This post is written to link with Five Minute Friday: write for five minutes on a one-word prompt. The prompt today is “testimony.”
Testimonies are powerful because we all love stories!
I remember a visit to a church several years ago that has stuck with me as one of my favourite services ever. Several members of the congregation came up in turn to talk about their favourite hymn or worship song and shared their testimony of what it meant to them. Then after each person had shared, we all sang the song together.
Music and stories – it was the perfect combination! And it was so encouraging to hear the different ways God had been at work in people’s lives through good times and bad, how he had brought them hope and comfort and transformation.
We all know testimonies can encourage others, but I think some of us can feel that we don’t have a testimony to share.
Every year I lead at a training camp for 16 and 17 year olds who are going to be trainee leaders at camps for children, and as part of that they are asked to share their testimony.
There’s always at least one who claims they can’t share because theirs is boring, so I ask what they mean.
“Well, my parents are Christians, and I’ve been to church all my life, and I’ve always believed in God, and there’s not a moment when I made a decision to follow Jesus. I just always trusted him.”
And that’s the cue for my annual speech about how everyone’s testimony is different and everyone’s is important. God works in different ways in different people’s lives. Some stories may be dramatic and others may not, but all of them reveal who God is, and different people listening will relate to different stories.
When I reach the part about how I think a testimony of having been brought up in a loving Christian family, always having known Jesus, is one of the most beautiful stories you can have, my eyes fill with tears every time and the group of teenagers look at me as if I’m mad, but they’ve got the point – their story matters.
And your story matters – whether you’ve known Jesus all your life or only very recently, if you know him you have a story of God’s love and faithfulness that people need to hear.
And when we share it glorifies God and points others to him.
“Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.” (Psalm 107:2 NLT)
If you’d like to read more on this topic, you might want to check out these posts:
Stories do matter and the only one you can tell completely is yours. You never know who will relate to your story until you tell it. You don’t have to know lots of Bible knowledge or defend the truth of it. The amazing thing is no one can say your story is not true because it happened to you.
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So true, and people are often more interested in hearing stories than just in hearing facts or what the Bible says. It’s a good way to start the conversation!
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It’s been a long and winding road,
with bits I’d rather not re-live,
but others have to bear this load,
and my words are all that I can give.
The fact that I have come this far
has nowt to do with character strength;
I have but followed the Holy Star
and found the manger blessed, at length.
But being here, what can I say,
that cancer was the golden door
to which I came, from far away,
and cured the man that was before?
In a gyre of pain, death as release,
is it right to say that I’ve found peace?
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Your testimony is so powerful, Andrew! I love how God has been working in you through this whole difficult journey, and I am always blessed by what you share!
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You know I’ve heard that before and I always want to say how hard it is for teens and young adults to not waiver from their faith. The line is “He really hasn’t saved me from anything bad.” “But oh He has dear friend.” #testimony.
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Definitely! I think none of us are fully aware of all that God has saved us from!
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I use to be one of those “boring testimony” kids. Now I recognize it for the blessing it was, and know that God can use everyone
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Yes, your testimony matters and God can use it!
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Thinking of the ripple effect you have on those 16 & 17 year olds, who can then share & encourage others with the power of their own story. What a blessing!
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Thanks, Michelle! Yes, it’s amazing when they realise they do have a story to share that can encourage others!
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Good morning Lesley, I love your annual speech! I agree, every heart that chooses to follow Jesus is beautiful. May God bless your weekend, my sister in Christ.
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Thanks, Julie! Hope you have a lovely weekend too!
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I love the idea that if you know Jesus, then you have a story to tell. Very true. I’d like to tuck that away. I may need to borrow it someday.
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Feel free to borrow it! Thanks for visiting!
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My testimony is one of those “boring” ones LOL but I thank God every day for that Christian upbringing I had! Interesting, though, my younger sister made her public profession of faith when she was six (and I was 8). I made mine at age 10 — on the same day as my 6-year-old brother. (Guess I was a little slow!) Although I remember asking questions at a much earlier age, I just couldn’t bring myself to “walk the aisle”.
Then one day, when I was a young adult leading an elementary girl’s mission group, the younger sister of one of my girls made her public profession. The older sister in my class hadn’t done so yet, and I knew she was doubting herself. I was able, without making a big deal of it, to share my own “timing” testimony and give her assurance that as long as she kept asking God for direction, she would know the perfect time when her acceptance of His gift was right for her.
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Thanks for sharing your story, Susan! I love that you were able to use your testimony to encourage that girl. God can use all our stories!
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Testimonials ALWAYS point to Him! They are never about self and that’s what makes each one amazing.
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Yes, keeping that focus is important!
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It can become a comparison game but we must realize that being brought to life itself is miraculous. It speaks to a God who knows us intimately and longs to be revealed through us.
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Thanks, Stephanie! Yes, each of our stories is unique but each one points to God and can reveal him to others!
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What is your testimony Lesley? I would love to read your story too. 😀
Everyone’s story is important especially to God! 😉
Blessings,
Jennifer
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On the surface, mine is one of the simpler ones – I was taken to church since I was very young, always believed in God, and put my faith in Jesus when I was 9. The full story is more complex though. I had experienced abuse as a child and my abuser had recently died. I didn’t have the words to explain at the time but it left me very confused and anxious, with an overwhelming fear of death. Knowing Jesus gave me someone to talk to – I would lie in bed at night and pray when I couldn’t sleep. So grateful God led me to know him at a time when I really needed him!
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I think that is an amazing testimony Lesley! Thank you for your courageous sharing with us…I’m saddened to hear you experienced abuse as a child…though I’m glad you found a friend in Jesus as that early age with His healing love & power. Sending a gentle hug dear friend ♥
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yes, testimonies are good stuff
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Thanks for reading!
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First of all, I LOVE the idea of sharing testimony through song! I have to ponder that for a bit! But, most of all, thank you! I tend to hold back when in a group sharing their testimonies because, yes mine lacks drama and excitement! Thank you for your reminder that if we are children of God our story matters! I didn’t know I needed your words but I did!
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Thanks, Cindy! I’m glad this helped to encourage you that your story matters!
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I’m so thankful you’re sharing this message with young people–and us! It takes just as much grace to keep us from sin as it does to pull us out of it. Plus we often fail to realize that our inner sins like pride, selfishness, being unloving, etc., are just as bad as other people’s drug use, promiscuity, etc. I once read that if Jesus said the greatest commandments were to love God with all our hearts and minds and love others as ourselves, then not keeping those commands are the greatest sins. And we all fail them every day. We truly don’t appreciate all we’ve been saved from.
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So true, even if we haven’t committed obviously big sins, we all fail God every day and need his grace. And I love your point that grace is not only about pulling us out of sin, but also keeping us from it.
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Praising the Lord for all the “boring” testimonies today – both in the posts I’ve read and even in your comments! What a blessing:) Keep encouraging those teenagers to not only share but to see the beauty and gift of their “boring” testimony!
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Thanks, Jennifer! Yes, praise God for “boring” testimonies!
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You remind me of the Big Daddy Weave song
“Of the Grace that is greater than all my sins. How justice was served and how mercy wins, of the kindness of the Savior that draws me in. Oh, to tell you my story is to tell of Him.”
Thank you so much for this encouraging reminder that every testimony is beautiful.
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Thanks, Jolene! I don’t know that song. I’ll have to check it out.
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