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If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?

I would love to wake up tomorrow and find out I could play the piano and the guitar. To be a master of those instruments would be awesome.

I really admire people who can play multiple instruments. You see them at church one week and they are on the drums and the next week they are on the piano or the guitar.

I can play the basic beats on the drums and I can sing a bit, as long as my wife is next to me so I can follow her! But to play an instrument well would be fun and helpful at church.

I have tried to learn the guitar and piano a few times, but I quickly realise I am not naturally talented at them. It would mean a lot of mental energy and discipline to get really good at them.

It would be nice to master an instrument, but to be honest I would rather put that energy and discipline in to developing the gifts God has given me.

But hey, if God thought I needed these skills to build His Kingdom, I would be happy to wake up tomorrow a master of piano and guitar 😀

What’s a fear you’ve overcome — and how did you do it?

My greatest fear that I have overcome is the fear of public speaking. I guess this is similar to most people.

I can remember being in primary school and being terrified of reading aloud in class. On days I had to do a talk I would take the day off school.

As an adult I would do everything I could to avoid public speaking. Even small things like doing a brief introduction of who you are in a training course terrified me.

I can remember in the early 1990s a friend asked me to be best man at his wedding. Rather than seeing it as an honour, my first thought was I will have to make a speech! 

So how did I overcome this? Here are a few things helped me.

1. I prepared early and wrote everything I had to say out word for word.
2. I practiced even the smallest talk or reading about 100 times. Not exaggerating!
3. I prayed a lot. My biggest prayer was, “Please be with me Lord and please help me Lord”.
4. I wrote out scriptures and put them in my pocket. At every chance I would read them.
5. I got books from the library to help. These days you can look online for help on making speeches.
6. I asked for tips from people who were good public speakers. I spoke to Pastors and teachers.
7. I realised that public speaking is a great way to reach and encourage people towards God.
8. I looked for opportunities to speak publicly and overcome my fear. This was very very scary!

This process probably took about ten years to feel comfortable with speaking in front of others. It was a long hard road for me, but it was worth it.

So what were the main verses I kept in my pocket? 

Philippians 4:13 NLT – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT – For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.