I think it is so important to have your own testimony as this will give you something to look back on and remember where it all started, why you felt convicted, why you first began to believe in God, why you're still anchored to Him etc. It also helps to keep the "main thing", the main thing - God, and if a stranger asks, "Why do you believe in God?" your testimony always works as a great way to show the reality of God's love, how relevant he is and how he has/is able to literally change a life.
The gift of salvation is a joyous occasion so plaster it on your walls and celebrate!
So here is how it all changed for me, the foundation of my beliefs and the pivotal turning point of my Christian walk.
Written after Summercamp 2009
“Summercamp as a whole was an amazing experience. It was totally life-altering, spiritually provoking and insanely fun at the same time.
Prior to this, I was still hanging on to many pains of losing my Dad about a year and a half-ish back, amongst other emotional losses. I was happy on the outside, but essentially it was merely skin-deep, not a happiness that really reached my heart.
I thought I was a good Christian all this time, going to church, attending youth and all. But I still felt held back by my burdens, which then led to me gradually drifting further from God without my knowing. On the first day of summer camp, after the message was preached and everyone had their heads bowed and eyes closed, I could tell the alter call was coming. In what seemed like an hour, waiting for the call, I was still battling in my head whether or not answer it. Questions of doubt entered my mind, wondering what my CG girls (they’re such beautiful people, I love them to bits ) would think of me, or “would it really change anything?” But I felt I needed to, like as if this, could determine the rest of my year. I battled with my worldly mind and my thirst for something more.
I answered the alter call. The most nerve wrecking thing I’ve done, but the most worthwhile, satisfying, freeing act I’ve experienced. I felt like as if I had literally dropped a 10 thousand ton weight off my heart. Since then I have never been happier, never been more convicted in my life. I am so overjoyed with everything, with my friends, my family, and with life as a whole. There’s a new flame, no a new erupting volcano in my life, and nothing, NOTHING, will make it go out. Although I know that I will face a multitude of hardships to come, but now I don’t have to rely on my own strength. I have someone greater, stronger to carry me."
Before this I still believed in God, but never completely understood for myself, or had a personal relationship with Him. I was deeply hurting after my dad passed away and sought escape in all the wrong places; the wrong relationships, the wrong crowd, which left me feeling even more empty and hurt. But on that night at summer camp, I finally let God in. He filled my emptiness with His gentle love, and I felt clean, whole and empowered once again. The gift of salvation is life-changing!
So what's your story?
All my love,
♥ Joyce
LOVE hearing the amazing stories of people being impacted by God's love. It never gets old. Thanks a lot for sharing that Joyce :)
ReplyDeleteI concur! Thanks Joyce :)
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