A testimony; I recently looked up the definition wondering what Google had to say about it. The first definition that came up was: a formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in a court of law. Next came, evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something. The last definition was, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. Simple.
A testimony is something so simple to speak; yet so many people stray away from telling theirs. A testimony is not only about your life, but it can be about how you came to Christ, and how/ why you are standing where you are today. It is so important to share with the ones around you your testimony.
Many times people are scared to share their testimony thinking, “Mine isn’t good enough,” or “I didn’t do drugs, alcohol, or have a near death experience, so mine isn’t worth sharing.” Then there are those who are ashamed of the experiences that happened in their past that they are scared to share with others around them. All good reasons. Not good enough reasons to not share your life with another.
This week I had the opportunity to go into a school named Nico Malan; a public school that has Christian values. In their school they have a JOT class; JOT standing for Jesus Our Teacher. Three others and I were given the chance to “run” the class for the week. Each class period there was a different grade that would come in, grade 8 through grade 12. Though the classes were different we spoke on the same thing each time, how we came to the race. We did that by sharing our testimonies.
The best way to share you life is to share your testimony. One by one each of us would go up in front of the different classes and share our testimony. Often times after our testimony we would go into detail of why we shared our testimony with them.
I shared about the fact that I didn’t want to go to college and ended up going basically to please my parents. I shared about how I wanted to go on the world race instead. I shared of what I found my identity in, instead of always looking to Christ first. I, of course, went more into detail about everything and how I am here on the race. The point of my testimony was that I waited. I didn’t want to wait, but I did. I had a passion to go on the race and see the world and do this “awesome” mission work that I saw over the internet on the world race website or their instagram page.
There was purpose in my waiting. In that freshman year of college I met some pretty awesome people. I made relationships with friends I know I will keep for the rest of my life. God placed people in my life He knew I needed. He gave me prayer warriors for this trip.
God knew I was ready to go on the race before my freshman year at school, but had purpose for me at Appalachian State. This all became part of my testimony.
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After all of us shared our testimonies we opened the floor up to questions from the students. Many would just ask about our country and what the differences were. Most of them desired to know if we all wore uniforms in high school and were somewhat shocked when we said only the private schools really did.
On Wednesday one girl raised her hand and asked, “How do you know that you know?” Basically saying, how do you know it’s God and not someone you are making up inside your mind. A question we all long to answer, but when the time comes you have no idea what to say. We ended up answering her question best we could and the class eventually ended and she left with the rest of the students.
Through her we knew we had at least reached one of the students, all through the Lord speaking through us in sharing our testimonies. Her heart longed for something more, but wasn’t completely sure how to get to it.
I am by no means saying that we are great people by speaking out our testimonies to a bunch of high school students who may or may not know the Lord. What I am trying to say is how important your testimony is. Whether you were raised in a Christian home your entire life, or you came to know Christ yesterday, we all have a testimony.
I am not sure why I decided to write this blog out. Maybe it was the Lord speaking to me to do so. Whatever the reason, I pray that the Lord moves through each of you reading this. He has great adventures ahead of you in your life. Pursue Him and He will lay a path down in front of you.
Over the past week and a half my teammates and I have been doing a devotional from She Read’s Truth; many of you have probably heard of it. In the devotional a verse from Matthew 6:34 spoke to me. It says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Next week we are heading to Port Elizabeth to have debrief with our whole squad!
I hope all of you are have a blessed day. Sending lots of love from South Africa! I cannot thank you enough for the continued prayer support. Thanks for reading! Y’all rock!
