Why Your Story Matters

When someone asks you to share your testimony, what you do you tell them?

I love to hear the story of when you first said yes to Jesus, but I want to hear what He’s done in your life lately, too.

The Bible cautions us to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope we have. (1 Pet. 3:15) That hope starts with your salvation experience and progresses throughout your life.

In 1 Sam 17, there’s a kid named David with a slingshot. But there’s giant called Goliath, covered with armor holding a sword and a 10’ spear. The kid has the courage to face the giant because he’s already killed a lion and a bear while guarding his sheep.

Battles strengthen you. 

The victories in David’s past have prepared him for bigger battles with bigger stakes.

The victory over Goliath makes him famous. Other MIGHTY men follow his example of courage into battles. Men and women were drawn to him. 3000 years later, we are still talking about this kid’s courage and victory.

We all have “giants” in our life. Giants we are stuck with that beat us up and boss us around.

• Habits we’ll never kick.
• Relationships that will never get resolved.
• Sickness that will never be healed.

Emboldening others.

We reconcile ourselves to live with these giants. We give up hope of victory over them and simply accommodate them. Until … we see or hear of someone else who’s killed the twin of our giant. When that happens something powerful rises up in us, too.

When my friend turned up at a conference 50 pounds lighter than previous year, a switch flipped in me. She didn’t have surgery or sickness or calamity. She said she lost all the weight making one choice at a time.

As I listened to her testimony, I believed that I could have victory over food, too.

When my friend Lois beat cancer, it was just the news I needed to believe for my other friend in the midst of the battle.

Testimonies are powerful.

Your story of trusting Jesus, a marriage restored, an addiction conquered, a debt obliterated, a near death experience averted, a giant killed agains all odds, emboldens us for the next battle and empowers others to slay their giants!

Girlfriend, here’s why sharing your testimony is most important. The giant that tried to kill you, steal from you or destroy you, is coming after someone else. Probably someone you know. Someone you love!

Stop it in it’s miserable tracks by sharing how God helped you conquer your giant. Your story of redemption or a fresh start may be just what someone needs to hear to follow Jesus, trust Jesus, or start over.

Sharing our testimony starts at conversion and progresses through a lifetime of experiences with God.

What’s your story?

What’s the reader’s digest version of your recent testimony? Leave me a comment to encourage and embolden all of us.