Pray

Talking about Jesus with your friends isn’t always easy, in fact, sometimes it’s just hard work. Have you ever felt like this? You don’t know how to start the conversation, afraid they’ll be offended. You’re worried you’ll embarrass yourself, or that you’ll be completely cast out of society, sent into the wilderness where children will gather to call you names and poke you with sharp sticks. Alright, that’s an extreme example, but you get the idea. Talking about Jesus can often feel like you’re trying to drive a car with no engine.

Be encouraged because 1) You’re not alone - this is how many of us feel, and 2) God has given you a solution. He has given you the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is that engine you’re missing. He is the power, he adds momentum and gives you confidence in each moment. It’s His job to draw people to Jesus (John 6:44), to humble them, convict them of sin (John 16:8-9), to change their hearts (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Your job is to jump in the car, get onboard with what He is doing and follow His lead.

So how do you do this?

First, understand that you are not alone. The Holy Spirit is your helper (John 14:16), and He is already at work in people’s hearts. Consider the story in Acts where the Spirit tells Philip to go to an Ethiopian man in his chariot and talk to him. Philip discovers that the Holy Spirit was already at work in his heart, and all he had to do was accept the invitation to get onboard with what the Spirit was doing. You too are invited by the Spirit to join Him in the work He is doing in the hearts of your friends and family. So, ease off any pressure you have put on yourself, accept His invitation and rely on Him.

Secondly, see the value in cultivating healthy spiritual practices. The Bible tells us we are to train ourselves in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8), we do this through bible reading, prayer, repentance, worship and being involved in our church community. As you grow in godliness, your relationship with the Holy Spirit will deepen and grow.

Finally, recognise the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit as your helper and your guide (John 16:13-14). God speaks to us through His Word and by His Spirit. When we spend time with Him both in His Word and in prayer it gives us clarity to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit.

So, if you’re struggling to talk with your friends about Jesus and aren’t sure where to start, the answer is not to push harder, the answer is to connect with the Holy Spirit. He is the engine, so let Him set the pace.

Whether it’s choosing to rely on him instead of yourself, implementing healthy spiritual practices or setting aside time in your schedule to learn to listen to his voice - the starting point to talking about Jesus is connecting with the Holy Spirit. Why not put one of these into action today?