It's Not You Who Speaks: Learning to Rely on the Holy Spirit

I was recently asked by the leader of the women's Bible study I attend if I would be willing to be the co-leader of the group with her and take charge of leading the discussion every other week. I prayed about it and talked with my husband, and I felt like it was what God really wanted me to do. But as the time approached for me to actually lead, I began to get very nervous.

Let me explain. I actually enjoy public speaking. Give me a topic and a little time to prepare, and I don't mind getting up and teaching. (I blame my mother who made me give a testimony in church every time I went on a missions trip or worked at camp or taught a children's class!) I've taught children and teens in Sunday school for years, and I've given devotionals at women's meetings. In college, Speech 101 was a really enjoyable class for me. I love communicating something to an audience and watching them understand it! Besides, there are only about seven women in our Bible study group, so it's hardly something that would normally intimidate me.