Sharing Your Testimony or Sacred Storytelling....

I heard a sermon about sharing your testimony... and then,  I watched "The Holy Spirit" movie on Bethel TV again... and thought about the different ways we share our faith.

Some really do believe their faith is private and not meant to be shared except by action alone...action is good, but, it goes against scripture that commands us "to tell."

Some believe that they have to "tell" in order to be accepted by God, and they work hard to be out telling people based on that false perception, but there is nothing we can do to be accepted by God. His acceptance is a gift, and is based on the sacrifice of His Son, not what we do....

Some believe that they have to scare people into becoming Christians, and while I agree that Hell is a scary place, I wonder how well someone's faith holds up when it has been based on fear alone? I would think a lot of joy would be left out....

Extroverts share in extroverted ways, and often have an easier time sharing with strangers, but God made introverts, too, and loves their gentle disciple- making, one-on-one ways... He pulls each out of their comfort zones at times, but He uses all personalities,  all temperaments, all learning styles, and all gifts, talents, and abilities.

Most of us, I think, understand that sharing our faith comes with a little bit of trepidation because we recognize the enormity of someone's salvation. We want to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, but we often become so focused on our own inadequacies, that we forget it isn't our job to convert. It is His.

Mostly, we need to realize that our story comes out of our gratefulness for all that God has done, and we don't have to share our story perfectly... or even completely (it would take forever for me to share EVERY thing God has done!)

But, as we listen to the Holy Spirit and share what we have learned in an appropriate situation, God takes our inadequacy and turns it into a "word in due season." It is He who does that. We just have to step out in obedience, and risk sharing... He often doesn't give the perfect word until our mouth is willing to open and share it. At least, that has been my own personal experience.

I am thankful that sharing my story (or, really, any story ;-) ) has not been something I have struggled with much, but I know that is not the case for everyone. I can tell you, though, if you are willing to share, He can use just about anything you say. Even when I have completely blown it and said all the wrong things, God still used it to touch hearts.

And, you know, if you do mess up, and He uses it, you have a greater sense of who He is and He gets all the glory!

Just sharing..... :-) <3