Speaking Publicly?

By Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.

“Oh, I could never do that! I cannot ever speak before the public, to a crowd of lots of people, no less!” But there are some who are willing to do that at a moment’s notice. Yet, I have other friends who are deathly afraid of being asked to speak in public, and it actually causes them great physical and mental stress! Anxiety to the nth degree. Possibly, this is you.

In fact, I, a preacher, went through a very short experience of just that when I was a frequent public speaker. So, I know firsthand what that experience is like. Certainly, the fear of being embarrassed in front of others is a real terror.

Very interestingly, Psalm 119:46-47 addresses such confidence; to speak in public, indeed, speaking before very important people (VIPs), kings, in fact. And to do so with boldness and great confidence in the Lord. 

God picked Moses to lead Israel, a man of faltering speech. At first, he assisted him with Aaron, his brother, as a spokesman for him, but before the ten plagues in Egypt were finished and completed, Moses was the one speaking for God before Pharaoh. He had supplanted Aaron. And Moses then went on to be a powerful and bold voice for God before all the Hebrew nation. 

You say, “Well, that is Moses, the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. That is not me!” But Psalm 119 is written for every serious Christian, whether they are naturally not loquacious or are faltering in speech like Moses. You may not speak before kings or presidents, but you will speak to others, whether one or two, or a bigger crowd. 

Do not sell yourself short, because that is selling God short. Do not ever say I can never speak, God did not give me that gift. Every child of God who has a tongue can speak, telling what God has done for them. Jesus said, “If you confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father in heaven!” 

Think hard on those words of Jesus. Do not fear man. Fear God. And be his spokesman to others. Tell what deeds He has done for the sons of men. Tell others what Jesus means to you. Speak, and let the Holy Spirit use your words to transform hearts. Let God speak through you. But you must use your tongue for His glory and speak!

Encouragement