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Listen while you read: "O Breath Of Life"1
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Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (NIV)
When I was in grade 9, I had to do a report in front of my class. I began reading my report, and my hands began to shake, my breathing became irregular, and I ran out of the classroom. When I got home and told my mother, she made an appointment for me to see our family doctor. He gave me a note for my teachers that I did not have to speak in front of my class any more … and I didn't. For years, I battled my nerves, and I thought that I was going crazy at times. No one else seemed to have these problems. The family doctor told my parents, "What did you expect from two nervous parents?"
About twelve years ago, I really began to know Jesus through the Alpha program that was being run at a nearby church, after a friend suggested that I might enjoy it. It was very hard for me at first, but over the weeks, with a lot of help from the people there, I came to believe. I turned my life and my will over to God. I knew that I needed Him completely to run my life, and I haven't looked back.
I decided to make my profession of faith on an Easter Sunday. I had also decided that I wanted to say something to the congregation and the people from Alpha who had helped me. This is when my entire life turned around. I went up there, and the Lord took all fear away from me. Since that time, I always say "yes" when someone asks me to read or speak. I look out and see my friends.
The prodigal daughter has returned, and God has shown His immense love for me.
I hope and pray that any of you who are afraid of speaking or reading in front of anyone will gain some hope from this. Our church family is just that: family and very dear friends. God wants us to be brave for Him. All things are possible with Him.
During these times of tribulation that our world is going through, let us believe in the Lord; He will sustain us. Let us be a light unto the world that is so confused. Let us not be afraid to speak about what the Lord has done for us. He is right beside us urging us to go forth and be brave.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful gifts that You provide for us as we place our trust in You. We gladly serve You, Father, and we pray for Your guidance each step of our journey. Bless us, we pray, in the name our Saviour Jesus. Amen.
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About the author:
Marilyn Clark <marilynjclark1947@gmail.com>
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
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Marilyn, thank you for your devotional. I had a very similar experience when I was in grade 8. We were asked to write a speech, and half our mark for the year in English grammar and writing would be based on that speech and our delivery. I stood in front of the class, looked at the principal (who taught grade 8), at the class, and said in a small voice, “I can’t do this,” and hurried to sit down at my desk, head bowed in embarrassment. I was sure my marks would reflect my failure. It was that same year my grandmother took me to a WMS meeting at our church. The speaker was a missionary home on leave from Taiwan, wearing traditional Taiwanese dress. I was impressed! After she spoke, refreshments were served, and because I was (am) extremely shy, I found a small Sunday School chair in a corner at the back of the hall and sat there waiting for time to go home. I was sitting looking at my feet when the speaker came and knelt down in front of me, and looking me face to face, she talked about how difficult it was for her to – and still was at times – to speak in front of groups. She talked about how God always helped her. On the walk home, I told my grandmother that when I grew up, I would tell people about God helping us, just like the speaker was doing. My grandmother squeezed my hand and said, “If God wants you to do that, you will do it, and God will help you too”. I grew up and when I turned 30, (3 small children) I began studies at Presbyterian College, and was ordained 3 years later (having done 2 degrees at once at the College and McGill – later I did a doctoral degree), and my first church was in the poorest part of Montreal – for more than 10 years I enjoyed working with and for the poor, the sexually abused, the early teen pregnancies, drug abuse and was blessed with a congregation who were open to providing many different kinds of support – food, clothing, education of youth re sex and pregnancy etc., homelessness, and the list goes on. My learning and ministry were shaped not only by the formal and continuing education provided by our seminaries but also by the hands-on, side-by-side involvement with the neighbours we are each called to love, to minister to and with, as Jesus commands. I treasure all that was part of those years. Yes, standing in front of the class to share a sermon that may or may not be shared in the church, but as a learning experience, standing in front of the congregations in the two -point charge where I did my ‘intern’ work under the supervision of the Minister there, I often felt like the young girl in grade eight again. I learned the most important lesson, that God is always with us, and my responsibility was to prepare the service/sermon to the best of my ability and trust that it is God who uses my words according to God’s wisdom and will and did not depend on my “eloquence” but on God’s love. Your email brought back such a flood of memories and a deep feeling of gratitude for being part of Christ’s ministry in the world, along with so many others, for laity and clergy. Thanks again for sharing your experience – shyness never really goes away. I think we learn to work through it and become more open, outgoing, and receptive to others, all with God’s help. God bless you and your ministry of sharing.
