we’re speaking, opening them to the words He’ll prompt us to share. Two things that help in virtually any Spirit-guided conversation. Have an idea where you’re headed and what outcome you’re anticipating.

Having a three-minute testimony can be an excellent introduction when your goal is to share with someone. A simple guide is: 1. what was your life like before you met Jesus; 2. how did you meet Him? What were the circumstances that turned your heart to Him? 3. Then thirdly, how has your life changed since yielding your life and allegiance to Him?

Remember, it’s not about you, so keep it very brief. If the person has questions, briefly answer them, but your goal is to help them to see Jesus more clearly and to invite them to give their life to Him. Related to that, have in mind an outline to follow, but don’t be alarmed if the conversation goes in a direction you hadn’t anticipated. Just keep praying and following the Lord’s lead.

Ray Comfort is among the best I’ve ever seen in helping people understand their need of the Lord and helping them turn their lives over to Jesus. His Living Waters ministry is filled with resources that are helpful in equipping you to share your faith. Just remember that your goal isn’t to become Ray Comfort or anyone else, it’s to be the best, most pliable you, filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Even if you’re shy, you can become very bold under the Spirit’s leadership when your conversation is led by the Lord.

Let’s look at this from another angle in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