During a Christian men’s conference on Saturday, Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington shared what God has been telling him every time he prays.
According to The Christian Post, Washington was one of several featured speakers at First Baptist Orlando’s “The Better Man Event.“
During a 30-minute sit-down discussion with Pastor A.R. Bernard, the senior pastor of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York and Washington’s spiritual mentor, Washington told the audience that God is urging him to share His word.
“In every prayer, all I hear is: ‘Feed my sheep.’ That’s what God wants me to do,” the actor told Bernard.
While Washington often asks what God’s message to him means, he’s come to realize in recent years that “there are all kinds of sheep.”
“So that’s why I talk to experienced shepherds to help guide me,” he added.
During the faith-filled talk, Washington asked, “What is our role as a man?” as the world continues to change.
“The John Wayne formula is not quite a fit right now. But strength, leadership, power, authority, guidance, patience are God’s gift to us as men,” he said in response. “We have to cherish that, not abuse it.”
Washington also told the men in attendance about his own battles in living for God despite playing redemptive characters on screen.
“What I played in the movies is not who I am; it’s what I played,” he contended. “I’m not going to sit or stand on any pedestal and tell you about what I had in mind for you or your soul. Because the fact of the matter is, in the whole 40-year process, I was struggling for my own soul.”
Citing the Bible, the actor noted that “in the last days we’ll become lovers of ourselves” as he warned about seeking fame.
“The number one photograph now is a selfie,” he explained. “So we all want to lead. We’re willing to do anything — ladies and young men — to be influential.”
“Fame is a monster, and we all have these ladders and battles, roads we have to walk in our given lives. Be you famous or whoever’s out there listening, we all have our individual challenges. It’s cliché [but] money, don’t make it better. It doesn’t. Fame just magnifies the problems and the opportunities,” Washington continued.
For men seeking success, Washington advised them to “stay on your knees” and listen to God.
“I hope that the words in my mouth and the meditation of my heart are pleasing in God’s sight, but I’m human. I’m just like you,” he said. “What I have will not keep me on this Earth for one more day. Share what you know, inspire who you can, seek advice. If you want to talk to one someone, talk to the One that can do something about it. Constantly develop those habits.”
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Erik Voake/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer. He is also the co-hosts of the For Your Soul podcast, which seeks to equip the church with biblical truth and sound doctrine. Visit his blog Blessed Are The Forgiven.
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