Are You Prepared to Defend the Faith You Profess?

God speaks in mysterious ways.
Sometimes I just get a feeling I need to go somewhere in particular. And that it needs to be right at that moment. I call it  my “Go to straight street” moments. It has to do with a story I love in Scripture. So I left my apartment and went downtown. First I went to Cabin Coffee, but no one seemed to need encouragement there. Maybe I misunderstood the “feeling”…

giraffes-627031_300BAM! There it was!
So…I left the coffee shop and decided to walk the couple blocks to the lake to read my book. And BAM there it was…out of no where. I felt totally unprepared. I couldn’t remember “talking points”. It has been a really long time since I have had opportunity to speak with a Mormon (whoops: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).

They had crossed the street to talk to me.
As I saw them coming, I prayed for wisdom. I prayed to remember verses. But, unfortunately, nothing specific came to my mind. I was feeling so inadequate. Ill prepared. It had been a long time since I had spoken to a Mormon missionary.

I found myself just being curious about these two sweet girls.
I began asking questions. Nothing spiritual. Did they grow up in a Mormon home? Where are they from? Where are they living now? Do they have to raise their own support? All kinds of questions. I tried to remember specific Scripture verses that would be applicable, but they would not come to me. I felt inept…

Instead, I said things like…
“God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.” I asked if they knew they would go to Heaven. And how did they know. They spoke of works they were doing to please God. That made me sad. So, I shared a bit of my testimony. Nothing harsh. Just three women sharing life together. On a street corner. Just talking. I spoke of how I knew that I would go to Heaven and that God is not into our working our way into Heaven. He is into relationship with us. And that what I do is in gratitude to Him. Not to earn His love.

We laughed a lot.
I genuinely enjoyed them. They relaxed. They felt loved. I could tell they felt loved. I guess it was because I actually felt love for them. I told them of a Mormon that had tried to convert me where I used to work and we laughed at all those things that happened as he tried to convert me. Turns out they knew the person I was referring to. In fact, they had just had lunch with him. Small world.

I couldn’t remember “talking points” I’d learned.
I could not remember specific stuff that I had once learned about what we “disagreed” with. And yet I had talked about my relationship with Jesus and questions I myself had about denominations and I was just REAL. Anyway, like I said I thought I failed. I prayed for them on my way home. I asked God to make up for my lack.

My friend…Google search engine…
As soon as I got in the door, I Googled about how to witness to a Mormon. (Those who know me, just said, “Of course she did!” 😉 )

GOD PROMISES wisdom when we ask for it.
But, we have to ASK. It turns out that God did indeed give me the wisdom I had silently asked for. I was sincerely interested in them as people. I was curious about them and I instinctively prayed for the sprained arm of one of the girls. And I said my usual “God bless you” as we parted company.

Maybe I didn’t fail after all…
Maybe God did as He promised. Giving wisdom to those who ask. And He says we must believe and don’t waiver in unbelief. I did not run from the encounter. I sincerely felt concern for these sweet young women.

Here’s one of the links I found…
just in case you run into these two sweet “Mormon missionary” girls (or young men) when you go to your downtown area, http://www.mission2mormons.org/sharing-your-faith/where-to-start/?view=mobile

What about you?
Are you prepared when a Mormon or anyone else approaches you? Are you intimidated? Do you see it as an opportunity or a threat? Or nothing at all? Do you need help getting your courage up? Let’s conquer the fear BEAST together!

Until next time,
God bless you bunches!Button-Contact-Pam
Awaiting His shout,
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The MomCourager™

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Comments

Are You Prepared to Defend the Faith You Profess? — 2 Comments

  1. Jo said:

    Thank you for sharing, Pam. Love your wisdom and insights.

    • Pam Taylor, The MomCourager said:

      Thanks, Jo, for adding your thoughts to the conversation!

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