Every kid is terrified of the high dive, yet because of peer pressure and other reasons they take the jump. Climbing the ladder, they regret their decision, looking for a way out, but they look back and see the line of kids prodding them along. In shear terror they make the leap, and come up out of the water realizing that it wasn’t that bad and kind of fun, but they don’t want to go through that again. Sharing your faith can feel similar, but it doesn’t have to. We’ve all been there. We want to be a witness, we feel the pressure to go for it—we make the jump and reach out, then realize it wasn’t that bad but don’t want to go through that again sealing evangelism's fate of it ever becoming a lifestyle. This is why many believers have a hard time sharing their faith. We put so much pressure on a moment, psyche ourselves up, push through fear of being misunderstood and rejected and we plow through. Sharing the love of God with another was never meant to be shared from pressure and performance, but from rest and the overflow of your life in God. Here are three keys to Pressure Free Evangelism : Quit trying, and start overflowing. Romans 6:5 says that believers have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. That means we die with Him and are alive in Him. This is more than a theory, but a present reality. It is a work of God’s grace, not to be earned, but what believers receive by faith. The love of God is overwhelming when this beautiful and eternal truth is received, making children of God feel safe and secure to part with anything sinful or destructive. This reality is the birthplace of an overflowing life in Jesus—shame, guilt, sin and accusation have been nailed to the cross, and we are now alive in Him, and confident to share what He has done in us. Thanksgiving, rejoicing and exuberant praise is the only proper response to this revelation of the Gospel. A thankful, rejoicing life is an overflowing and powerful life. The next time you want to share Christ with someone, start with authentic praise from your heart to the Lord—then let it overflow to others by sharing what God has done for you! 2. Jesus is the Savior of the world, not you. Many believers take on the pressure of being the super Christian whose responsibility is to make sure others believe like us, even if it means arguing and becoming a salesman with the Gospel. This belief turns people off and doesn’t reveal Christ to anyone. Instead, share a testimony of what the Lord has done in your life. Love the person in front of you and treat them like Jesus would. 3. The Holy Spirit is the greatest evangelist. The Spirit of God knows exactly what each person needs to show He cares about them and is revealing Himself to them. As we learn how to recognize what God is doing in the moment, we will have a better understanding of how to partner with Him. This is called co-laboring with the Holy Spirit which is where the power happens, and evangelism becomes fun and easy, free from pressure.

This is a blog written by Jack Hayford. You can find the original blog that was published on his website here . The publishing date is unknown. “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." – Genesis 12:3 God is speaking about America today, as well as to it. And we are wise to listen. There’s reason for hope, and cause to chart a course of faith-filled action. Over the years, my faith has been stirred and my convictions steeled: America shall be saved! Those words have repeatedly come to my ears-and heart-not only in my personal times of prayer, but as one anointed prophet after another has risen to declare them. Without consulting each other, many noted and trusted preachers have sounded this basic message: If the living Church will rise to be the Church God intends, America can be turned around. Though seriously imperiled, the future of America is salvageable. The Bible reveals that Abraham’s seed can turn the day for nations. Thus, praying believers, led by pastors impassioned by living faith, are the key to this or any nation’s rescue. This isn’t mere nationalistic small talk or patriotic excitement; it’s a prophetic assignment. Our influence by means of prayer holds the potential to determine our nation’s destiny. So what can we do? We can trust the promises in the eternal Scriptures. There are clear steps to walk in: Believe the promise The first step is to be caught in the grip of God’s 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 promise: “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” Beyond merely quoting this verse in some superstitious or sentimental manner, join with other believers in prayer and make it a point of corporate covenanting. This is an agreement with the Almighty, we’ll do our part in prayer, convinced You’ll do Your part in redemptive grace. Bless your enemies Facing certain distressing aspects of America’s behavior has caused some Christians to become “fueled by fury.” While pulpit-thumpers are inciting many believers to anger, Jesus is calling us to be an answer to our nation, not to be angry with it. “But I say to you, love your enemies…and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” – Matthew 5:44. Let’s make one fact clear: We can never pray effectively for either an individual or a nation that we don’t love, and we can never pray successfully for a society if we are filled with anger toward it. Value life Proverbs 31:8 says: “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die.” Addressing the issues of abortion and euthanasia is not a digression from spiritual concerns. We’re at a crisis point in our national experience about whether future generations will value life, at its inception and at its conclusion. But here again, any self-righteous moralizing will only distance us from our society. Instead, may our hearts be broken by the realization that the underlying cause of this sinful devaluation of life is the emptiness of a society that has lost hope for tomorrow. Live in purity The early Church showed that the way to assert moral superiority in a corrupt culture is by example, not by taking the role of an adversary. Let’s not shoot at society but shine in it. “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blames and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” – Philippians 2:14-15. Serve the needy To be in a position to “save” America, the living Church must capture the moment amid social need and crisis in our communities. Winning the trust of those we want to reach with Christ’s life begins with showing them His love, which can only be done through serving. Jesus said good works create a platform for the gospel: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven” – Matthew 5:16. Preserve liberty I lament the preoccupation some American Christians have with changing our nation through a political agenda alone. Without first laying a foundation in prayer, love and good works, their otherwise worthy goals often have a clanging sound to them. However the preservation of America’s liberty does necessitate taking certain action. Our participation in the political privileges of our free society is actually the responsible exercise of our role as disciples of Jesus. Demonstrate, declare, and dispense the Gospel Finally, let’s evangelize! The only way a nation can be saved is if souls are saved. To leave this until last is not to diminish its importance, but to accentuate it. It’s also to make clear that our gospel will be more readily received and believed if we’ve done the other things first. I’m persuaded we’re at a glorious crossroads of possibility. Let’s band together around the promise of a sovereign visitation of Heaven on Earth!