My testimony is not about me, it’s about Jesus; because I am the same as you~ thinking I am good enough and yet knowing I need to be better, ingrained to my very fiber of being in self-sufficiency, self-confidence, and self-preservation, living unto death. I live in a world that proclaims: death and taxes, and you are what you make of yourself.
My testimony is in the Man Jesus. Who loved me with an everlasting love before I even knew Him. Who loved me even while I rejected His authority. Who rescued me from this world of death and its demands and gave me freedom and eternal life. Who paid the penalty for my guilt of blasphemy, persecution, and idolatry and reckoned my delinquent and overdrawn sin account that I may be pure and blameless before my Father in heaven. Who called me into His family, to belong and be secure and be supplied.
It is for the glory of His Name that He called me. It is because He is worthy of all worship, honor and praise. There is nothing on all the earth, in the hearts or minds of men that is worthy of such exultation: not Buddha, not Allah, not spirits, angels, man, money or fame. They are not worthy. He alone is worthy.
God alone is the Creator of the universe and all that is in it, limitless in love and mercy, unchanging, eternal, all wise. He completely forgives the repentant heart willing to return the stolen heart-throne to its rightful Owner. He doesn’t leave us to our own to work out our salvation, but seats us with Him, fills us with His Spirit, and transforms us into His image of truth, goodness and love. He enables us to walk in the darkness and shadows of this world in light and gladness and joy and honor speaking His words of truth and peace to us and through us.
And so I trust in the promises of the Living Word, knowing that all the promises of Scripture find their Yes in Jesus. And I cling to His faithfulness in order to not be outwitted by Satan, who is battling for my soul, but I am not ignorant to his designs. He would have me believe that my faith is a crutch and the trials I experience show the weakness and apathy of my God.
Yet I know that my faith is not a crutch, nor is it blind. I have learned from the Holy Spirit and the faithful that have walked before me that contrary to the lies Satan would have me believe I walk by faith and not by sight. “Not because I am blind, but because faith gives me courage to face my fears and puts those fears in a context that makes them less frightful. I walk by faith and not by sight because there are places to go that cannot be seen and the scope of my vision is too small for my strides. Faith is not the denial of facts- it is the broadening of focus.”___Rich Mullins.
And I know that the trials I experience are for the purpose of testing the genuineness of my faith and will result in His praise, glory, and honor: the revelation of Jesus Christ. For if I didn’t experience danger, I wouldn’t know the depths of His protection. If I didn’t experience pain, I wouldn’t know the completeness of His healing. If I didn’t experience grief, I wouldn’t know the abundance of His faithfulness. But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads me in triumphal procession, and through me spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.
This is my testimony. For what I proclaim is not myself, but Jesus Christ as Lord. I am a grateful servant, daily in the process of dying to self-sufficiency, self-confidence, and self-preservation. I am His adopted child over whom God has said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” and Who has shone into my heart to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To whom be all praise and honor, glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1Tim 2:5-6; 2Cor 3:17; Jn 3:16; 1Tim 1:13; Phil 2:15; Ps 100:3; Rom 1:5; Phil 2:9-10; Rom 1:20; 1Tim 1:17; 1Jn 1:8-9; Phil 2:12-13; 2Cor 3:18; Ps 23:4; Esther 8:16, 9:30; 2Cor 1:20; 2Cor 1:11; 1Pet 1:7; 2Cor 2:14; 2Cor 4:5; 2Cor 4:6; Rev 1:6
Thanks for sharing your story. I love to hear the goodness of the Lord.
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And there is SO MUCH to tell of His goodness! Thanks for stopping by!
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Your testimony gives me chills! Jesus only, Jesus always, Jesus ever will I sing! I am excited to follow your blog and the journey the LORD has you on!
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Thanks for joining me on that journey!
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🙂
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My heart was warmed as I read your message Kathleen, so much Truth and it reminded me once again of Scripture that God gave me in my Storm (see below ) and that although He does not afflict us He does work all things out for good in our lives and as you shared, we do not walk alone.
Lamentations 3: 33 For He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Isaiah 43:1-3 – Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.”
Jeremiah 29 :11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
In my early years as a Christian a unbeliever at that time said to me that I had been brain washed and that what I believed was just a crutch, I agreed and although I understand and accept what you meant by a crutch Kathleen, I said to her that my Brain was so messed up and dirty it needed washing and that a crutch keeps you standing upright, which is what The Lord does for me without Him, I fall.
Someone once said Hope is the Denial of reality, but Hope is always based in reality, although its reality is only seen by those who have Faith.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
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Anne, Thank you for such a thoughtful response. I love the Scriptures you quoted– especially Isaiah- he is my comfort-food of Scripture. I see your perspective of the crutch: He is definitely our refuge and strength and if people think that is a crutch, then YES! Isn’t wonderful, being foreigners in a strange land to connect together through these blogs? Like meeting an ally in enemy territory. Blessings to you!
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Kathleen, your blog is an inspiration and your testimony of faith is truly remarkable. I have nominated you for a Liebster award in recognition of how you continue to bless your readers. It is my hope also that his award will draw more readers to your site so that they too will be blessed by your sharing.
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