Fight or Flight

When we go on tour with Elevation Nights, there's a part of the experience where I go on stage and I do a little welcome. And I have to say, this is never easy for me. I don't know about you, but speaking to 10,000 people at one time is pretty much the most intimidating thing that a person can do. And there are many times that just as I'm about to walk on the stage, I. I think to myself, I really don't want to do this. And the first night is always the hardest. So this past tour, no exception, only this time, I decided that every time I had the thought, I really don't want to do this. I was going to pray a little prayer that my husband taught me. At the beginning of this year, he started writing these little short prayers and confessions, and he would share them with me and our kids. And one particular one that he shared with me really stuck with me. I think he might have said it in one of his sermons. I know he posted it on his YouTube for one of his basin teachings. By the way, if you're not watching those basin videos, you're really missing out. So if you did see it, just for the record, he taught it to me first. Anyway, here's how it goes. It goes like this. I breathe you in, Holy Spirit, and your strength comes suddenly, and your peace fills me completely. So I stood side stage, and just as they were finishing the song, Jireh, under my breath, I prayed the prayer, I breathe you in, Holy Spirit. And I looked out at all those people, I said, and your strength comes suddenly and your peace fills me completely. And I walked onto the stage feeling pretty good. And as I was opening my eyes, finishing my prayer, my notes were not on the screen. Listen, my last name is Furtick, but. But my first name is not Stephen. And if you think that I get up on a stage and I'm, like, winging it, you're wrong. And that black screen was one of my worst fears come true. And for eight minutes. Do you know how long eight minutes is? For eight minutes, I stood on that stage and talked to 10,000 people with no notes. And let me just say, I don't know, you weren't there, so you might not want to clap. Let me just say, they said that I seemed. That I was calm. And a lot of people said really nice things to me, but I think they were just trying to make me feel better. On the outside, I'm not sure how I appeared, but on the inside, I was freaking out. Like, I, you know, that fight or Flight thing. I was trying my best to remember what I had planned to say. And I mean, I've said it. I don't know, probably. This is probably like 24, my 25th time. I say almost the same thing every time, but I don't remember what it was. So I'm trying to remember and I'm trying to say the things that I'm supposed to say and the things that I felt God had laid on my heart. And all the while my mind was screaming, get off this stage. Abort mission. Just pray and leave. Just pray in Jesus name, Amen. Holly, just get off the stage. But I didn't. And I finally finished. I mean, it was like eight hours, I think. And I prayed and I exited the stage and I got off the stage and I was physically shaking from head to toe. I've never felt like that before. Even as I'm telling you about it, I feel nervous in my stomach and I feel shaky in my hands. And I just have to say to you, strength came suddenly, even though it wasn't exactly the strength that I was envisioning when I prayed the prayer side stage. Here's the crazy part. The next night, I was filled with even more fear. Like, I really did not want to get on that stage. Like all the money in the world, I did not want to get on that stage. In fact, they were having to move some stuff around in the set list and I volunteered more than once for them to just cut my part. True story. I was like, just take my part out, it's fine. They just want to sing Rattle and hear from Pastor Stephen. They don't need me. 24 hours later, there I was doing the work and John Sal was singing Jireh and I was standing at the steps and I prayed. I breathe you in, Holy Spirit, and your strength comes suddenly and your peace fills me completely. I walked up on the stage, I did my work with the notes that time. Sometimes every moment is a choice. I'm gonna get out of bed today. I'm gonna take a shower now. I'm gonna take care of my family. I'm gonna go to work. I'm gonna get out of my car, go into my job. Remember what David said. I will bless the Lord at all times. Listen, just because you have to fight doesn't mean you aren't strong. And it certainly doesn't mean that you aren't called. In fact, the opposite is true. You gotta fight for your calling. So be strong and do the work. Be strong and do the work. I just can't say it one more time. Be strong and do the work. Hey, thanks for watching. I hope that that encouraged you today. Make sure that you subscribe so that you don't miss out on other videos like this, and I'll see you back here next time.