GUYS! I am so excited to share today's blogpost + free resources with you! I posted my testimony a while back, so this is from dear friend of mine- Georgia White. She has not only given you a guide to writing your testimony, but she has also given you a snippet into her own story and a free printable template! She is such an inspiration! You can find her at @aspiringdeeper on Instagram! ~Maddy
**Templates and Georgia's testimony found in the "free resources" tab of the menu bar.
My dear friends, I’m so excited to share this with you! If you came across this, then you’re probably interested in sharing your testimony. For that I say “yay for you!” I am so impressed and encouraged by people who are willingly and boldly sharing their journey with God.
As Douglas Riggle said, “Your journey is an important story and needs to be heard! Next to God’s story, your story may be the second greatest one ever told. I believe that by telling your story you will strive to continue to serve God as well as inspire others to do the same.” What an opportunity we have!
However, some concerns I’ve wrestled with is the lack of interest in my testimony. What if it’s boring or not wild enough? Have you felt similar? Don’t worry about the interest level of your testimony! You don’t have to describe yourself as a satanic cult leader performing sacrifices (unless of course that’s where you were in life). Just take a moment and relax. You have a story whether it’s extravagant, emotional, or even tame. It’s YOUR story and it should be proudly proclaimed!
What Is “My Testimony”
Your testimony is an exciting opportunity to share with others how God has been at work in your life. However, this process of sharing still seems confusing. Basically, a testimony is a story. It’s YOUR story no matter how long or short. Everyone has a story about their lives, even those who are not Christians. All of us can talk about what we think about Jesus and our journey with Him whether we’ve “met” him or not.
Why Should I Share My Testimony?
Sharing your testimony gives you an experience to display the gospel before others in a genuine and relatable way. Think about it this way: what if someone who does not believe in Jesus approached you, and let’s say you just put your faith in Christ to experienced a changed heart. Now put yourself in your receiver’s shoes. Would they rather hear Scripture stuffed down their ears, or would they be more welcoming to hear a story…YOUR story…demonstrated in a relatable way? Those who may be wary of Jesus get a real, live example of how God makes a difference in one’s life. God is active and can turn anyone’s world upside down…or more like right side up.
Not only is it encouraging for those listening to your testimony story, but it can be a great reminder to you as you prepare, reflect, and write out your story. It’s so easy to lose sight of that, but sharing your testimony will bring it all back and give you a proper perspective of God’s work.
What about the content of my testimony?
If you are a believer in Christ now, that means there was a point in time where you weren’t. No one is just born being a devoted follower of Jesus. When you share your testimony, be genuine and real. Maybe you don’t have a story that will bring tears to the eyes or cause people to stand up and applaud you. Our testimonies are not about our glory but Christ’s. If you know Jesus, your story will most certainly bring encouragement to someone else’s soul and their journey in faith.
More important than the “how” and the “when” is the what. What is God doing in your life today? How does the way you carry yourself point to the life changing work of Christ? Becoming a Christian isn’t a one-time event. It isn’t a “once and I’m done…look at me!” Being a devoted follower of Christ is an ongoing relationship with our Lord and Savior. So, describe what you are going through and what lessons you have learned. Describe how God has altered your perspective which has changed the condition of your heart. You don’t need to describe your successes; in fact, great stories are littered with mistakes created by the characters. In all things, our story should point to the God who is greater than anything we could ever accomplish on our own.
How do I prepare my story?
There are several “outlines” you can follow for a well plot out testimony. However, it’s important not to focus on structure over content. One format you can use to help you plot the details in chronological order is through this equation:
Before + How + After = Salvation
It’s important to share what your life was like before you met Christ, no matter how uncomfortable it may seem. What were your thoughts towards God and what issues were you wrestling with? How were you leveraging your life? Describe your emotions. Were you angry or bitter? Maybe you were depressed and anxious? How did your heart attitude affect your actions?
After that, you need to describe how you met Christ. This is the point in your story where you approach the climax that changed your life. This part is critical because those who don’t believe in Christ need to know that it’s simple to develop a relationship with Christ. It’s an act of surrender and faith. You don’t need money, church attendance, or perfection in order to put your faith in Christ. He wants your heart in full surrender to Him. So what was said to you that sparked your interest in Christ? Where were you? What were you thinking? How did you feel? This is the most exciting part of your story so don’t leave anything out.
Finally, you will want to describe that 180 degree turn in your life after you trusted in Christ to be Lord. Be genuine and transparent. Don’t think you have to be perfect and make yourself look like a neat and pretty Christian. You won’t hurt the reputation of our Savior by admitted that we still struggle with sin, but it is the sanctification of the blood of Christ working in our hearts daily to make us come back to the cross. Even in the midst of struggle (and we WILL have struggle), God is still moving and working in us to make us reflect Him. Isn’t that an exciting thing to share?
Paul’s Testimony
Did you realize that the Bible contains people’s testimonies written out for us? For example, the Apostle Paul writes out his salvation story for us in 1 Timothy.
Before: I once did everything possible to destroy and reject Christ (v. 12, 13)
How: I met Christ and believed in His forgiveness even though I was a sinful man (v. 14-16)
After: I’m thanking God and my whole entire mission is changed (v. 17-19)
Quick Tips and Encouragement
You’re almost done! Before you dive into the actual preparing portion of writing your testimony, I want to give you some encouragement.
I would encourage you to not do this alone. Ask people to pray for you. Practice speaking to others if you are preparing your testimony as a speech. If you’re writing it out, have others read it for you.
Know your audience and who you are presenting your testimony to. If they are primarily non-believers then avoid using Christian lingo. For example, words like “born again”, “invite Jesus into your heart”, “sin”, “repent” etc which are Christian words. Define these words and insert them into your testimony.
Most importantly, ignore doubt. The strategy of Satan is to discourage you from sharing your story. You need to know that God is with you and is cheering you on. Be sure your heart is in the right place and you are right with God and others. Simply, enjoy the privilege of telling others about the incredible relationship with you have with Jesus!
Now you’re ready my friends! If you need more resources, check out the links below. I have created a printable for you so make sure to check it out as well if you are still struggling. Above all else, don’t hide your light but shine it for all to see!
Additional Resources:
Comments