Thanks Marilyn for the encouraging word.
What a wonderful testimony!! Good for you (and God of course!)
Thank you for sharing about this difficulty overcome through faith. Blessings.
Beautiful testimony & encouraging, too! May God continue to bless you as you walk with Him.
AMEN!
(Texas)
Good thought!
Blessings.
Dear Madam. I have never been so moved to write a note to anyone after reading a daily devotion but today I did. I just want to say “way to go”.
Marilyn thank you for sharing this with us.
It so awesome what God does in our lives things we never thought possible.
Dear Marilyn,
Thank you for your devotional. Wonderful!! God bless you and keep speaking!!!
Marilyn
Thanks for the testimony and may God continue to bless you in your journey.
Hi. Wonderful, I did the same too, as I was also scared for different reasons, but with Jesus all things are possible.
God bless.
Dear Marilyn,
I really enjoy your devotional “All Things Are Possible With God”.
Thank you.
Great devotion Marilyn! Sometimes we just need to step out in faith, even when we aren’t comfortable. So glad you gave your heart to our Lord and started following Him. Just look at what He has done for you since then!
Hi Marilyn,
Thank you for your uplifting story.
It touched me this morning and reminded me, as always, to trust in the Lord.
Blessings.
Dear Marilyn,
I thank God with you for the victory. Keep trusting God to keep you in the Holy Spirit’s power. Sure you’ll have some challenges, but God is most powerful.
When you look out and see your friends, you can also know that God is within you in his Holy Spirit loving you forever.
Keep speaking and writing.
Dear Marilyn;
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I, too, know of what you speak. At first, reluctantly, with knees shaking, I read a portion of scripture in front of our congregation, but with God’s help and prayer beforehand, I did okay. And the more I read, the more I grew comfortable. Mind you, I still get a bit shaky, but only I know that, no one else seems to notice. I think it must be a God thing!
Dear Marilyn,
Your devotional brought back memories of my own experiences. I was extremely shy in school and even later after I had kids of my own. I came out of my shell when the Lord put it on my heart to teach Sunday school. Now, people tell me that I am quite a conversationalist but there are times when I wish I could be quiet again! Who me?
Thank you for writing this encouraging devotional.
God Bless.
Dear Marilyn, public speaking is one of people’s worst fears. I have been walking with the Lord for over 23 years but I would like to share with you that Toastmasters has been a tremendous help for me. God will use everything and everyone to help us grow in faith and love of ourselves and of others. Joining Toastmasters has helped me with my self-confidence and also to be able to speak in front of church members like you and read the word and pray. So on this beautiful Thursday morning I would like to thank and praise God for what he has done in her life and mine. And as a sister in Christ I hope to see you in heaven one day. God bless you.
Dear Marilyn,
Thanks for a wonderful devotional today. What a courageous woman you are!
I am a volunteer chaplain at our local correctional facility and we have just completed our spring Alpha program. This Devotional would be a blessing to so many. I would like to photocopy it and give it to some of the inmates I visit. And perhaps others you would send in.
I would delete your name and address and add this line:
Reprinted with the author’s permission from the PresbyCan Daily Devotional
May God continue to bless you as you bless others.
Wow, I know exactly what you are talking about! I too was never able to get up in front of people, and in fact I did everything I could to avoid it for nearly my entire life. I was raised in the church, but never didn’t really feel I belonged and eventually left the church. However, about 4 years ago when God sought me out and brought me back to His fold, I discovered a true relationship with God. Since then, I have discovered that through Him I can do things I would never have believed possible. Willingly, with pleasure, and with the courage and power of God alongside and within me. I have discovered my voice, and I have discovered all kinds of gifts I never knew I had. Thanks be to God, and thank you for putting your (and my experiences) into words so well.
God bless.
Thanks for sharing your testimony Marilyn.
It may encourage others to do likewise.
God Bless You.
Hi Marilyn,
Enjoyed your devotional, and I can relate. I was a very shy person right up into adulthood really, always trying to stay in the background, had (still have I am told) an inferiority complex. I would never have thought that I would ever become a public speaker, Bible teacher and writer.
And I am convinced that it is the Lord through his Spirit and the encouragement of people I am associated with that gives me the strength to do what I never ever thought I could or would.
Blessings.