PRAY: Thank you for my personality, Lord. May I discover how you can bless others through the gifts of my personality.
Wednesday – Day 29
Approaching God – As you come before God today, ponder the fact that although evangelism may seem daunting for introverts, up to 40 percent (!) of our culture is made up of introverts. The percentage is closer to 60% for pastors. The Spirit uses every disciple to manifest the kingdom of grace and to love people into the church. The Spirit uses our personality; the Spirit produces love in our hearts, which is the foremost fruit of the Spirit. Evangelism implies genuinely loving people. Introvert of not, read these truths of the Scriptures:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery…hatred, dissensions, factions and envy…and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:19-23)
Listening to God – Read Galatians 5:16-25. The call for every disciple is clear: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). Whether you define yourself as an introvert or not, the Spirit is mustering the fruit in you, because “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). Therefore, as an introvert you are called to let the Spirit produce in you a genuine love for the lost neighbor or the prodigal family member. In fact, the secular definition of an introvert is someone who is reflective, serious, and cerebral, but inner-directed. Maybe you are not inclined to go and approach someone on a street or to have a spiritual conversation during lunchtime. But you are gentle; you love people. Joy, goodness, and kindness are things people see in you and you are faithful’ you’d love to practice even more self-control.
Talking to God – Do you have to confess to God an act of the flesh that is still a problem for you? Tell the Lord what your heart desires. Speak to him of your fears of not seeing the Spirit produce much fruit in you. Tell the Spirit to fill you with fruit, to help you live by the Spirit and to teach you how you can walk in step with the Spirit on a daily basis.
Ministering in God’s Name – Evangelism does not have to be daunting for introverts. Maybe you like a controlled and organized setting in which you can share the gospel and the love of Christ freely and uninhibitedly. Maybe that setting is provided by a jail ministry where you don’t have to speak yourself. You can plug in a video talk and sit at a table with inmates and discuss things together. As you pray for the three people on your list, ask the Spirit to grant you opportunities to share your love and kindness to them by creating settings that fit with your personality. The Spirit would prepare personality-appropriate settings for you. Be ready for the moment and stay in step with the Spirit.
Surrendering to God – Surrender your personality to the Spirit. Let the Spirit produce much fruit in you, so that your witness, your introvert style of evangelism, would not be done out of stubborn obedience, but out of a heart that is full of love for the three people you constantly pray for. Let the Spirit guide you today, so that you’ll learn how to see his step ahead of you—then you’ll have the power to walk in step with the Spirit. This is a day in which you must keep in step with the Spirit. This is the day when the Spirit will use you.
By Daniel Bud
