Under His Construction
• Mar. 17, 2008 - My Testimony
My friend Jen has started a great new meme called My Testimony and she has tagged me to participate. Thanks Jen - I am happy to join in! Great idea!
1. When did you become a Christian?
I surrendered my life to Christ at the age of 18 while going to college. I use the word surrender because that was truly what happened. I had prayed the prayer of salvation many times before that but never in total surrender. I was trying to fake it to God (and everyone else) before my heart was really ready. My parents at that time were driving up to Spokane where I lived to get me and take me to a midweek Bible study. On one particular night the topic was hell. As the pastor was going through all of the scripture describing hell I became more and more terrified. I knew that if I died at that moment this is where I would be spending eternity and had known this for a long time but the stark reality of what hell was like straight from the Word of God put me over the edge. I was tired of living with the inner turmoil that this knowledge brought and this took me to a whole new terrifying level. I knew at that moment that I was really ready to completely surrender my life over. Right there as I sat in between my parents, completely unbeknown to my parents who thought I was already saved, I recieved that precious gift God was offering me. Tears ran down my face as my heart overflowed with joy. I had never felt so completely happy and free until that moment!
2. Was there anyone instrumental in your decision to be a Christian?
While the Holy Spirit was the most instumental influence in bringing me to Christ, there were several other strong influences. My parents would be the next largest influence that God used. They were, and remain to this day, a beautiful example of Christian love for me to follow. God has used them hugely in my brother's life and my own, as well as countless others. I am so very blessed to have them! ( : God also brought about friendships that were very important in my journey to Christ. My best friend in high school and her parents had a large influence in my life as well as some very close friends from college.
3. Were there any difficulties to overcome in your early walk with God?
Definitely! I was still dating my high school sweetheart who was not a Christian and although I knew this was not a healthy relationship for me, nor Biblical, I could not let go of him. I was very attached to him and we ended up getting married after I became pregnant (another area that I was not willing to submit to God in). I have also struggled from the very beginning of my walk to really get into God's Word. Throughout my years of education I developed a hatred for anything that required me to study. It was not until my second year of homeschooling that I really began to get into the Word. I know there have been many other difficulties that I have had to overcome but these are the two that stand out in my mind the most.
4. How did your life change after committing yourself to Christ?
As I look back over the last 13 years since I first came to Christ I see so much change, but the change was really very gradual and slow. I spent a lot of years carrying the burden of trying to change myself. I so wanted to be that 'Super Christian' that I thought God wanted me to be. I felt like He must be so disappointed in me as I came up a failure in every effort. God used a book called 'Classic Christianity'
by Bob George to show me that the sanctification process is God's job and it was prideful to think I could do it. Wow! What a concept this was for me! I could relax in Him and let Him change me? So many passages of Scripture that I thought I understood took on a whole new meaning and passages that I never understood starting making sense to me. I think this was the biggest turning point for me in my walk with the Lord. The growth in my life since I began letting God make the changes in me has been tremendous.
5. Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
I have many favorite verses but the ones that God reminds me of the most in my daily life are:
1. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Romans 8:28
This is the verse that turns difficulties into blessings in my life. I can go through whatever God brings because I know that He will work it out for my good. What a promise! This verse has truly been the courage I needed to make difficult decisions. It has also been the verse that has brought peace to my heart over and over again.
2. he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus Phil. 1:6
This is the verse God brings to me every time I try to take back the reigns of my life. He gently reminds me that only He will succeed in changing me.
6. What does it mean for you today to be a Christian?
One word: Purpose! Being a Christian means there is a purpose for my life that directs the daily decisions I make. The purpose? To know God more every day. To let Him direct my steps as He uses me to lead my children and others towards Him. To let Him conform me to His image rooting me and grounding me in His love.
7. Any last words?
Last words...Hmmm? I would say that the most important lesson a Christian can learn is the message of Easter. Why did Jesus raise to life again? What does this mean for us? It means our old man (spiritually dead) was crucified with Christ on that cross and a new man resurrected with Christ so that we could have that life not just in heaven someday, but to live for Him every day (2 Cr. 5:17, Gal. 2:20). So often this part of the Gospel is missed and many Christians miss the most important truth they need to live the Christian life. Grace! God offers us the power to live for Him every day. We can humbly seek Him to give us His power each day or we can pridefully seek to do it on our own and fail miserably.
"God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6
This is the key to living the adundant life Jesus told us about! ( :
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly. John 10:10
I see so many Christians missing out on this as they continue to live under so many burdens that they are trying to change. Relax in Him and let Him live His life through you!
So now I get to do the tagging! Oooo - I want to hear all of your testimonies! Please if you are reading this consider sharing your own testimony and let me know when you have so I can come read it. If you read here and do not blog please share your testimony with me through email and if you are willing to share I would love to post it here to bless others as well. Thanks again Jennifer for starting this meme! ( :
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• Mar. 18, 2008 - wonderful words!