Finding the Courage to talk to your family about Jesus

If you're a Christian and you have a burden on your heart to share Jesus with everyone, you may think that it is easier to share the Gospel with a complete stranger than it is your own family. I've found in my own experience that this is true. I've been mocked, laughed at, called names but knowing that I was facing all these possibilities I've drummed up enough courage to witness my faith to several members of my family. I still have yet to share my faith with many others in my family and friends but I pray for courage and boldness.

Recently, I had a cousin of mine die suddenly but I remembered that, although I didn't speak to him alot and wasn't that close to him, I did encourage him with Christ on FaceBook. I remember thinking after he died, "Was it enough?" I wasn't sure if he was saved but I was glad I shared Jesus with him when I did because he died at a fairly young age and was gone suddenly. I cried out to God that I never wanted to be stand-offish with my faith again. I never want to be left wondering if I said enough. But I know I planted a seed.

Sometimes we plant a seed of faith and another person comes along to water that seed and then that persons heart will be more open to receiving Jesus as his or her Savior.

You don't have to beat someone over the head with your Bible and preach Hell and brimstone to try and scare someone into receiving Christ. Sure, Hell is real and the image of that person I'm being urged to talked to in my spirit is being tormented in Hell. I am motivated by that awful possibility because I know how real Hell is. I talk to people with small talk and gradually insert God into the conversation somehow. I look for opportunities to squeeze Jesus in just enough to plant that seed. When I tell someone how blessed I am that God did this or that for me, it is enough to get that persons mind on the things of God. Maybe they haven't opened a Bible or said a prayer in a very long time and after you leave, they may go to their dusty Bible, even to read one verse or perhaps in the last moments before they drift off to sleep they speak to God and God will use that to open up their heart more and more and more.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit

I know the End of Times are here and the burden I have for the lost is becoming greater and greater. I never think I do enough or say enough but with the Holy Spirit, God gives you that courage. Without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. When you become saved, The Holy Spirit dwells in you but if you have not been babtized with the Holy Spirit, then you can ask God and He will fill you up with the very power of God that will allow you to do greater things for Him such as heal the sick, speak in tongues (yes, I said it), and do many things through Christ's spirit that lives in you.

I was saved and had the Holy Spirit in me for most of my life but did not have the infilling of the Holy Spirit that allowed me to operate in the gifts of the Spirit until only a year ago. Since then I have enjoyed a more intense and wonderful prayer life and seen and experienced some awsome supernatural things that the Lord has shown me.

Please don't be discouraged when sharing your faith. I've learned to pray before I approach someone and pray fervently for them everyday and thank God that He HAS saved them, although I don't see it yet, I just started to call those things that are not as though they are already done! I've had at least three people either return to the Lord or surrender their lives to Christ by believing it is done.