Hello friends
One of my favorite things to share with others is the goodness of God. Today I am thrilled to share with you another Christian Testimony. I believe that every Christian Testimony has the potential to reach the hearts of many different people. The truth is “we are different, yet we are the same”. Not all of us may experience the same struggles and curve balls that get thrown at us in life, yet we all experience personal struggles and our own curve balls.
Being courageous and sharing how you have gotten through your own struggles has a huge impact on others. Giving your personal Christian testimony is a way to share God’s never ending love, grace and mercy. Through sharing your personal experience you give others an example of how God changes lives. It encourages others to continue to press forward in their lives as it gives them hope.
Introducing Helena and Her Christian Testimony
Helena Davies is originally from Wales, UK now living in Central Arkansas. Her interests range from walking the nearby trails to traveling to distant lands. Besides family her passion is to know the Lord deeper each day. Helena describes herself as a bible study, tea drinking and ice cream licking junkie.
Helena writes to the woman who struggles to know she is loved, and to the woman shy of stepping into her God given dream. She believes that her signature ministry voice can be summed up in one word: Encourager.
You can find Helena’s encouraging articles by clicking on the link — www.helenadavies.com
Hidden In The Shadows
The younger of two girls I grew up in my sister’s shadow who was everything I wasn’t. She was book smart and sports savvy. Me; on the other hand, well let’s just say school was not my favorite place and sports was something to be avoided. I knew early on in life I was not the bright one in the family.
I loved the Lord having received Him into my heart at age twelve with a recommitment at age sixteen. All was well in my world as I had great work, colleges and a small group of friends who also loved the Lord. I had accepted, or so I thought, my lack of educational excellence.
Later On in Life
Fast forward many years I was now a Registered Nurse, married with two children and living in America (originally from Wales, UK). As my community of friends grew I met many who though humble and wonderful were the highly educated.
I began to feel as if I was from the wrong side of the educational and social tracks. Comparison took hold and I felt that I didn’t have anything of value to offer. Though they never once treated me as anything other than a valued sister-in-the-Lord I believed the lie that I wasn’t enough.
Lie (1) I Had Missed the Boat
Though my husband and I attended Bible School in our twenties with the plan to go into full time ministry, we found ourselves in full time secular work instead. When we came to live in the States in 1992 we found it difficult finding a church to call home. I was moved to weekend night shift which interfered (a lot) with us attending church. Slowly, Sunday by Sunday we stopped going.
Now here I was ten years later with a renewed desire to serve the Lord and my sisters. Was it too late? Had I messed up my chance to serve in ministry? I believed I had.
Lie (2) I Was Too Old
On the day I walked into the sanctuary of the church I am now part of I knew I was home. The atmosphere was filled with the Lord’s presence; folks the meeting had finished yet His presence still lingered. It was a small church gathering of 150 people. This however was to radically change in just a few short months. Suddenly we went from 150 to 500 and continued to grow weekly. The influx was mainly made up of twenty and thirty year olds and here I was in my early fifties. Soon the young ones with their vitality and zest were heading up various ministry groups.
Had I suddenly become too old to be used? I believed the lie I was.
Lie (3) I Was Not Needed
I loved having the younger generation. Who wouldn’t? They brought a freshness I had not experienced since my Bible School days. They also brought their talents in graphics, arts, dance, drama, music, voice and a thirst for all things Jesus.
What did this fifty year old have to offer in comparison? Was I no longer needed? I believed I wasn’t.
Lie (4) I Wasn’t Enough
As stated earlier I didn’t excel in school, I most certainly was not among the gifted and talented kids. I took the long route to get anywhere including obtaining my RN. On one occasion a patient’s spouse took it upon his 6 foot plus self to corner all 5’ 2” of me so he could teach me how to speak English correctly. It led me to feel humiliated as English is my first language; I have a Welsh accent and therefore speak English with a Welsh lilt.
How could the Lord use me if people were not able to understand me? I believed He couldn’t.
