Many times in life I think to myself, shoot, I wish I could witness to this person, or that person. Or “I wish I could be a better evangelist, or witness, in general to others.” One thing I have realized is if I continue to surrender my ENTIRE self (my will, soul, desires, past, present and future, etc) then God can do enormous things through me, and with anyone.
I have a Surrender Prayer someone gave me which I pray every morning and have been doing for about 10 months. At first I didn’t notice anything big changing in my life, but I knew I needed to pray this prayer every day. It wasn’t until recently when I did a personal examination one weekend of my life where I realized the surrender part was taking action. I wasn’t just saying the words but was actually DOING it. I was surrendering my will and letting Christ take my will and do with me what He pleases.
Many times my will is being fearful of what others will think of me if I share my faith, morals and beliefs. But Christ in me and acting through me after surrendering is opposite. It is the deliverance of all fear and having peace in the midst of just being the true me while I live my faith, morals and beliefs. I may not have to outwardly preach them and tell everyone what they are. But if I live them and be not ashamed, others will see that I am proud and truly love it and live it for what it is. THEN they will want more. That is TRUE witness and TRUE evangelization.
There have been occasions of theological debate where people go on and on and it never gets anywhere because the person against the Catholic/Christian topic I am trying for hasn’t seen it preached and lived in love. Therefore why should they believe? And honestly, I agree.
I have been reading Abby Johnson’s book Unplanned about her journey from working for Planned Parenthood to becoming pro-life and working for Coalition for Life. Carrying this book around, not knowing what other people’s stance on abortion is in the L’Arche community where I just began working and living at … well… I was risking it. But I can’t hide who I am and I can’t hide the truth: that abortion is murder. So I brought this book to the beach with those I work and hang out with and it started good conversation. In fact, one of the assistants asked if she could look at the book on the ride home. She read the first chapter and was shocked. I found out she has the same stance as myself. Not only did it spark a conversation at the beach but also when I had it at my doctor's office. He asked what it was about and on and on...
Just by carrying the book, I was a witness. By what we read, what we say, how we act, how we love (or don’t love) ... by our everything we are witnesses. And we can be witnesses to Christ, to love, to sacrifice, to the world, to money, to hate, to evil, to Satan. What are you a witness to?
No comments:
Post a Comment