Prepared by the Spirit.

We typically think of the apostle Paul as being bold, even a bit pushy at times. He charged all over the known world, preaching and teaching about Jesus. Of course people converted! But back when Paul was tracking down Christians to deliver them to trial and judgment, he himself had been converted by a Presence that overwhelmed his confident, zealous ambition. After he became a follower of Jesus the Christ, Paul applied his passion to spreading the word about the Saviour.

He was bold, yes, but now his confidence rested in that Presence. Paul knew that if he followed the lead of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit would open doors and hearts. Paul could argue theology and logic with the best of scholars and debaters, but he knew that it was God who drew out people such as Lydia and opened doors to entire new communities. Paul’s confidence had radically shifted; he did not trust or rely on his personal force but on the intriguing love of God.

If we truly believe that the Holy Spirit prepares people, that God has been wooing them and reaching out to them throughout their lives, perhaps our preaching and teaching— and ordinary conversations—will become more relaxed and confident. Can we approach relationships, conversations, and situations with the assumption that Holy Presence has gone before us, preparing hearts and unlatching doors?

Vinita Hampton Wright. Taken from Give Us This Day.

Vinita Hampton Wright is senior editor at Loyola Press, a retreat and workshop presenter, and the author of novels and nonfiction. She lives with her husband, Jim Wright, in Chicago.