Around three years ago I remember listening to the testimony of a recovering addict and wondering how or if I would ever be able to tell my story. I mean really, I couldn't even come clean about my own addiction how would I ever be able to stand in front of people and deliver something so powerful and moving. So that was the fear I remember feeling.
Something dawned on me in time to come after that day. The reason I couldn't picture myself standing up there was the very reason I resisted help in the past. I hadn't experienced real change, fear of the unknown and all the nonsense that was clouding my mind, so how on earth could I talk about something if I hadn't experienced it.... Ahh, now something started to hit home for me, the power of testimony lies in the truth that it holds. It seems simple now but believe me it was a mountain for me then. What's become apparent now, is what Carol said in one of our Leading Edge meetings recently and that's "honour the Lord for your recovery and be grateful for your achievements".
Now what I understand is that I need to recognise my achievements rather than taking credit for them and move on. A testimony for me is about the change or transition which has taken place and that which was given back to me through the grace of our Lord. So is it really my testimony or is it the testimony of the Lords work in my life. I'm talking about my family, beautiful children and new outlook on life, like minded people around me, the list goes on in that regard. I truly believe that a Testimony is an on going story depicting the chapters of my life and pleasing God through the process of sharing it. Dean Francis Leading Edge Member
John 5:31-32
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.
Something dawned on me in time to come after that day. The reason I couldn't picture myself standing up there was the very reason I resisted help in the past. I hadn't experienced real change, fear of the unknown and all the nonsense that was clouding my mind, so how on earth could I talk about something if I hadn't experienced it.... Ahh, now something started to hit home for me, the power of testimony lies in the truth that it holds. It seems simple now but believe me it was a mountain for me then. What's become apparent now, is what Carol said in one of our Leading Edge meetings recently and that's "honour the Lord for your recovery and be grateful for your achievements".
Now what I understand is that I need to recognise my achievements rather than taking credit for them and move on. A testimony for me is about the change or transition which has taken place and that which was given back to me through the grace of our Lord. So is it really my testimony or is it the testimony of the Lords work in my life. I'm talking about my family, beautiful children and new outlook on life, like minded people around me, the list goes on in that regard. I truly believe that a Testimony is an on going story depicting the chapters of my life and pleasing God through the process of sharing it. Dean Francis Leading Edge Member
John 5:31-32
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.
There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.