At our church, Full Gospel Holy Temple World Hdq. in Dallas, TX, we still have Testimony Service because, as we are known to say, “Testimonies build faith.” In this post, you will read the testimony of a beautiful young lady raised in the church who decided to go in a different direction at a certain point in her life. This is a written account of her testimony in her own words. Only her initials are included for her safety and privacy. This testimony should be an encouragement to all godly parents whose children appear to have gone astray. The Scripture says in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. King James Version (KJV). Ms. BPO is a living example of the truth of that scripture.
I’ve never been crazy to share too many older pictures of myself because they remind me of what grieved me so much in the past. I realize now I can’t filter that part out of my life because it’s part of the story of how I became a new creature in Christ. [II Corinthians 5:17] Things I thought were fun were actually the things that progressed my demise. I remember one night I had alcohol poisoning at the age of 19 and I was scared I would die that night. I knew I wasn’t saved and all I could do was roll on the floor and cry. I made God a promise that I would stop my foolish ways and get my life right. It was a lie because the next day, I sobered up, but by the end of the week I was back in trouble. I had no power over my will. I had no control over my mind, body, and heart. I thought I was okay having a decent job, going to church a few times a year, and being responsible. At the end of the day, this wasn’t good enough because I was a thrill seeker and I loved getting into trouble and having a good time. I loved drinking to get drunk. I was one of the first people in the clubs and one of the last to leave. I was a party girl. It was toxic and deep down I hated myself for enjoying the things I had no control of. I remember I started going back to church in 2013 on Sundays and would hear the preacher deliver sermons about the truth of deliverance. He said you can be set free, but you have to be willing to let those things go so you can be saved. At the moment, I refused to let the things go that were causing me to sink.
I remember on September 1, 2013, I went to church on youth Sunday, and saw my sisters in the choir with other people that were on fire for God. I was sad because I saw them singing their hearts out and all I could do was cry. God blessed me with a gift to sing and I had stopped singing because I felt it was an insult to God if I wasn’t singing for the glory and worship of him. When I was crying, my hardened heart melted, and I was finally able to receive the Word the preacher delivered. [Ezekiel 36:26] I no longer wanted to continue my path of fun. I wanted pure joy. I wanted peace of mind. [Romans15:13] I wanted the ability to trust God and following his ways completely, even if that meant I had to let certain people go. This also meant I would have to present my body, a temple, as a sacrifice, wholeheartedly. [Roman 12:1] That meant the things I defiled it with had to stop. I wanted to be saved and live in the happiness of the Lord. I gave my life to him, repented, and asked for power through the Holy Ghost to live and endure a life that was pleasing to him. [Acts 1:8] I asked for forgiveness, in Jesus name, and received the Holy Ghost. [John 14:14]
God is good. He’s kept me since September 2013. The things I used to do, I don’t do anymore. I have strength. I have happiness. I have love. I have security. I have understanding. I have control. I have communication. I have emotion. I have patience. I have faith. I have these things, with purity, in God. I lost a few things when I gave it up years ago, but I’ve gained so much more in process, doing things the Lord’s way. [Philippians 3:7] My love for God is inseparable. [Romans 8:38-39] He is my source for everything and I trust him completely. I thought it would be a perfect time to share my story because we must begin to build ourselves in things that are more eternal. Hold to God’s unchanging hand, but before you begin to reach out for help, are you willing to let go of the things that are submerging you under water? Salvation is a true willingness to be saved and establishing the trust by letting any possible hinderance go. I hope my testimony can help someone make that decision with the Lord today.
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Scriptures mentioned in her testimony:
2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. King James Version (KJV)
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (KJV)
Romans15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
Roman 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (KJV)
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)
John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (KJV)
Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you are a young lady or young man who has strayed away from God, He will welcome your return with open arms. Do as this young woman did and return to Him before it is too late. And, even if you did not have the privilege of godly parents to train you in the ways of God, your Heavenly Father loves you and welcomes you to His bosom. Simply repent of your sins and ask Him to save you. He is ready and willing to do that now.