Facing fears

Ok now I know we all have fears, and then there are just things that we don't like, well I am not really sure which this is, but starting Sunday May 16th I get to preach at the Christ is Life Baptist Church down here in Brazil. I agreed to do it because there is a need for it and my purpose in coming was to help meet needs that the mission has while I am here and to lend assistance in what ever way that I can. So I am going to start preaching. I have had some experience with preaching and enjoy the study and digging into the Word to make sure that what I am teaching is as close to the truth that is contained within the Word as I can get to. I even really enjoy teaching and helping people with understanding scripture, but what I do not like about preaching is two things. The first is that I have always felt like I am just talking at people and not interacting with them. It has always felt like a cold and impersonal way in which to disseminate the Word of God, but I do understand the good it can have in the lives of people that do not get the Word in any other form; and even for those that do it is a different way of getting it which can also be beneficial. And I am so thankful that God has gifted people with a heart for His Word that enjoy that part of spreading His Word. The second is, yes I am scared of standing in front of groups of people and being the center of attention (which is one of the other reasons I accepted this opportunity and even offered to go beyond the limits of the initial request to preach for more weeks than they asked. I do not like having fear and am hoping to use this opportunity to begin to overcome one of mine. I believe that fear is one of two things. The first is that it is a God given feeling to help us avoid activities and situations that are harmful to us, and second is that it is a weakness in us that we are unwilling to face and overcome. I know that this fear is the second and I do not like having something in my life that is hindering me in becoming something that I could be. I am not saying that I aspire to be a Billy Graham in the future, but I do not want to have my stomach turn in knots whenever there is the mention of public speaking. I want to be able to step up to the plate secure in the power of Christ to meet any opportunity that comes my way to spread and teach His Word no matter what the venue may be. I do not want to have to stand before the White throne and have to explain that the reason a soul was lost is because I was too afraid to stand up for His Word and speak the Truth to someone willing to listen because it was from a pulpit or in a public area. I do not want to continue to have the regrets that I might have missed an opportunity to encourage someone along their walk towards God because I did not want to deal with shaking knees because there are going to be people looking at me. So I am giving myself over into His hands and taking the steps to be free of this fear and I know that even though now fear overcomes me when i think about it, all things are possible with Him and if it is His will for me I will be able to meet this challenge as David before Goliath and I will not be one of the other soldiers quaking in my Armor before him.