The Power of Your Testimony
Written by Jamie Lamson
When I think about my life on this earth, there are many pleasant memories, unexpected traumas and saving graces that come to mind. While each of these is equally different, they all have one thing in common: Every moment is a part of my testimony.
As we share the ways that God has provided for us and been present in our lives, we are building our faith muscle, as well as the faith in those around us.
Merriam-Webster defines “testimony” as “an open acknowledgment or a public profession of religious experience.” Even though these definitions may sound a bit complicated and technical, testimony is about sharing your relationship with God and all that He has done in your life with others.
The Purpose of Testimony
As believers we are called to build up one another within the Body of Christ. This act can be expressed in a multitude of ways. Speaking words of encouragement over someone who is enduring dark days can uncover the light of Christ. Sharing a word of knowledge at just the right moment can help a son or daughter feel that they are seen and loved by God. Likewise, words of correction can be helpful within the Church to strengthen and teach others to walk in the ways of discipleship.
In the same vein that these various words edify those within the Kingdom, they also glorify God and testify to His power, goodness and loving kindness.
As we share the ways that God has provided for us and been present in our lives, we are building our faith muscle, as well as the faith in those around us. Our testimonies bring confirmation to the hearts of those who are struggling to make ends meet, those who are praying for important miracles and those who are seeking God with their soul but haven’t quite committed yet.
The Personality of Testimony
For most of my life the thought of sharing my testimony with others made me want to crawl under a rock and never come out. As an introvert and a recovering people pleaser, my biggest fear was rejection.
“What if I get laughed at?”
“What if someone challenges me and I don’t have the answers?”
“What if I encounter a person who has been burned by the church, and they begin to hurl insults at me?”
While these are all valid concerns, one thing I do know is that the enemy will throw lies at you and heap fears and strongholds on top of you just to keep you from declaring the good, miraculous works of God.
So, let’s speak some truth over these things, shall we?
“What if I get laughed at?”
I’m going to call out the elephant in the room. I’m not going to lie to you. You may very well be on the receiving end of jokes about Jesus, strong and hurtful opinions and mockery. Yet, our precious Jesus endured much more while he was heading to Calvary. He understands what it feels like to be insulted to the depths of His fully God, fully human core. He knows, and He is with you.
Invite the Holy Spirit into your being and ask Him to fill you with His supernatural courage to withstand any insult, demeaning comment or mocking stance. He will do it. Oh, won’t He do it.
“What if someone challenges me and I don’t have all the answers?”
Here is some freeing and really good news. Are you ready?
Our testimony is simply His testimony.
How has God shown up in your life? This could be a meal He provided for you or a person who encouraged you at work. It can be as small as something that happened in your day that made you feel thankful. What has He done recently that just blew you out of the water? This is a little bit bigger. These are the things that God has provided for you or has healed you from. In these areas of our lives we can relate to those praying for deliverance, waiting on a promise or who even haven’t made their minds up about Christ.
We don’t have to have all the answers, and we most certainly aren’t required to be Bible scholars. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you. Allow His words to be your words and His heart to be your heart.
“What if I encounter a person who has been so burned by the church, and they begin to hurl insults at me?”
The complicated and straightforward answer is this: Love as Christ loves us. Because they were hurt by the church, this person made in God’s image is probably not ready to process anything that has to do with the “little” church. Might I encourage you to be a friend? Fostering a loving relationship builds trust, and this person may just need a friend who extends acceptance and kindness. As you begin doing life with them and opening up to one another, the Lord will create a safe space for you to share your story.
The Power of Testimony
“So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I am in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.” (2 Timothy 1:8)
I believe the apostle Paul hit the nail on the head with this one. We should never be ashamed to share the good things that God has done and is doing in our lives. While it’s sometimes challenging, these things are exciting, and we should share them with the ends of the earth––or, at the very least, with the ends of our social circles!
Even as we walk through heavy circumstances while sharing our stories along the way, we are still servants of Christ. Therefore, as disciples, our words, actions and lives should be surrendered for the purposes of heaven. As we continue to surrender and align ourselves with His will, He will manifest His power within us. And it is through His power that we can share our full testimony: His testimony.
Related Articles
Embracing Advent
Do you always look forward to Christmas with eager anticipation… but then the season flies by in a flash? Do you intend to stay present and focused… only to find yourself pulled in every direction as you rush to holiday parties, decorate the house, and spend hours...
In a Broken World, Remember, God is Good
Watching all hope slip away from the world with the numerous events from terrorists’ attacks, mass shootings, a virus spreading across continents, political and racial tensions, an insurgence in Africa, natural disasters, division within families and people of same...
Why You Should Know Your Bible Before You Talk About It
What is the Bible made of? What parts are poetry, which are narrative, and what chapters are prose discourse? What’s the arc of the story from page one to the very last verse? Who wrote it, translated it, and who decided what was canonized? These are incredibly...
