Do you spend any time preparing for a meeting (e.g. prayer meeting) or for Church? – by this I mean being expectant for things to happen in terms of God working in people’s lives, taking time just to listen for God before a meeting, or praying and seeking God asking him to enable you to contribute like a Bible verse – not necessarily to share during the meeting as in some churches this would not be an option (sadly IMHO). Personally, I think God, by his Holy Spirit, can speak to anyone through another – and is not just restricted to ‘qualified’ people or people who have been given or elected into positions of authority. Examples of times when you have heard God in your own time before the meeting and this has tied in with the meeting would be good – it might help and encourage others.
Bible verse inspiration for asking – 1 Thessalonians 5:11:
‘Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’I was just thinking, part of this will be the unseen personal prayer life and walk with God, which will then spill over to work out what’s written in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – but although I’m saying this, doing it on a regular basis as if just a ‘natural’ and easy part of life and Christian life is another matter. Do you have any experience of how to sustain these important things in the busyiness of everyday life?