Intelligent Design (pg. 52-55)

I used to believe the lie that I wasn’t qualified to lead in ministry or even to pray out loud. Insecure about how my prayers sound, were they “good enough”? Should I be following some kind of formula? Do I even know enough about the Bible to pray with confidence? And when it came to sharing, I often felt too flawed to encourage people to faith in Jesus. But here’s the truth: prayer is simply a conversation with God. Here’s the truth: My purpose to lead people to Him. Here’s the truth: everyone is a sinner. And here’s the truth: my testimony carries purpose and power, because God is the one writing it. People’s opinions don’t define me. What matters most is what my Creator will say when I finally stand before Him. My prayer is that I’ll hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” I know I’ve made mistakes, and continue to make them. I’ve held onto bad habits, but God is patient and faithful. He doesn’t demand perfection. He asks for my willingness to keep moving in the right direction. What He wants most is a real relationship with me, to hear my honest prayers. I’ve even asked God to remove the relationships from my life that weren’t meant to stay, and over time, I’ve watched certain friendships fade away, and not with bitterness or guilt, but with peace. In their place, He’s been giving me kingdom connections, a community rooted in Christ. Together, we share the same purpose in Him, we lift each other up, and we cover one another in prayer. And our stories, our testimonies, have actually brought us closer to each other and to God. Recently, I heard a sermon about the difference between faith and hope. Faith can’t exist without hope. Hope is what keeps us looking forward, trusting that God’s promises will come true, that the blood of Jesus really is enough. Hope is that flicker of light that pushes back the darkness. - Angie