When I was a child, I remember the testimony time in our church services. I heard the adults share how God blessed their lives or answered prayer. They were all good, but the most exciting were the recent ones. Some of their stories were from many years ago. I always thought, "Why don't you share some current stories from this week or this month?" Unfortunately, they didn't seem to have many fresh stories.
I loved to hear preachers tell moving stories of courage, boldness and faith, but as I grew older, I realized most of their stories did not involve themselves. They were someone else's stories. I thought, "Why don't you tell some exciting stories from your own experience?"
Here's what I know:
Stories are nice and good, but they are better when they come from my own vault of experience, my times of conquering fear, and my simple acts of compassion.
May I tell you how to increase your portfolio of personal stories? Start telling your own story to someone every day. Develop your own testimony at
www.oneminutewitness.org and then start using it daily. Tell God you are available to share it daily, and then start expecting your opportunities to reveal themselves to you.
Two things will then happen. The gospel of Christ's love will multiply through you to others. And you will soon have many stories to tell of how God used you to help reach others with His love.
Like yesterday, I was taking a taxi to my hotel. Riding with me was a backslidden Christian man, although I did not know him at all. As I shared my own One Minute Witness, he said, "You sound like my mother. Every time I call home she says I must get saved!" I responded, "Maybe I am an answer to your mother's prayers." He said, "I am beginning to think you are!"
Why did that story take place? Because I decided to tell God I am available to be His spokesman daily. When I partner with God, many fruitful stories are waiting to be told.
Here's my point: Psalm 139 tells us God wrote down the details of all your days before one of them came to be. In other words, God has many stories waiting for you and I to be a part of,
IF we will engage our culture with His love.
So go get your own stories today. Don't wait to hear someone else's story. Develop your own.
And in a short time, other people will be repeating your exciting stories too!
