A Powerful Weapon

A Powerful Weapon

Bible Blast: Read Philippians 4:10-13

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

I used to be really bad at speaking in public. I was the queen of saying, “and . . . uh . . . ” I could’ve put cranky babies to sleep with how boring my presentations were. But God asked me to start telling my story about how he rescued my heart. I was so terrified. This was the one thing I never, ever wanted to do. “No, God! You can’t want me to speak in public,” I cried in prayer. But he did, and I knew it. I had to memorize Philippians 4:13 and verses like it. I would repeat them over and over again before I got on a stage to speak. Somehow God helped me get through. Not only that, but a lot of girls and teens have been rescued because I just told my story.

You really can do anything through Christ who gives you strength. You can pass that upcoming math test. You can find a way to love someone who has hurt you. You can even tell people about how God has rescued you.

I once heard someone say that when you feel afraid and feel as if you cannot do something, picture the cross of Jesus. Then, picture a hole in the cross and—in your mind’s eye—crawl right “through” that hole before you do what causes fear. That’s how it was for me. I had to crawl “through” Jesus’ love and power right before each encounter on a public stage. Would you believe it—today I actually really like speaking up there!

Draw a picture on a sheet of paper of you crawling “through” Jesus’ love and power before facing a situation that’s worrying you.

Girl Gab: Can you think of a time when you were afraid and God rescued you through a friend or his Word or prayer? Take time to memorize today’s focus verse. Use it like a weapon every time you get afraid.