Four years ago today I made the best decision ever: I chose to follow Jesus with my whole life and surrender everything to him. In the guest room of a close friend’s home shortly after midnight, I whispered, “I don’t know what I’m getting myself into, but I love you, Jesus. I want to give my life to you.”
And that was that. I breathed in eternity for the first time, simple and yet profoundly sweet. I awoke later that morning feeling different. I felt the surge of resurrection power flowing through my veins. Joy overflowed within me and glowed through the brilliant smile upon my face. Forever transformed in that moment by the infinite love of my Savior.
January 2, 2010. My rebirthday. The morning my life changed. I remember the pits and hurdles Jesus helped me overcome to draw me close to him, leading me straight into his outstretched arms. Those difficult memories flooded my mind and Holy Spirit revealed God had been with me all along, even when I didn’t think anything of Him.
The reality of His presence wrecked my heart in the best way. Abba Father pursued me because He loves me. God’s love declares that my identity, purpose and worth are in Him.
As I’m days from beginning another chapter in my kingdom journey, I remember the glorious testimony that I am of Jesus’ love. My story is one of victory, an epic of extravagant affection invading my heart and stirring me to go and tell all creation about their King.
I write this because the power of my testimony is no different from the power of yours. When I gave my life to Christ, I didn’t even realize the importance of sharing that truth with others. My close friends didn’t find out until a few weeks later when I admitted that I believed in Jesus .. And when joy and celebration erupted from them, I knew there was something greater in sharing what God had done in me than I originally thought.
Because this is the authority our testimonies carry:
“And they overcame [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Revelation 12:11).
The blood of Christ transforms us and our lives bear witness to this victory. We conquer the enemy and call forth the kingdom of heaven to invade earth. We truly live by dying to ourselves and accepting Jesus’ blood as our redemption. He grants us the power to set others free because He’s set us free.
I love testimonies because I see how God breathed life into that which was dead. The impossible becomes possible. Weakness turns into strength. Ashes transform into beauty. And every bit of it is His story in you.
So what’s your story?
