I’ve always struggled with the whole “testimony” thing. Is that an okay thing to admit? Well, I just did. So the secret is out now.
You see, I was raised in a Christian home. I accepted Jesus and was baptized at a young age. My family was among the first to arrive and the last to leave the church building every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. I was present at every potluck, youth event, and choir practice for the 18 years I spent living in my hometown. I went to a small Christian college and then landed a job at a Christian publishing company.
I mean, y’all. I’m the president of the goody-two-shoes support group.
And I spent a long time being ashamed of that. I spent the majority of my life dreading the “what’s your testimony?” question at small group because I didn’t think I had one. I thought testimonies were only for people who overcame lives of crime and drug addiction and alcoholism. In the wake of those powerful stories of conversion, I believed the lie that my stories didn’t matter. So I kept quiet on testimony nights.
But when we’re silent, the enemy wins.
He loves to pile on shame and render us incapable of sharing the good news. He lies to us and tells us it’s better to keep silent — no one here wants to know about that, your story isn’t very powerful, if you tell them the truth of your past they’ll never see you the same way, they’ll judge you for who you were — and in so doing he discredits the work God has done in your life.
Sometimes testimonies are an amazing conversion story like Saul on the road to Damascus. Other times they’re stories that may seem ordinary, but are daily reminders of a living, loving God who is in the business of grace.
No, I don’t have a conversion story they’ll write books about. But let me tell you something I know to be true: I am not who I used to be, and it is all because of what Christ has done.
My heart is filled to the brim with stories of God’s faithfulness. I’ve seen Him protect me, provide for me, and pile grace upon grace on my weary soul.
But our stories can only be used if we share them. I’ve found that the stories I’m most ashamed to share with others are the ones God uses most powerfully to evoke change for His glory. Isn’t it funny how that works?
God chose us, broken vessels, to share His good news. We don’t need PowerPoint presentations and pamphlets and preaching lessons to share our stories. Sharing the gospel is as simple as telling two stories: Jesus’ and our own.
All we have to do is tell someone.
If you’re interested in learning more about gaining confidence in telling your faith stories, the joy of sharing your faith, and understanding the power of your testimony, check out the Tell Someone Bible study by Greg Laurie.
Today we’re giving away 5 Tell Someone Bible study books! To enter to win, simply fill out the form below.
Heather Warfield, the Lifeway Women Marketing Coordinator, is an optimist, coffee lover, and guacamole enthusiast from Michigan who currently plants her feet in the sweet, sweet south. Her favorite things include, but are not limited to: lakes, trees, sunshine, good talks, fair trade chocolate, new experiences, and people who think she’s funny.
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By entering today’s giveaway, you acknowledge Lifeway Christian Resources’ official promotion rules. Today’s giveaway starts at the posting time of this blog and ends Monday (02/22/2016) at noon (12:00 pm) CST. You must be 18 to enter, and you may only enter once. The winner will be selected at random. Only participants who live in the United States or Canada are eligible to win. For questions about the rules and regulations of this giveaway, please contact Heather Warfield at One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-140.
