Find Your Voice and Share It

I'm currently reading the devotional book, Draw The Circle by Mark Batterson.  This morning I read the chapter entitled "Get a Testimony".  I believe it's true when he says that people are encouraged by or drawn to God through other people's testimonies.

We can read about God, take Bible study after Bible study and still not be drawn as close to God as when we hear someone's first-hand account of how God has worked in their life.

A person's testimony reveals to us not just that God "can" but that He DOES.  And when we see that He "does" in someone else's life it spurs our hope that He "will" in our life. 

Mark also mentioned in his book something that really struck me.  He said "we get a testimony by being tested."  I know - it seems incredibly elementary seeing as how the word "test" is actually in "testimony" and yet this simple sentence gave me a whole new perspective on my trials.

We will have trials in life.  It's a given fact.  But what will we do with those trials?  Will we get through them and never speak of them again?  Does this mean all the pain was in vain?  Or will we use our trials as an opportunity to glorify God, encourage others, strengthen our faith and build someone else's?

Testimonies don't just occur through trials.  They also occur through the abundant blessings God lavishes on us.  What a shame we don't spread the riches and wonder of being a child of God.  People need to know that following God doesn't mean we're all tight-faced, grumpy rule followers.  People need to see by our testimonies that following God is a joyful experience.  How will they know if we don't tell them?

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done, 

and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world.

Isaiah 12: 4-5

Find your testimony and share it.

Basking in His Delight

Praying The Scriptures

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

Father, I thank you so much that you are forever with me.  You never leave my side even when I doubt - even when I'm frustrated - even when I throw a temper-tantrum.  My heart and my life belong to you and because of that your love for me is so strong and so complete that leaving me behind is not even an option.  Thank you for being better at loving than I am.  

And if that wasn't enough, your love leads you to take great delight in me.  To be honest - sometimes I can't imagine that because of my sin.  But - despite my sin you rejoice over me with singing because I have chosen you - I have chosen you to be my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer!  And because of that - there is singing and dancing as you prepare a home for me.

Father, You not only have saved my soul and claimed it for eternity but you are my biggest defender here in this earthly life.  Sometimes I try to fight all the battles that come my way.  Some battles are just to big for me and some battles you never intended for me to fight.  Help me to let go and let you defend me. You are more than willing and I thank you.  I praise you for your power and might.

I love you, Father.  Thanks for loving me.  Amen.