January 14, 2020
For full passage click: Psalm 40:1-5 … “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” vs. 3
Sometimes we underestimate the impact of our testimony in the lives of others. We imagine that our influence is minimal and that people are unaffected by what we say about faith and our relationship to God. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth! The Psalmist had experienced blessings in his God connection. Life had hit a rough spot but he had continued to trust and God had lifted him up. In response, he couldn’t help but tell his story and give praise to God. And he has confidence that, through seeing what had happened to him, many others would, in turn, learn to trust in the Lord. That’s why it’s so important to offer times for personal testimony in our faith communities. Over and over we’ve all seen how powerful those stories can be, Sometimes they have much more impact than even a well-crafted sermon. This isn’t just a matter of reciting bible verses and repeating a few theological maxims. Instead, what we hear in those testimonies is the unvarnished interaction of the Spirit of God and our own human hearts. Initially, it takes some courage to open our mouths–we expose ourselves to the critique of listeners. But in our willingness to be vulnerable, others are moved, and their faith is nourished and strengthened–and before long they’ll be singing the same song.
Thought for the Day: What is my testimony and with whom have I shared it?
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