Testimony
I awoke with the word “testimony” in my head . . .
As a believer in Yeshua, this word brings to mind our sharing our personal stories of how we each came to believe in Yeshua as our promised Messiah. For some God-known reason, this past week has brought an unusual number of opportunities for me to give my testimony to “random” people in so many different contexts that it has prompted me to share these thoughts with you.
Where do I begin . . .
Relatable to those of you who may still be on the journey to know Him, as a mainstream Jew before He revealed His Truth to me, I never really could wrap my brain around the word “testimony” when believers in Yeshua would share their personal narratives. Providing testimony suggested to me a person being a witness to an event rather than it being a personal account of that person’s experience. The word “testimony” as they were using it was confusing and even seemed unnatural if we weren’t discussing something like witnessing an accident or crime scene.
Decades later when sharing my testimony became a joyous part of my life, I’ve now had many opportunities to understand not only the power of the word “testimony, itself, but also the power testimonies about our faith in Yeshua have on others. Even the words “Old Testament” which we no longer embrace is quite powerful for it suggests the writing bears witness to divine truth.
So this week as I’ve slowly ticked off items on the seemingly never ending to-do list that grew over my time away, the number of times that my testimony has been requested struck me as unusual. It’s as if HaShem is bringing me back powerfully to why I am here, how I am to serve, refreshed and recharged, ready to be reinspired to inspire others, for that is what our testimonies do, for others, and for ourselves. They are powerful reminders of His Presence, especially when our everyday lives keep pulling us away from our focus on Him.
From these various relationships and new acquaintances, I have been asked to share my testimony – in a phone call with a friend, an email inquiry about Ruach, from a family member who had already heard it. Sharing part of my testimony even came up in my Torah Club class this week as it fit perfectly in the discussion of the apostles being charged to be witnesses! Even more divine timing is a podcast I’ll be recording next week about my faith journey and an MJTI class next month where the topic is – my testimony! That class and the podcast were scheduled months ago, and yet, all of these events are happening now, in these very days.
Not only am I being powerfully brought back to what I am to do, to share the Good News, but I’m reminded that our testimonies, all of them, are needed, now more than ever. When we are again and again uplifted by our own and others’ faith walks with Yeshua, the world and its worries fall by the wayside. Our to-do lists seem like nothing. The headlines are manageable. We feel His peace. We are reminded our Creator has got this. He’s got us. He’s got everything.
All we have to do is show up, wake up each day, give thanks, and get ready for our assignment, open to doing whatever it is that He is asking of us. When we’re not sure, we keep praying, keep listening.
Testimonies bring the experience of knowing Yeshua intimately to us. They’re miraculous true stories that have happened to ordinary individuals, and so, become deeply relatable. They bring the Divine into our ordinary lives.
We remember our own testimony and listen to others to be inspired. When shared we feel lifted a little closer to be able to hear Him. Testimonies give us strength to drown out the static, instead to read Scripture, listen harder. They prepare our souls to receive Him, for they are undeniable, inexplicable, overwhelmingly true, and so, comes forth their impact. They empower us to lead exemplary lives as best we can, to shine His Light in this world, for we feel His holiness driving our decisions, our small doings that He guides. We want to love others as He loves us. Kindness frames our worldview.
We become changed by what we have witnessed and experienced. That is the Holy Spirit of Yeshua working in us, and so, we experience unbelievable joy and peace to share with those in our lives and those we welcome to us.
Your testimony is not to be kept to yourself, but rather, for you to generously share. For when you do, He makes His Presence undeniably known, an undeserved gift for a time such as this.
Shabbat shalom.
Diane
P.S. After writing this Shabbat encouragement I decided to catch up on some personal messages that I had not had time yet to check this week. When I did so, there from my Bible study group leader to our group was the following YouTube clip, a God Wink Love Drop for sure for me to share. I hope the video gives you goosebumps too.
