Overcoming the Fear of Speaking by Praying God’s Word (And a Giveaway!)
We’ve come to our last post in this series about Overcoming the Fear Factor in Speaking (click here for the beginning of this series). We’re excited to hear how these strategies have worked for you. (And we have a fun treat for you at the end of the post– a great GIVEAWAY!! Make sure to comment to enter.)
We’ve got one more strategy to share with you to help overcome fear in speaking. This powerful strategy teaches us to wield God’s Word as our weapon.
During the time I was struggling with my fears about speaking, I was studying the life of Moses. When I read this verse in Deuteronomy, words God spoke to Moses, the words leapt off the page and into my heart:
Deuteronomy 2:7, “‘For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.’”
I was amazed at the way God spoke to me so personally through this verse, reminding me I had everything I needed to speak, or to do anything else God called me to do, because the Lord was with me. And guess how old I was? Forty years old. While the age here was significant to me personally, the promise is for all of us.
Whatever wilderness we have been wandering in concerning our speaking – the wilderness of fear, insecurity, doubt or hesitancy – believing and acting on the promise in this verse can propel us forward in God-confidence. God’s Word is an offensive weapon to use in our battle against fear.
Backing up a bit, let’s read Deuteronomy 2:2, “And the Lord spoke to me, saying, ‘You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north…’”
I knew it was time to stop circling and to take steps north – to the place God was calling me. I couldn’t waver any longer, I couldn’t make excuses, and I couldn’t wait for fear to totally disappear.
What about you? Is it time for you to “turn north?” To stop circling? To leave the wilderness of fear?
I encourage you to commit these verses from Deuteronomy and the ones that follow to memory. To help memorization I post the verses around the house and in my car, I try to write them out in my prayer journal from memory, and I recite them aloud repeatedly.
You can also personalize the verses as a prayer. For example, God has not given Melanie a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound mind. Praying God’s Word allows us to move forward boldly, not fearfully.
2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Isaiah 43:1, “But now, this is what the Lord says…’Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'”
We’d love for you to share any other verses that help you overcome the fear factor in speaking.
~ Melanie
Giveaway:
A new Bible always inspires me to read it more! If your Bible is a little worse for the wear and you’re looking for a new one, check out the NIV Real Life Devotional Bible with 365 days of devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Melanie and I are both contributors, and we’d love to offer you more encouragement.
We’re giving away one copy this week. Squeeeeeee! Don’t you love winning something? To enter, leave a comment either with a scripture that encourages you or tell which tip helped you the most to overcome your speaker fears.
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Over the past week, God has given me Ex 4:10-12 as not only a reminder of His promises concerning my role as a speaker, but as a reminder that He is the one who not only gives me words—He is the open who opens ppl’s eyes to see and hear Him. It’s not about me… it’s about Him!
Amen, and Amen.
The more we practice fighting off fear, the better we get. We learn to quickly identify it, fight against it, stand against it, and deny Satan’s ability to shake us or to keep us from our God-given paths! As you said, we learn to focus on God, not Satan or ourselves
Melanie
Thank for this post. It actually touched me as I am going through this right now & walking into my 40’s, so it speakers to me personally. I love the way God is so intentional with every detail. The two verses that inspires me are: Nehemiah 8:10 For the Joy of The Lord is your strength.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ you strengthens me
These verses are so good…….so powerful……exactly what I need in my life! Thank you.
Hi Amy and Melanie, this series have been incredibly helpful to me because I’m presently preparing a message to share at a monthly women’s gathering at my church. This will be my first time speaking to such a large audience and I was nervous to say the least. All your tips were helpful but the one that stood out the most was where you talked about shifting your focus. The main point being, that instead of focusing on impressing others focus on serving them. That has refocused my heart so much, I didn’t connect my fears with performance at all and that connection has changed everything for me. Thank you both so much for sharing your experience with all of us so that we can serve those whom God places in our audience well.
Thanks for this reminder. I love praying Scripture! A favorite ‘do not fear’ verse of mine is Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7. I have to say this verse out loud often!! It is my go-to verse when I’m feeling apprehensive and plagued with fear!
Thank you, ladies, for stopping by and sharing your replies. Can I just tell you how encouraged we are when we hear from you? Our hearts’ desire for you is to grow strong in the Lord and your calling for Him! So when we hear that you are, it delights us.
Also, know that we understand how fear can subside, and then reappear, sometimes fear of a different issue or situation. We pray for you and know that you can do this! And seriously, the more you learn to step in God-confidence, the easier it becomes. Really!!!
Melanie
Thank you for sharing the Nehemiah, Philippians, and Exodus verses. I will write those down. Also, thanks for being vulnerable with your side-effects. Praying for you, knowing you will get through it, and knowing also these things we wish would go away, like our fear, keeps us humble and dependent on the Lord.
Melanie
My favorite verse is Isaiah 43:18-19. God is doing a new thing, I just have to be willing to participate with His plan!
One of my favorite verses – a new thing. Not an improved thing, but a completely new thing, something only God can do! Thank you for sharing.
Deut 2:2 . . . I love that! Stop circling in fear and start moving forward in FAITH. Thanks for that verse! This has been an awesome series.
Thank you, Rose, for your encouraging words! Those Deuteronomy verses are still some of my all time favorites, applicable in so many different ways!
I love the shift in perspective! To know that I am there to serve my audience and not to impress them. That’s my heart for opportunities to speak…to throw a rope to the next gal; to encourage her the way so many have done for me! So thinking of this lessens the pressure for me to “perform” and instead gives me the freedoms to simply share the love of Christ and the hope He gives!
Beautiful thoughts, Shae!
Thank you, Shae, for sharing the freedom you’re experiencing. I sure liked what you said about encouraging the others the way you’ve been encouraged. Good reminder!
You & I speak for God as His servants,one scripture that encourages me is:
Isaiah 41:8-10
But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
descendant of Abraham, My friend—
9 I brought[b] you from the ends of the earth
and called you from its farthest corners.
I said to you: You are My servant;
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with My righteous right had.”
Thank you, Richard, for sharing this powerful verse. I love “I will hold on to you.”