A Willing Heart

A willing heart- an essential trait for success. Everything great in life has its own fair share of struggles and one of the things subtly needed in overcoming that, is a willing heart. Today, I’m glad to share a personal story of a willing heart and its effective power.

It was on a typical Monday morning (with the cars busy & people hurriedly walking on the sidewalks to their work places) and there I was, running to catch my bus so I’d not be late for School. I hopped into the bus and I heard someone call my attention. I turned to see who it was and it was a Christian Brother whom I had acquainted myself with (He was previously Hindu but now converted to Christianity). I waved at him with a smile and came over to sit beside him, exchanging pleasantries.

After a while, I saw him conversing with the young Lady beside us & evangelizing to her about the Gospel. I was surprised because I thought to myself ``this was obviously a Monday morning & almost no one will spare their time to listen because they’re probably going to work or to School”. But then, what caught my attention was his courage and willingness to share the Gospel. It seemed as though Evangelism had become part of his lifestyle and he didn’t have to wait for a right time or right place to share the Gospel. He shared it whenever he could and as the Holy Spirit leads him to. That was really inspiring.

I got down from the bus and my heart was convicted. I heard this silent question in my heart- “How many people have come to know of Jesus through me?“ I realized then that the excuses I had given for not evangelizing, were actually valid reasons because I made them so. My heart had focused so much on the excuses, that I couldn’t see the opportunities right in front of me. I asked myself a question- Am I really willing? Is my heart keen about evangelizing or did I take it as some tedious task because of the way I kept postponing it without actually looking forward to it? Have I been subconsciously filling myself with so many excuses, because I didn’t want to do it? Because really, if my heart was willing, then the excuses I gave, wouldn’t be an excuse at all. It wouldn’t actually stop me from evangelizing, because when there’s a will, there is a way. It was then I realized that what I needed was a willing heart.

For example, St. Paul (a man who was previously a persecutor of Christians & later converted to Christianity). I’m truly inspired by his willingness to spread the gospel, despite him being in prison. He had more than enough reason to stop sharing the Gospel, because he was in prison, but he didn’t do that. Why? Because his heart was willing. His heart was eager to, despite the challenges. And that right there, is the power of a willing heart. He found a way to share the Gospel, by writing in the prison & sharing his letters. He also evangelized in prison & because of him people like Onesimus, became a Christian.

This opened my eyes to see that there are many avenues for me to share the Gospel, if truly I wanted to. There are many opportunities out there, if only my heart is willing & ready to look for the opportunities instead of only looking at the excuses and settling for them. The moment I realized this, the moment I truly wanted to have a willing heart not only towards evangelizing, but also for all other areas in my life.

I pray today that the Lord will give you a willing heart, so instead of identifying excuses, you’ll see opportunities to be able to be all that he’s called for you to be. Amen.