Right now, in the world we live in, some people are quick to share every little aspect of their lives. Social media is filled with posts about what food you just ate, what outfit you are wearing, what funny thing your pet just did, your latest workout, and so much more. We’ve seen over the years a rise in “influences” for everything from skin products and clothing spanning across the board to touchy subjects like politics. I don’t know about you, but I am not a salesperson, and I cannot go online and promote a product or an idea. But over the last months, I really have felt a stirring that there is one thing in my life that I should be sure to be promoting. There should be no question about where I stand in regards to it and that my love for Jesus, my testimony.
One person’s testimony of God’s goodness in their lives is another person’s lifeline. We have no idea of the depth of encouragement sharing what God is doing in our lives can do to build up faith in someone else. We should be quick to share what God is doing in our lives. Big and small. Recently, a colleague couldn’t wait to share with anyone who would listen about a miracle God did. You see, she suffers from extreme allergies to dogs and cats and was recently ministering to a very ill person who had invited her to their house. Now my colleague knew this was a pet-filled household and could have easily declined the invitation due to her allergies. But, she prayed to God that just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stepped into the fire and were not burned that she would be able to step into this environment and not be affected. My colleague beamed with joy as she shared that God answered her prayers, she was able to go in and minister and left without so much as a sniffly nose or itchy eyes. Thank you, Jesus.
I don’t know about you, but stories like that one get me excited, build my faith, reminds me that God cares deeply about even the small things in our lives. He not only cares, but he knows these stories of hope, kindness, and love are to be used to help spur one another on in our faith. It’s time to stop keeping these gems to ourselves. We should be eager to share them with anyone who will listen. How can we remain silent when we have so much joy inside our hearts? How can we sit back and withhold these gold nuggets of truth, of hope, when there are people out there who are struggling, filled with hopelessness and doubt?
May we be bold. May we step up. May we be “influencers” for God by sharing our stories. Now you may say, Rebecca, but nothing like that has ever happened to me. I don’t have a testimony to share. To that, I would ask, “Have you had an encounter with Jesus? Do you know about the Good News of Great Joy? Were you made aware that you were once a sinner, and now you are saved by grace?” Then, my friend, you have a testimony. Your eyes have been open to the Goodness of God. You have been taken from death to life. You have been bought with blood. Your name is registered in heaven. Grace has rewritten your story.
It’s time to testify!
And the apostles went out announcing the good news everywhere, as the Lord himself consistently worked with them, validating the message they preached with miracle signs that accompanied them. Mark 16:20
Listen to my testimony: I cried to God in my distress, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalms 34:4
Father, we are in awe of Your goodness in our lives. Thank you that You care so much about every aspect of our lives, big and small. May we repent for the times we have held our tongue and refrained from sharing the good news of grace and love. Increase our boldness, that we may share our stories of hope to the hopeless, increasing one another’s faith. Thank you that; because of Your incredible sacrifice, each and every one of us has a testimony.
Melissa Lapensee
“One person’s story of God’s goodness in their lives is another person’s lifeline” Just love that Rebecca, so true!