Luke 12:12
“for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
I can vividly remember the first time I gave a sermon. Sweaty palms, a stack of word-for-word notes on the podium, awkward giggles, and lots of “likes” and “umms.” I was in high school and I was eager to share the word of God, but I felt so small up on a stage with blinding bright lights. My peers were like piranhas and the silence in the room when I took a sip of water was deafening.
Yes, I was nervous. Yes, that’s an understatement.
My youth pastor had called me up to the stage after worship, laid his hands on me, and prayed over me before I spoke. Everyone sat, eyes closed praying and I kept asking Jesus, “Please just use me tonight. Speak through me.”
I’ll be honest. I have no clue what I said up there that night and sometimes, even today when I preach I can walk off the stage, the past 30 minutes a blank page in my memory. It’s not like I blackout and forget everything, I sometimes forget the words I spoke. Because sometimes they aren’t mine.
You see, when the Holy Spirit comes on us with power, he overwhelms and banishes our fear. There is no fear in love and the Holy Spirit IS love. Love conquers fear.
So when I stand before God and say, “I’m your vessel. Even though I’m nervous, please use me” the Holy Spirit shows up. There are countless mentions in the bible of the Holy Spirit speaking through people or telling them what to say. When I preach I feel there are special moments when the Holy Spirit tells me what to say and speaks through me. But first, it takes stepping out of my fear and asking the spirit to cover me in his love.
Take time today and ask the Holy Spirit to cover your fear with his love. Ask him to meet you where you’re at and fill you to the brim with peace, comfort, joy and love. You probably aren’t engaging in public speaking any time soon, but before the Holy Spirit speaks through you, he fills you and calms you. Practice spending time in the Holy Spirit’s presence first and foremost.