Last night, as I left the jail after ministering to the men, I was deeply moved by the way the Word of God works in our hearts. What may seem like an incidental verse can suddenly leap out and strike the heart of an unsuspecting listener. Mercy! It pierces them, humbles them, speaks directly to them, and directs their steps. What a joy it is to witness that!

I couldn’t help but reflect that what is truly required to begin preaching—or any ministry—is confidence in God: the settled assurance that He will take His message and deliver it precisely to the place of greatest need. Whether speaking to one person or to a crowd, we can do so without anxiety, nervousness, or fear when we have prepared the message, prayed over those who will hear it, placed our full trust in His assistance, and then walk in with humility, recognizing that God alone is responsible for what happens next.

I repeat: confidence! Not confidence in ourselves, but in His anointing, His presence, His compassion, and His love for all. Anything else we stand on is sinking sand.