Over a decade ago, Jason and I had the opportunity to serve with a well-known ministry in Mozambique, Africa. Not long after our arrival there, we were invited by a Mozambican pastor to speak at his church.
The day of the service, we were warmly welcomed, and the church body began praise and worship. After singing, the pastor encouraged everyone to give a testimony. Most of the “testimonies” consisted of thanking God and welcoming us. Once everyone finished giving their testimonies, the pastor invited us to the front to speak. It just so happened that our personal testimonies were what we had planned to share with the church that day, so we gave our testimonies individually as did our translator. Feeling that we had accomplished what we came for, we sat back down.
The pastor thanked us, asked everyone to bow their heads in preparation for prayer, then much to our surprise said...
“After we pray, Brother Jason will deliver the message.”
What?! We looked at each other like deer in headlights. Jason said, “What do I do? Our testimonies are all we prepared.” I responded, “We better pray fast!”
Have you ever experienced a moment like that?
An “oh deer” moment (pun intended)?
Maybe you were witnessing to a friend about Christ, and they asked a question you didn’t quite anticipate?
Well, let me encourage you friend, because though you might have been caught off guard by the situation, your heavenly Father was not. He always knows what to say, and His Holy Spirit can help you in your time of need. We need only to reach out to Him and ask for His help.
Romans 8:26 tells us, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
John 15:26 says, “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
And the Bible shows us that even in the most terrifying situations, the Holy Spirit will guide us in what to say.
When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
– Luke 12:11-12
When they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
– Mark 13:11
Friends, if we can trust Him to guide our words in times of persecution, we can trust Him to guide us when witnessing to others as well.
You might be wondering how our “oh deer” moment turned out that day in the church.
Here’s what happened…
We began to pray for the Holy Spirit’s help and direction in what to say, and after we prayed Jason told me he felt he should speak about God’s great love for us. As the pastor closed his prayer, he motioned for Jason and our translator to come up to the front. Jason walked up there with confidence, Bible in hand, smiled, and began speaking an amazingly organized sermon. You would have thought he had planned it out for hours in outline form. In that moment, we both experienced a whole new level of relationship with the Holy Spirit. Truly all Jason had to do was open his mouth and out came the words.
God is so faithful, friends. When we are serving Him, and our hearts are full of love and appreciation for Him and what He has done in our lives, the Holy Spirit will help us relay what’s on the Father’s heart to share with His people (or that friend in front of you). So, don’t let that “oh deer” moment strike fear in your heart. Remember who you are and whose you are and trust in Him!
Have faith, and He will see you through.
