Why Everyone Needs to be a Preacher.

About Katie

Do you realize you are a preacher? You may have never set foot on the platform at church, or behind a podium or pulpit, but you preach to yourself everyday.

When a rude man cuts in front of you at the grocery store, you preach to yourself: “I can’t believe he just did that. Ugh. That is so rude. I was here first, and I deserve better than to be disrespected like this. Who does he think he is?”

Or, it might sound something like this: “So, yes, this is really annoying that my place in line was taken, but God knows all about my day, and He knows this man, and maybe this man really needs to get home quicker than I do? I really don’t like waiting, but I choose to not demand my own way and to count this man more significant than myself. Lord, help me.”

When tragedy strikes you preach to yourself: “God has forgotten me. Or maybe he is punishing me? I can’t believe this has happened to me. What have I done wrong to deserve this? I don’t understand. I can’t see God in this at all. He must have missed something to allow this to happen. I’m angry. Wounded. God has abandoned me.”

Or this: “God is in control. Even in this. God loves me. In this moment where everything seems to be spinning out of control, He is here. He sees me. He has a good plan in all of this. He is my comforter. He is my deliverer and my refuge. He is a good God.”

Yes -- you and I are preachers. However, most of us do a pretty poor job of it and it has nothing to do with our public-speaking skills. Perhaps, we’re bad preachers because we are misinformed and under-studied. We don’t know the truths held in Scripture well enough to preach truth to ourselves.

As we grow in our journey with Christ — carefully and prayerfully — we can become better at this self-preaching-thing. And we will always have room for growth. This maturation starts with the renewing of our minds, through the Word of God.

When the man ignores my place in line, or tragedy invades my soul I have a choice to make. I can ignore what I know to be true about God, or I can cling to it. The clinging comes much easier when the truth is near to my heart and fresh and on my mind. I pray as we continue our studies, we would hold fast to the truths we learn, keeping them handy come preaching time.

God to reveal the places in my heart and mind where I am believing lies, instead of truth. Renew my thought patterns with your Word. Give me your strength to cling to your truth and let go of what is false.

Have you recognized the self-preaching you do everyday? Is it Word-centered or self-centered? What steps can you take today to be better prepared to preach the Word to yourself?

Grace-clinger. Truth-speaker. Pastor's wife. Mommy of 3. As a Bible study writer, retreat speaker, and local women's ministry leader, Katie is passionate about equipping others to walk intimately with God for a lifetime. Katie currently serves as the Social Media Specialist and Community Manager for Flourish.me, a ministry of the North American Mission Board to ministry wives. Learn more about Katie on her website KatieOrr.me.

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