I Needed Truth
I could go on with the many lies I believed but they all come down to insecurity. As a child I compared myself to my intelligent, sporty sister. At Bible school I compared myself to the “spiritual” students. In motherhood I compared myself to the women with the cute and oh-so-perfect children. You know the ones; every church has at least one family who appears perfect. Though if we were to get to know them we would find out they are no different from us.
I was trapped in comparison and insecurity had a deep hold on me. I didn’t want to put on a brave face and pretend I had it all together anymore. Wanting to be able to love and be loved without wondering what the catch was. I wanted to be able to walk in a room full of my sister’s in Christ and not feel like an intruder. Above all I wanted to be genuinely me. The person God created me to be not the one I had believed I was.
No amount of good intention or motivational self talk would have the deep and lasting change I desperately desired. I needed to be changed from the inside out it was the only way the lies could be eradicated. This was a God Help not a Self Help situation. Only God’s truth could combat the lies of the enemy.
God’s Truth (1) He’s has a Plan
I hadn’t messed up my chance to be used in ministry. The circumstances of my past had brought me to the place I needed to be; at the feet of Jesus.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advanced for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
God’s Truth (2) Flourish and Fruitful
God doesn’t put age limits on us; we limit ourselves. I love how Psalm 92: 12-15 reads no matter our present age.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
God’s Truth (3) A Need Existed
In this day and age people move away from home for work. Family dynamics have changed; chats with Mom or Dad are reduced to a phone call, no longer the luxury of stopping by home for a cup of coffee with Mom or with an aunt.
There was a need, as an older sister in the Lord I could be used as a mentor.
Titus 2:4-5 instructs the older woman to mentor the younger ones. Don’t get hung up on Busy at Home it just means get your work done.
Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
God’s Truth (4) He is More Than Enough
Lack of higher education and a foreign accent is not a problem to God. He can use me and he can use you despite whatever lack you think you may have.
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6
Accept His Invitation?
God desires a relationship with you. No matter what it is that you are walking in right now, He wants to help you through it. He doesn’t want us floundering alone in the struggles of life. A relationship with Him starts with a tug in our heart and yearning to know Him better. He is offering us salvation, forgiveness, acceptance, grace, mercy, love, kindness, healing and guidance. He is the giver of miracles. No matter how many chances He has given us – He is the giver of yet another chance.
I am inviting you to pray the “prayer of salvation”. This is the most important prayer that you will ever pray. In this prayer you acknowledge that you are ready to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you pray the prayer of salvation, you are letting God know that you believe His Word is true and you are inviting Him to take the lead of your life.
Romans 10:9-10 ~ “if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Biblegateway.com
Prayer
If you feel the tug on your heart today, please pray the following prayer:
Dear God,
Today I come before you and admit that I am a sinner. I know that there is nothing that I can do that will save myself. Many times I have done things that I know didn’t please you. I have been selfish and lived my life in selfish ways. For this I am sorry, and I ask for Your forgiveness.
I am ready to trust You as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe that You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross for my sins and that after 3 days You rose again.
You did for me what I could not do for myself. Today I come to you and ask You to take control of my life. I freely give it to you. Help me to live every day in ways that please You.
I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you.
In Jesus’ name ~~ Amen
Additional Christian Testimony’s
I am always encouraged when I read and hear other people share their Christian Testimony. It doesn’t matter if we share the same experiences or not. The common thread in all of our testimonies is the never ending grace and love that God has for us. Are you needing some hope? Does your faith need an extra boost? My prayer is that as you read the testimonies of others, that you will be encouraged in your own life’s journey. The Bible tells us that —
“The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing” Psalm 145:14-16
Renee – Christian Testimony – Solution Is In Him
Kevin – Christian Testimony – Medical Miracles
Alex – Chrisian Testimony – Restored From Addiction
Did Helena’s Christian Testimony encourage you? Do you have a Christian Testimony that you would like to share? Did you pray the salvation prayer?
I would love to hear from you in the comments as well as pray for you.
Blessings 💞💞💞
Were you encouraged by this post? Please share it with your friends on your social media accounts so that others can be encouraged from it too 💞💞
