Her text came in just moments before my keynote message at a conference was supposed to start. Earlier, I had texted my friend, asking her for prayer as I felt unsettled about the message I was going to share that night.
“Judy, I’m praying that the Lord will use you and the words He’s given you to wash the feet of those who are hurting and broken as they listen to your message.”
Wow! Her words shifted my focus off me and my striving to not disappoint my audience and turned my heart to wanting to serve them instead.
Imagine if we could keep that posture for whatever God has placed on our hearts to share through our writing or speaking. Instead of being angsty as we prepare our message, we should surrender the outcome to Jesus, asking Him to show us how best we can serve our audience for His glory and praise.
One creative and practical way to wash the feet of our listeners is to pray Scripture for them.
Just hours before Jesus was arrested, He washed the dirty, dusty feet of His beloved disciples. And then He prayed for them. I’ve been praying portions of His “High Priestly Prayer” found in John 17 (niv) over my grandchildren. But we can also pray those same things for those who will be reading or listening to our teaching.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your powerful prayer over Your disciples that we can also pray for those You’ve called us to disciple through our teaching. We join You in that same prayer today, asking that . . .
- they will be protected by the power of Your name, so they may be one.
- they will have the full measure of Your joy within them.
- they will be protected from the evil one.
- they will be sanctified by the truth; Your word is truth.
Give me a heart like Yours as I seek to serve others for Your glory. In Your powerful yet personal name, I pray. Amen.
Friends, together, may we seek to wash the feet of those Jesus has called us to serve through our writing and speaking. Let’s guard our hearts against fear and striving as we use the gifts He’s given us to teach His Word, always fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 (niv)
What about you?
Question: How do you guard your heart against striving to impress or not disappoint your audience? What are some creative ways you can “wash their feet” by serving your audience instead?
About Judy Dunagan
Judy Dunagan is a speaker, Bible teacher, and the author of The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ. A wonder seeker of God and His Word, Judy is passionate about discipleship and making God’s Word and prayer come alive in everyday life. Judy and her husband, Rick, are the joyful grandparents of seven grandchildren. Connect at: judydunagan.com.
Thank you Judy, for this timely and powerful reframe. So good.
Judy, I absolutely love this concept!
I have been asked to speak at a retreat this fall and had decided to tell them no because I felt so insufficient -yet I asked the Lord to show me today. what my answer should be. Your message changed everything! Blessings galore to you and our Lord and Savior. 💖
Beautiful! Thank you