God’s Cure for Stage Fright: How to Sing, Preach, Teach or Give a Speech Without Nervousness – Part 3 By Jamie Lash

I came across this very interesting, thought-provoking,  and useful article about public speaking without nervousness. It’s written by Jamie Lash, Director of Student
Development at Dallas Baptist University and co-author of the best-selling book “This Was Your Life!” Jamie’s website is http://www.LifeGivingWords.com

God’s Cure for Stage Fright: How to Sing, Preach, Teach or Give a Speech Without Nervousness – Part 3
By Jamie Lash

God had an act of love in mind when He spoke to Moses about leading two million Hebrews out of Egyptian slavery, but Moses responded, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, …send, I pray, some other person”(Exodus 4:1O,13 RSV). Obviously,something was wrong with Moses’ response,because the next verse says, “Then God’s anger was kindled against Moses.”

God wanted to use Moses to set two million people free, but Moses wasn’t thinking about two million people. Moses was thinking about one person. His focus was riveted on himself. Pride is preoccupation with self—regardless of what form it takes. God wanted  Moses to humble himself by focusing on those he was sent to help.

Unlike Moses in Exodus 4, the Apostle Paulturned his public speaking opportunities intoacts of love by humbling himself. “You yourselves know how I lived among you…serving the Lord with all humility (Acts2O:18-19 RSV). How was Paul’s humility expressed? Did it affect his public speaking?

Paul says in verse 20: “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable.”

Shrinking back is a form of self-protection–like a turtle pulling back into it’s shell. Paul did not shrink back, because he wasn’t thinking about himself. He was thinking about how to profit his listeners. His humility gave birth to boldness.

Paul not only faced the more common fears of public speakers–people falling asleep, rolling their eyes, or walking out–he also withstood beatings, stonings, and imprisonment. However, because he adopted the right goal, Paul didn’t shrink back. He lived not for himself, but to advance God’s Kingdom by benefiting others.

God began teaching me this principle about twenty years ago. Here is the gist of what Hetaught me:

Make love your goal. Concentrate on the individuals with needs. Concentrate on how you can help them, on how you can love them best. In this way you will be pleasing in My sight.

It’s amazing! When I correct my goal, the nervousness always disappears. There have been no exceptions. Why? Because unlike taking three deep breaths, listening to tapes of ocean noises, or other methods to reduce nervousness, this method puts the ax to the root of the problem. Because nervousness is caused by having the wrong goal, we must change our goal inorder to cure it. Nervousness disappears when we say in our hearts: “Lord, I’m not here to impress them; I’m here to bless them.”

–Jamie Lash

(Jamie Lash is Director of Student Development at Dallas Baptist University and co-author of the best-selling book “This WasYour Life!” For other helpful resources, visit his website: www.LifeGivingWords.com)