Do You Know What Are You Saying?

“James, what message are you carrying right now?”

I stared off to think for a moment, letting the coffee in my mouth just sit there.

“Because the reality is that you will waste every platform you’re given if you don’t allow God to speak His message through you.”

- - -

A year has passed since my friend challenged me over breakfast that day, and now I’m here to ask you the same question.

 

What message are you carrying right now?

In this season of your life do you know what is it that God wants to communicate through you?

 

In other words, as 2013 comes to a close can you look back and see the themes God walked you through this year? As you navigated the opportunities and platforms God allowed you to lead through can you identify where you were intentional about letting Jesus speak His message through you, instead of relying on what you had planned yourself?

If we are honest these moments are rare, but they don’t have to be and, in fact, they shouldn't be.

I know that it can feel easier, and absolutely safer at times, to create our own message, to craft together some points that we know are strong. It feels safer to wrap some “Christianese” around a point that you know will garner a response instead of trusting the Holy Spirit to guide your heart and words. The problem is that leading in that way, essentially leading from a heart of fear, is not only unfulfilling to those you have been entrusted with, but it damages yourself, cheapening the moment God has dreamed for you.

This is the kind of leadership I found myself falling into that morning when my friend smiled across the table and asked that pivotal question.

“What message are you carrying right now?”

The question, and the implications that came with my answer, changed everything for me. I started listening again, yearning for God to speak His message into my heart, and I watched as my ability to lead people, not just speak, not just sing, not just create a moment, but my ability to lead people flourished.

 

If your answer to the question is like mine was, and you find yourself crafting your own message I want you to know God has a message he wants to speak into and through you. Here are a few steps I found to be crucial for me to remember each and every time I lead.

 

1. Hide scripture in your heart.

I'm ready for the collective, “Duh” or “Of course.” But the fact is that there is a huge difference between dwelling in His words, truly soaking them in, letting them inform your language, and tweeting a verse every morning so that you look spiritual. I promise you that amazing things will happen in your life, and those you influence as you start relying on His words more than your own.

 

2. Be Quiet

​It is really hard to hear anyone else talk when your mouth never closes. The same is true with God. Fight daily for a prayer life that includes time set aside to just listen. If you can only carve out five minutes, then carve out five minutes. He has dreams and messages to speak into you for yourself, your team, family, and church. Don’t miss them because you think you have to do all the talking when you pray.

 

3. You cannot exhaust God’s ability to use a message.

Often, we move on too quickly from what God wants us to simply rest in for a time because we are afraid of losing people’s attention. We rush on to the new topic or theme because, on some level, we are worried they will grow weary of a message and look somewhere else. But I’ve seen time and again the power of the Holy Spirit to provide revelation after revelation within just a few words. Trust that He knows what is needed versus what is wanted.

 

4. Treat every platform + opportunity as if God gave it to you.

If it’s one friend, or if it is 10,000 people, it’s still God’s message and it’s your calling to carry it with excellence. Don’t ever scale your effort to the size of your audience, they are God’s people that he wants nothing more than to meet with and speak to.

 

You may be 22, or you may be 57, either way Jesus has a specific message for you to carry. Remember to carry it with humility and boldness. As seasons of life change, so might the message, but continue to listen closely, and make sure it's His message you are carrying.

I fully subscribe to the notion that our leadership is only as good as the way we steward the hearts we have been entrusted with, and there is no better way to honor them than to speak out the words God knows are needed.

Never forget that it’s an incredible privilege to be called to serve, to lead, and to carry His message in our hearts.

So,

What message are you carrying right now?