I have a zeal for telling people about what God has done in my life, but I don't seek people out. I wait for God to open the door. All I have to do is be willing to walk through it.
Let me tell y'all a little story.
Being Baptist, there is a very strong emphasis on witnessing. We do alot of what is called street preaching as well. When I first became a Christian three years ago (another story), wanting to do my part, I would go with the youth group to festivals and fairs and hand out tracts, that kind of thing. I enjoyed it alot. I kept tracts in my car and initially thought that I should hand these tracts out at every opportunity. So, for a few days, I would go to fast food resturants on my lunch hour and put tracts on the windshields of cars. I was very nervous and anxious about it and I would pray and pray to be bold about it. Well, the fear and anxiety got worse and worse, so one day, I was sitting in my car, and I just could not get out of it. I prayed about it and said something to the effect of "Lord if you want me to do this, you have to help me!" Well, I looked up after I opened my eyes, and the car next to me had smoke coming out of its engine. I got out, walked over, knocked on the glass. The smoke turned out to be steam. (I'm a girl. How am I supposed to know the difference!) Anyway, I helped the lady and offered her a ride back to her job. She turned me down but thanked me profusely. We chatted a bit and finally I asked her if I could give her something. I reached in my car and handed her a tract. She smiled, was not offended in the least, waved goodbye to me as I went back to work.
The lesson I learned that day is God will open the door. If God is in it, there is no fear or anxiety. He does provide the boldness although rather than bold, it just feels like the most natural thing in the world. I have not been street preaching since with anyone or on my own. I am not knocking it or anything like that. I am just saying that this is my rule for witnessing and it has never failed me. God always opens up the conversation to tell others about Him, and He makes it as natural as breathing.
Lisa