141 | You Don’t Have to Be a Pastor to Reach People for Jesus

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

What if the love of Christ could turn your everyday routine into sacred ground? In this episode, we explore how a quiet, steady “yes” to God transforms ordinary work, home life, and creative projects into places where people feel seen, encouraged, and invited to hope again. From a child carrying light down a church aisle to the gentle shift from checklist prayers to genuine presence, these stories reveal how small acts become holy when love leads, shaping our emotions, our feeling and feelings, and the way we show up for others.

We dig into the meaning of synechō (συνέχω)—“to be held together and pressed forward”—and why Paul’s language matters for modern life. When we know we’re forgiven and deeply loved, our vision changes: coworkers become neighbors, clients become souls, and emails become moments for kindness. You’ll hear practical, doable ways to invite the Holy Spirit into your day through simple devotions, biblical encouragement, and a morning prayer that opens natural doors to pray, listen, and share the reason for your peace without pressure or scripts.

For those working from home, running a small business, coaching, serving, or parenting, we share a fresh, hope-filled approach to integrating faith with work. We’ll also talk about how gentle rhythms like aromatherapy and essential oils can support a calmer atmosphere for prayer and focus as you move through your day. As love compels, our desks turn into chapels, projects become offerings, and conversations carry light with quiet courage.

Want to take the next step? Join our free “Partner With God” workshop at PaulaBehrens.com/workshop and discover how to weave prayer, creativity, and compassion into the fabric of your daily work. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find these stories of everyday faith. Where will you carry the light this week?

