"Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before." Psalm 68:28 (NIV)
It was the first day of the Bible study I was leading and I didn't know the women very well. When I asked them how they experience God's presence, I got the answers I expected: prayer, reading His Word, listening to music. Then one woman raised her hand. "My testimony," she said.
I know my face registered my confusion. This was not an answer I expected. "Your testimony?" I asked. I knew the word testimony meant her story of how she came to know Jesus as Christ or stories of His activity in her life, but I was not totally following her. "How do you experience God's presence through your testimony?" I inquired.
"Whenever I share my testimony, I am reminded of His faithfulness," she answered me, her dark eyes shining. "I remember what He did then and I feel Him there assuring me He will be faithful again. My testimony reminds me of God's presence throughout my life; that I can count on Him."
I wanted to let her lead the rest of the Bible study, because she clearly had a lot to teach me.
Since that moment I have thought about the woman's words. I have reflected on my testimony—the many stories I can share about the answers to prayer, the still small voice of reassurance, the mountaintop experiences, and the revelations in my depths of despair. I have many examples of when I have felt His presence in my life and those experiences have taught me that I can count on Him. He was there; He is there; He will be there. Our testimonies are not stories with a beginning and an ending. They are unfolding sagas of a lifelong love affair with the living God.
I have always thought of my testimony as something I can use to inspire and encourage others, but had never thought of it as something I could use to encourage and inspire myself. God is faithful and He has proved it over and over. I can look back over my life and trace His hand, feel His presence and trust His purpose.
What is your testimony? How can it inspire you today? What do you need to remember from the past that will speak into your life today? Let your testimony speak to you today.
Dear Lord, thank You for always working in my life. When I get discouraged, let me see that You worked in my life in the past and You are at work now. Help me to recall my testimony so that I can feel Your presence. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Visit Marybeth’s blog for more encouragement today!
The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen
Thin Places: A Memoir by Mary DeMuth
Micca Campbell’s Testimony (DVD) and Lysa TerKeurst’s Testimony (CD)
Visit Marybeth’s blog for more encouragement today!
The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen
Thin Places: A Memoir by Mary DeMuth
Micca Campbell’s Testimony (DVD) and Lysa TerKeurst’s Testimony (CD)
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Application Steps:
Reflections:
Have you ever thought about your testimony ministering to you? Do you spend time thinking about God's past faithfulness or do you tend to always look ahead?
Power Verses:
Psalm 9:10, "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." (NIV)
Psalm 145:18-19, "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries and saves them." (NIV)
© 2010 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.
Labels: Identity in Christ, Overcoming, Spiritual Growth, Trusting God, Waiting On God, Walking in Faith
10 Comments:
Thank you so much for this message. I'm facing a major change and was tossing and turning --- unable to sleep as my mind mulled over all that needs to be done and all that could go wrong. I finally put the coffee on and got up to check something on the internet and your email message was there. It was exactly what I needed to hear. It reminded me of the many times in my life that God has been there for me. And it brought to mind a hymn where the refrain points out his faithfulness to us. Thank you for this
Thank you for this wonderful message and testemony. It speaks volumes and will help me remember to hold onto His hand that is always by my side.
I absolutely agree with the woman in your Bible study! To reflect upon His faithfulness and amazing, gracious, merciful works in our lives proves and confirms His presence!! Reminds me of this scripture:
"Remember your journey...that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD." Micah 6:8
Great devo, Mary Beth!!
I love how God works. I am planning my new High School curriculum and God put on my heart to work on lessons focused on testimony. We are going to look at people in the bible and see how their lives are testimonies to us and then reflect each week on how our life was a testimony to ourselves and others. Your devotion just reaffirmed exactly where God had me headed. HE IS TRULY AMAZING!
Thank you...we were reminded this weekend by evangelist David Ring (he has Cerebral Palsy) that our son's cerebral palsy is not our curse but our platform through which we are blessed to share our testimony. Rev. 12:11 says that they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony...we have to share our stories so others can see what Christ has done for us.
This speaks volumes. I just finished the first lesson in Wendy's new Bible Study on David, and again was reminded why David was able to defeat the giants in his life. He recalled the times God was with him. As the lady in your devotional, I need to recall the amazing work God has began in me, and use that strength to guide and lead me to be the lady of God His plans me to be.
Thank you for the message in this post. I often tell ladies in Bible studies I teach or when I speak that we need to reflect back on what God has already done in our lives so we remember he is still here and will be here tomorrow and the day after that. Yet right now I needed the reminder that in the discouragement I am struggling through at the moment I need to reflect on my testimony and the amazing things God has done in my life and trust for the way ahead. Thank you for sharing this. It meant so much
As I sat & read this morning I found myself in aww... For like you I had never really thought about feeling our Lord's presence when we share our testimony. Although I know this to be true just never looked at it that way before. I do feel His presence when I do share where I was & where I am as well as answered prayers. For if it wasn't for Him I would never be able to talk & share these things with others & peace & comfort& thankfulness that comes over me when I have & do share with others. Thank You for such a wonderful message God is Great He is Faithful & Our Lord is Always here for us.
Thank you as always for your words!! I am a Christian and a 2 time survivor of cancer - so I am ALWAYS sharing my story - to give others HOPE and encouragement and just as you've said to remind myself of HIM faithfulness!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! Keep em coming!!!
Jeanie Hobbs
Arkansas
Recently, I was having devotions with my 2 girls (11 and 8). One morning my 8 year old asks me how I came to know the Lord. It's funny because it dawned on me that my precious children had not heard my "testimony". I went on to tell how a co-worker, who was a converted Jew, spent a year cultivating our friendship and she was the one that ultimately lead to me Christ. As I spoke about those early days as a new believer, at the young age of 20, I began to tear up telling my girls of how the Lord saved me and has carried me through many difficult (and good) times; that truly my life would not be what it is without Him. I was overwhelmed by His grace and love in my life for these past 20 years. So, yes our testimonies can remind us of God’s faithful and grace.
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