CONTAINER GOD CAN USE
Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. (2 Timothy 2:20 Message Translation)
2 Timothy 2:25-26 (The MSG) ...a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
As we were sharing on Wednesday night, here are some tools to be the profitable container for God to minister to others through you.
Listen – When people are carrying a burden - the heavy weight of a problem or situation, they don't know how to solve, they're seeking someone with whom they can share it. Quite often the problem solves itself as a person speaks it out loud. When you allow people to share their burden with you, you reassure them that you're sympathetic, and your compassion gives them added strength to carry on. It takes a lot of courage to bare one's soul to another person. That act of opening up is in itself deserving of your prayerful attention. Pray for grace!
Help the inquirer remain comfortable and at ease – Remain the same down-to-earth person they knew and trusted enough to approach with a problem to share. You must never appear to be shocked, critical, or condemning.
Treat all problems as if they are the most important problems in the world – As far as the person you're talking to is concerned, they are the most important!
Never betray a confidence – Rest assured that a loose tongue can result in a permanent loss of faith in the counselor and in his or her Christian walk, and it can do untold damage to the inquirer.
Be available – The importance of the problem or question to the inquirer makes your availability necessary, within reason. Use discernment.
Posted on :
15 AUG 2009