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Transcript

Love That Flows Outward

Paula Behrens 0:00

Let me ask you something. Have you ever had a quiet moment where you felt the love of God so strongly that you just knew it wasn't meant to stop with you? Maybe it happened during prayer, maybe while you were working at your desk, maybe while you were making coffee in the morning, getting the kids ready for school, or answering emails in your home office. Something inside you whispered, This love is meant to flow outward. But then life got busy, work piled up, the day filled up with tasks and responsibilities, and that moment quietly faded into the background. Today we're going to talk about something very simple and very powerful. What it means to let the love of God compel us to reach others for Christ in our everyday lives, not just pastors, not just missionaries, not just people standing behind pulpits, but ordinary believers who love Jesus and want their lives to matter for his kingdom. If you work from home, and that includes parents who are raising children in the Lord, or maybe you are a grandparent but still feeling a stirring that God wants to use you, this episode is especially for you. And stay with me all the way to the end because I'm going to share an invitation to a free workshop called Partner with God in your workplace or business. In that workshop, I'll help you discover how the Holy Spirit can guide your daily work in ways that naturally open doors to encourage people, pray for them, and share Christ. But first, let's talk about something deeply personal. Is God's love compelling you? In a world that often celebrates the loud and visible, it's easy to feel as though your quiet acts of devotion go unnoticed. Yet Scripture assures us that God sees every hidden moment of faithfulness and he uses them to weave his redemptive story in ways we may never fully comprehend. If you're navigating past wounds, finding it challenging to practice grace in difficult relationships, are longing to see how God can use your seemingly small steps to create meaningful change, this podcast is for you. Friend, have you ever sat down with your Bible, a cup of tea and high hopes for a quiet moment with the Lord only to find your mind racing with to-do lists, your spirit distracted or your heart dry? I remember a season when my spiritual life felt more like a checklist than a connection. I had a book of prayers, a seminary degree, and even my favorite kneeling rail in my office. But truthfully, I was just going through the motions at that time. I was hungry for more, more peace, more presence, more of God. I was showing up with all the right tools, but none of the soul satisfying stillness I craved. My time with God became something I did, not something I delighted in. Then the Lord gently reminded me, He never asked me for polished prayers or perfect discipline. He just wanted my presence. And from that moment on, I began creating a space to simply be with him. I built a new rhythm, one that was deeply rooted in grace, filled with scripture, and supported by the soothing presence of his creation that helped me slow down and breathe in deeply. That sacred rhythm is what I now share in the aroma of Christ coaching hour. Whether you're spiritually weary, stuck in a routine, or longing for a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit, this hour is your invitation to begin again with grace. Before our coaching call, you'll receive an essential oil sampler to use during our online session to enhance this fun spiritual journey. Together, we'll craft a practice that helps you feel grounded, nourished, and deeply connected to God, mind, body, and spirit. You don't have to keep trying to figure it out all on your own. There's a simple way to grow in faith and draw near to God, and I'd be honored to help you find it. Let's breathe in His peace. Let's rediscover His presence. Let's begin again together. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour at PaulaBehrens.com /coaching. That's Paula Behrens B E H R E N S .com /coaching (no spaces). All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in. There's a beautiful verse in scripture that says, For Christ's love compels us. That phrase has always fascinated me. It doesn't say Christ's love merely inspires us. It doesn't say it politely suggests something to us. It says his love compels us. That word paints the picture of something moving inside us so strongly that it begins to push outward. When we truly experience the love of Jesus, it changes the direction of our lives, it softens our hearts, it opens our eyes, it gives us compassion for people who are hurting, searching, confused, lonely, or spiritually hungry. And when that love begins to take root, something else happens too. The Holy Spirit begins to work not only within us, but also through us. Many Christians understand the first part. We want the Holy Spirit to comfort us, guide us, strengthen us, and help us grow spiritually. And that is beautiful and necessary. But the Christian life was never designed to stop there. God's Spirit also wants to flow through us in ways that touch other people's lives. Sometimes that looks like praying with someone. Sometimes it looks like encouraging someone who is discouraged. Sometimes it's simply listening deeply and loving well. And sometimes it's sharing the hope of Christ when someone asks, How do you stay so peaceful in the middle of everything? You don't have to force these moments. When you walk closely with the Lord, they begin to appear naturally. And often they appear in the most ordinary places. Yesterday morning at church, something very simple happened that touched my heart deeply. Our candlelighter, the acolyte, was a little nine-year-old girl. She had the job of bringing the Light into the sanctuary at the beginning of the service and then carrying it out again at the end. She also lifted the offering plate up before the Lord. Now, if you've ever watched a child serve in church, you know how meaningful those moments can be. She walked down the aisle carefully, holding the candlelighter with such focus. She did her job beautifully. She brought the Light in, lifted the offering plate before the Lord with sincerity, and then later carried the Light back out again. After the service, I ended up in conversation with her mother. Her mom told me that in previous weeks the little girl had been a bit nervous about doing this role. But this Sunday, she turned to her mother afterward and said with a big smile, I nailed it. And that warmed my heart when I heard that. I also found myself thinking quietly, that little girl might be a pastor someday. Sometimes you can see a spark of faith in a child that makes you wonder what God has in store for their life. But what struck me even more was something her mother shared next. This Sunday was daylight savings time Sunday, which means we had to move our clocks forward an hour. As you might expect, the attendance was, well, quite a bit lighter that morning. Losing an hour of sleep tends to do that, you know. But the part that really moved me was learning what this family was going through. Their home had a water leak that caused significant damage. They were in the middle of dealing with insurance and repairs. The house was not livable at the moment. So they were temporarily living with the grandmother who lived down the street. Think about that for a moment. Four children, a disrupted home, insurance conversations, construction issues, stress, and on top of that, the clock moved forward an hour. Yet somehow this faithful couple still managed to get all four children up early, dressed, ready, and at church on time. That stayed with me because that's what faithfulness often looks like. Not perfection, not a life without challenges, but choosing to show up for God even