I've been a Christian almost my entire life. God is all I have ever known. I used to think I had the weakest testimony. Growing up in the church, you hear a lot of incredible testimonies where so many people found God and were freed from addictions and impurity. God dramatically changed their lives. They knew what it was like to live completely for themselves, and they knew what it was like to live completely for God. I thought that was such a blessing for them because they were truly able to understand the power of God's forgiveness and the freedom found in Him. But what does that say about my testimony? Does it mean that following God for my entire life is not powerful? I thought it did. How could I think that? I don't believe any one who has one of those incredible, life altering testimonies wishes they had done what they had before they knew God. In fact, I am sure they wish they had my testimony. God has given me a powerful testimony! He chose me!!
John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you..."
God set me apart before I was even born!
Galatians 1:15 "...he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace"
The other day I was reading through Psalm 22, and it says in Psalm 22:10 "On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God." This rang true with me. God has been my God since birth, and I used to think this gave me a handicap. My story wouldn't be powerful to those facing addictions, but it isn't about me! God chose me to be His, and I responded at an early age. It was a precious gift to grow up in church and to have my ears and heart be opened so young. Growing up, I would have traded my testimony for what I deemed a more powerful one, because I loved the passion of those people who had seen complete redemption in their lives. I wanted that same passion level, but here is the crazy thing, I can still have that passion! Just because I have loved God my whole life and never experienced life without Him doesn't mean that my passion can't be as high as someone who recently found freedom in Jesus.
I also came to realize that it isn't just about passion, it's about a relationship. My relationship with Christ is seasoned. It is going on 16 years now of genuine pursuit of my Lord. When a relationship is brand new, it is so exciting. You often can't get them off of your mind, you want to spend as much time as you can with each other, and you love living life with each other. But what about when a relationship is seasoned and older? What happens then? Has the passion disappeared? Sometimes, yes, but then there are the sweet old couples whose love has only deepened with time. Their passion is still there, but it goes deeper than a new relationship just starting out. They truly know each other and love being in each other's presence. Sometimes words aren't even needed. This is what I aspire my relationship with God to be like. I don't ever want to lose my passion! My testimony is powerful! How lucky am I to have been born into a sinful world and met Christ, my Savior, when I was 6 years old?! God has truly blessed me, but He has also called me to not stay quiet about Him. He has called me to a lifetime dedicated to His ministry. I am suppose to use this blessing to help others come to know a God that loves them more than anyone else, and maybe they will have those stories I once viewed as so much more powerful than my own.
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