Pray, Slay, and Share the Way: The Girly Guide to Evangelism

This is for the girls who HATE evangelism. Well, hate is a strong word, more like running away from any opportunity to spread the gospel to people in PERSON. I'm girls. You'd think I'd be a pro by the things I know and post online, but I am quite shy in public, and still struggle with rejection. I can yap behind a screen but when it comes to preaching the gospel to random people, or even the people I know, I stop, drop, and roll. If that's you too, great!

We're in this together. Walking with Jesus is a constant process, we never get to the finish line, there's always something that could be improved on. Therefore, give yourself grace, and take it one day at a time, but I do have some practical tips I have been applying to help me still share the way of Jesus in my everyday life, so let's go!

If someone came up to me a few years ago wanting to preach to me about Jesus, I would've probably gotten uncomfortable! So this led me to think that talking to people bluntly about Jesus might not be the best way to get to their hearts. If you don't know Him, He might just seem like a fictional character that christians worship like Egyptians worship gods, maybe a historical figure, or even a genie that you prayed to once when you wanted a new car, and He didn't come through, so you forgot about Him. Most people have the wrong perception of who he is and who God is as a whole. It was the same for me. But you don't just think this and then say, "You know what, I'm going to find out." No, most people do things their own way until they die and hope for the best. Every believer who is walking with Christ didn't decide one day to find out, we had an experience where we truly felt the presence of the Lord in our situation and craved more of it.

Knowing this, I think the first step to sharing the gospel, is by reflecting Christ's love onto people. You become who you surround yourself with they say. Well what we can do is do what Jesus did. He showed kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and love. There are so many verses I could quote here, but I love Ephesians 4:22-32. God says to take off our former way of living and be renewed and transformed to be blameless and holy just as He is. We are to be imitators of Him. In a world of "I'm only worried about me" let's be people with humility and compassion. Philippians 2:3 says "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves." Jesus came to earth to serve others, we should apply that same attitude, that means showing hospitality or complimenting someone's shirt, or serving your parents by putting away the dishes without anyone asking you to. Small stuff and big stuff.

We are in a society where everyone is isolated. No one talks about how they're hurting or in pain, but what we are called to do is to SEE people, and give them hope of something bigger, by loving on them and being there for them. Romans 15:2, "We who are strong have an obligation to bear weaknesses of those without strength and not please ourselves." Let Jesus' love stick onto you, so they can feel it too. This requires a level of sacrifice. Putting others before yourself is not easy, which is why we need the Holy Spirit to guide us through. Without God we are terrible and nasty people, so we can't be like Jesus without Jesus' help.

My second step is understanding the power of prayer. Usually after regular interactions with people I pray for them afterwards. That the Lord would change their hearts and renew a steadfast spirit within them. Not every encounter has to mention Jesus, but being very intentional is the key. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." A few verses below it says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (11:6)

We have to have faith that God will do the impossible, even if it doesn't look like it. If Paul's story can take a 180 turn, so can you and so can the people you pray for. Pray without ceasing. Have faith that the Lord is going to work in these peoples lives because you yourself experienced the power of renewal and transformation. Nothing is impossible for God! Remember that WE can't change peoples hearts by our words or our actions, only God can do that. Pray to be more like Jesus. Love like Him, speak like Him, live like Him, then he will be shown through you to others who need Him.

So in summary,

1. Give people the love you'd want before you knew Christ. Shower them with a love that can only be explained through Jesus. Learn who Jesus is by reading the Word, and then applying it to your life. Respond like Jesus, not the world.

2. Pray for these people! Prayer has so much power. Not only can interceding for someone bring them closer to God but it can foster a deeper relationship and understanding of God's heart for YOU.

3. Have faith that God is going to do the unthinkable. Have faith that their situation is going to turn around, even if you can't see it in the physical yet, believe that the Lord works all things together for the good of those who love Him!

   Doing these steps will deepen your own relationship with the Father! There's no bad that comes out from helping others and doing what Jesus did. Now as time goes on, we will be strong and equipped enough to come up to people and share the good news! Praise Jesus, I can't wait for the day.

4. Here are some books to read that cover faith, humility, Jesus's sacrifice, and guide to new living if you want to exude an attitude like God.

   Ephesians

   Hebrews

   Romans

   Galatians

   James