when life is messy. And in the middle of that challenging season, a nine-year-old girl carried the Light into the sanctuary and proudly said, I nailed it. That moment preached a sermon all by itself. Because every time we bring the Light of Christ somewhere, even in small ways, something beautiful happens. There's a fascinating Greek word connected to the verse that is often translated, Christ love compels us. The word is synechō (συνέχω). Synechō. In its original context, the word carries the idea of being held together, pressed forward, or driven by something powerful inside. It can even mean being surrounded or gripped by something so strongly that it directs or controls your actions. When the Apostle Paul used this word, he was describing what happens when the love of Christ truly takes hold of our hearts. It's not just an idea we agree with, it becomes a force that moves us. Paul experienced this personally. After encountering Jesus, his life completely changed direction. The love and grace he received from Christ became the driving force behind his mission to share the gospel. That same love still works in believers today. When you truly understand that Jesus died for you, that you are forgiven, that you are loved beyond measure, something begins to stir within your heart. You begin to see people differently. Instead of just seeing coworkers, neighbors, clients, or strangers in the grocery store, you begin to see souls that God loves deeply. And that love begins to guide your words, your prayers, your kindness, and your willingness to speak hope into someone's life. That is synechō (συνέχω) in action. It is the love of Christ gently but firmly pressing you forward into a life that reflects Him. One of the most common questions Christians ask is this, How do I reach people for Christ? And sometimes the answer feels complicated. But the truth is, most of us already spend our days surrounded by people who need encouragement, hope, and spiritual truth. For those who work from home, which looks different than a traditional workplace, maybe your office is in your living room. Maybe you run a small business online. Maybe you're a coach, consultant, artist, writer, or entrepreneur. Maybe you're a parent faithfully raising up children in the Lord. But wherever you spend your time, God can work there. The Holy Spirit is not limited to church buildings. He moves in living rooms, he moves in busy mornings, getting the children ready for the day. He moves in phone conversations, he moves in email exchanges, he moves in the quiet moments when someone feels safe enough to say, Can I share something that's been weighing on me? When we begin our day by inviting the Holy Spirit into our work, something shifts. Instead of simply working for ourselves, we begin working with God. And that changes everything. Imagine starting your work day with a simple prayer. Lord, guide my conversations today. Help me notice the people who need encouragement. Use my words and actions in ways that reflect your love. That prayer alone can open doors you never expected. You might find yourself offering to pray for someone. You might share a simple story about how God helped you through a difficult season. You might listen with compassion to someone who feels overwhelmed. You might speak a word of hope at exactly the right moment. These are not accidents. These are moments where the Holy Spirit is working through you. And the beautiful thing is that these moments rarely feel forced. They feel natural. They feel relational. They feel real. Think again about that little girl carrying the Light in church. She probably didn't think she was doing anything extraordinary. She was just doing the job she was given. But that moment reminded everyone watching that the Light of Christ is meant to be carried, not hidden, not ignored, but carried. And sometimes the people carrying the Light are children. Sometimes they are parents who show up faithfully even when life is hard. Sometimes they are believers quietly working at their desks, answering emails, serving clients, and praying silently for the people they interact with. God uses it all. The kingdom of God often grows through small, faithful moments. You do not have to be perfect to be used by God. You simply have to be willing. Willing to listen, willing to care, willing to pray, willing to follow those quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes those nudges are very simple. You feel prompted to send a message to someone. You feel prompted to check in on a friend. You feel prompted to say, Can I pray with you? And when you follow those prompts, you may discover that God was already preparing the other person's heart. That is one of the most beautiful parts of partnering with God. We are not responsible for changing hearts. That is the Holy Spirit's work. Our role is to simply show up with love, compassion, and obedience. If you've ever wondered whether the ideas, creativity, and work that flows through your life might actually be gifts God wants to use, I want to invite you to something special. I'm hosting a free workshop. In a one-hour online session, we'll explore something many Christians haven't really considered. Creativity itself is a gift from God, and He's placed talents in you, those things you love to do, for a specific purpose. We'll talk about how the Holy Spirit can guide not only your prayers and your quiet time, but also your ideas, your projects, your conversations, and the way you show up in your daily work. You will begin to see that the inspiration you feel, the solutions you come up with, and the ways you serve others through your work can all become expressions of God's love flowing through you. We'll also explore how learning to stay spiritually aware throughout the day can turn ordinary work into something much deeper. When we invite God into the creative process of our work, our businesses, or our everyday tasks, we often discover that He opens doors for encouragement, connection, and meaningful conversations in ways we never expected. This workshop is especially for those who work from home, run a small business, coach or serve others, or simply sense that their daily work holds more kingdom purpose than they've fully discovered yet. Because the truth is this, when you begin to see creativity as a gift from God, your work stops feeling like something separate from your faith. Instead, it becomes one more beautiful way you partner with Him in the world. As we close today, I want to return to the question we begin with. Is God's love compelling you? Is the love of Christ stirring something inside your heart? If it is, pay attention to that stirring. That may be the Holy Spirit inviting you into something beautiful, not something complicated, not something overwhelming, simply a life where the love of Jesus flows through you into the lives of others. And sometimes that begins with something as simple as carrying the Light faithfully, just like a nine-year-old girl who proudly said, I nailed it. Friend, may we all carry the Light with the same sincerity. Okay, if any of that resonated with you, I would love for you to join me. You can save your spot now by visiting PaulaBehrens.com/workshop. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com/workshop (no spaces). This online event is completely free and it's designed to give you practical, faith-centered insight into how your everyday work, whether that's from home, in a business, or in conversations throughout your day, can become a place where God's love reaches others in natural and meaningful ways. I hope you'll come and join us. Again, you can register at Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com/workshop (no spaces). I would absolutely love to see you there. Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and and walking in His Wisdom. See you next time.