I am not a polished public speaker. The words that I use are often incorrect. I speak in a monotone. I don’t have any particular flair or charisma. Yet, I have spoken to audiences in China, Vietnam, Nepal, Thailand, India, Australia and the United States.
Despite my obvious weaknesses, audiences seem to appreciate the messages that I have given. I attribute the positive reception to effective translation, making my words bear fruit in the audiences. Sometimes the translator was the person next to me, but all the time the effective translator was God imparting the message into hearts. The message is far more important than the delivery or the speaker.
Even when I pray, I need a translator. Fortunately, God promises to help translate my prayers. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. And he who searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ” Not only does the Spirit pray as I ought, but He prays based on my deepest needs.
Reluctant Retiree 