Isaiah 61:1-2a
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…”
There was a period in my life when I was so shy I was afraid to speak for fear that my words would be found foolish. It became paralyzing and inhibited my desire to make friends, especially boyfriends! Slowly, over the years, the shell that protected me from humiliation started to crack as God began a work in my heart until finally I was able to break free from its confines. Not only did He instill in me the confidence to engage in normal conversations, but eventually He gave me a platform for public speaking.
The Lord has also given me the confidence to speak boldly about Christ, especially in the course of building relationships. In a discussion about Christmas, I’ve used the opportunity to share the Gospel with family, neighbors, and a friend who is Muslim. The Christmas season gives us wonderful opportunities to proclaim the Good News of Hope. We can ask a simple question, “What does Christmas mean to you?” or “How does your family celebrate Christmas?” God may use you to proclaim the real meaning of Christmas and offer living Hope to someone this year.
Lord, You came to mend our broken hearts, free us, and release us from the captivity of sin. Give us boldness to proclaim that Good News and offer Hope to our friends and family, not just during the Christmas season, but all year long as you provide opportunities. In His name we pray. Amen.
