Shakespeare famously wrote, “our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we might win by fearing to attempt.” This certainly applies to Christians who shrink from the responsibility of sharing their faith with others. Being a bit introverted, I have always found personal evangelism out of my comfort zone. Yet, I have also discovered the “good we might win” is totally worth the effort.

So, how do we overcome our fear of witnessing, turning our fear into fervor for Jesus? I’m going to take the next few weeks to share some thoughts that I hope will encourage you in your witness for Christ. It’s been said that “evangelism” is a word that strikes fear into the heart of both believers and non-believers. Still, we have been given a mandate from the Master to proclaim the gospel to every creature.

In Romans 1, the apostle Paul discusses his plans for taking the gospel to Rome. He knew that just as all roads led to Rome, it was also true that all roads led from Rome. He strategically sought to create a center for empire-wide evangelization. He made three “I am” statements that should challenge us in our witness for Jesus:

1) “I am under obligation.” Do you realize your responsibility in this area? Jesus said, “To whom much is given much is required.” (Luke 12:48)

2) “I am eager.” Do you realize the urgency of need in this area? The stakes could not be higher since we are dealing with people’s eternal souls.

3) “I am not ashamed.” Are you confident in the power of the gospel? Paul knew the message only need be proclaimed, and God would bring forth the fruit. We are not responsible for the results, only to be faithful in delivering the message.

With this in mind, if sharing Jesus with others fills you with anxiety, you need to make it a matter of sincere and earnest prayer. Begin by confessing your lack of faith. Dr. E. Stanley Jones, considered the "Billy Graham of India", once said, “I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native air. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life, faith is the oil.” Fear puts the focus on yourself, faith puts the focus on God.

Next, ask the Lord for courage to share the gospel. For this we have the example of the early church: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31) Even the apostle Paul, who faced great opposition to the gospel, wrote, “pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:19)

Third, pray for opportunities to share your faith. God can open doors for the gospel and direct you to those whose hearts are receptive. To the Colossians, Paul wrote: “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” (Colossians 4:3)

Finally, pray specifically for people you know who need a Savior. Paul’s burden for the Jews, his “kinsmen according to the flesh,” was obvious. Their salvation was the “longing of his heart and his prayer to God.” (Romans 10:1) It was Abraham’s intercessory prayer that saved Lot and his family (see Genesis 19:29). Make a list of those without Jesus and regularly pray the Holy Spirit will open their hearts and make them receptive to the gospel.

I hope this encourages you to pray about sharing Jesus with someone this week. As you make this a matter of serious prayer, you are going to notice the Holy Spirit working to open doors and bring people into your life to whom you can witness. So, in Shakespeare’s words, don’t “lose the good [the souls] you might win by fearing to attempt.”