Becoming a Testimony

Have you ever listened to God, thinking you heard loud and clear? Then, somewhere, somehow, He says, "You only heard the beginning. I have so much more to show you." I don't exactly hear His voice, but often I think I figure something out and get stopped in my tracks. Blown away! He shows me there's so much more! That's exactly what's happening to me!


Earlier in the week I wrote about how we are a living testimony of God's love. We just need to ask for guidance and opportunity. That's true, but it just scratches the surface of God's plan.

Bear with me as I try to share. I'm not entirely sure I've really figured out everything He is showing me.

God created us for a purpose. That's Jeremiah 29:11. Not just any purpose, but a purpose that prospers, offers hope and gives us a future. Psalm 139 adds that God knitted us together in our mother's womb, already knowing the plans ordained for us. We are not here just to fill space, breathe air, eat and drink. God has something special for each one of us to do.

For some, life is short. Yet their lives often bring people closer to God than many of us who live decades. Those little ones, with prayers lifted high on their behalf, teach us so much about the preciousness of life and our need for God. Why don't we, given decades, always seem to accomplish the same?

I know I've been guilty of laziness, ignorance, and blindness. When I choose to "veg in front of the TV" I am not giving God all of my day. When I choose to "do it my way" and not go to His Word or ask for his guidance in prayer, I ignore the opportunity He presents. Often, I end up making things worse! Sometimes, I just close my eyes to the hurt all around and pretend (spiritually blind and heart closed) that it doesn't exist. Sadly, when I see a homeless person on the side of the road, I tend to busy myself in my purse or talk "earnestly" with my passenger. Anything but look him in the eye and recognize that he needs me to be Jesus' hands and feet. God wants me to be His hands and feet.

Where is the testimony in my failures? Absent. Instead of a testimony, I build walls, experience by experience. If my kids are with me when I ignore the homeless person, they learn that some people are more precious to God than others. That's not a testimony of God's love. When I lounge on the couch instead of investing in my family (no guilt trips here) -- especially when I know someone has a need -- I demonstrate my selfishness, not humility. Where is the testimony of God's love?

Like I said at the outset, I think I understand, then God takes it to a whole new level. It's like He says, "Dear child, You only think you understand. What about this? Or this? Or this? Take those steps. Then, maybe, you'll begin to understand how deep and wide My love truly is."

That's the lesson He taught last night. We had a guest speaker at church, Ps. Stovall Weems of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, FL. He shared the story of Noah. Not the ark building part, but the landing and resting part. I won't repeat it all, because I'd never tell it as good as he did. Instead, indulge me as I share the lessons I learned. :)

When the ark landed, Noah sent out a raven to search for dry land. (About a week ago, I read that and wondered if there was any significance to the black raven that got nowhere and the white dove that did, but I didn't dwell on it... God decided I should know anyway.) The raven, according to Ps. Stovall, represents sin. When we sin, we wander "to and fro," never growing closer to God. We can't land.

Do you see where I'm headed? When I wander aimlessly (see above for just a few examples), my heart isn't open to God. He can't land. He can't grow me. I don't become a testimony. I just breathe, eat and drink. Nothing.

When the raven didn't get it done, Noah sent the dove. It went out searching and returned. Noah "reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark." (Gen 8:9) Noah reached out, exactly what we do when we open our hearts to God's teaching through Bible study and prayer and corporate worship. He took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark, exactly what we do when we accept God's word and receive His instruction.

To be a living testimony requires more than just living right. It's more than "just" being an example. A living testimony requires daily walking with God. It means we open our hearts to His teaching, correction and direction. We give up our selfish desires to live out His plan for our lives. To be a living testimony means we choose to do life God's way, giving Him glory for the trials and the successes. We giving Him glory for the opportunities and the blessings.

To be a living testimony, God must be first.

Dear God,
I praise you today for your persistence! You have so much to teach me about your plan for my life. Please forgive me for not understanding the first time. Please forgive me for my selfishness, my laziness and my pride. Humble me. Teach me more of You. God, let my life be a testimony of your love, your grace and your mercy. Open my eyes and my heart. I want my life to honor you. 
In Jesus' precious name I pray,
Amen