Light Shining Testimony
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
I find it hard sometimes to write these testimonies because when they happen, they are very humbling. This testimony in particular, it’s about the light shining, so that God may be glorified. I gotta get it posted while it is fresh. Lord, I pray this blesses you and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In your name, amen.
Well, as the scripture says, we (believers) are the light of the world. Let our light so shine before men and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Even though I have had many attacks in my Christian walk – He’s just all religious, You’re just Holier than thou, and Jesus Freak, I keep on keepin’ on towards the goal. I’m so thankful that God does these things because they are very encouraging. He is my fuel and my strength. Thank you Lord.
An old friend and I just got off the phone. We haven’t talked in 20-25 years (he found me on Facebook). We hooked up yesterday on the phone and talked again tonight. It’s that same thing that has happened before – “I see the things you post on Facebook and I wanted to talk you about them.” This brother was in turmoil – Suicidal thoughts, challenges in his family, finances, and so on. Man… blessed be the Lord. He saw the light shining..
He is a believer, but not fellowshipping with God in any manner. We’ve all been there, tossing up a prayer once and a while when we need something (God just being a byproduct life). Yesterday, I encouraged him in his walk. We spoke at length about faith, believing, the fiery darts of the enemy, and so on. He said that he has been away from the Lord and needs to do something. Just now when we talked, he said that after the phone conversation yesterday, he had peace. Praise God. Thank you Lord.
Tonight, he talked about his family being in turmoil.. especially his daughters. This dad’s heart towards the welfare of his kids was heart wrenching. He told me about his 15yr old daughter who is in counseling and having some difficulties with anger and such. I encouraged him to be a shining light, draw near to God, pray over meals at dinner, spend a few minutes a night reading the word by himself, and so on. We spoke about how God would start moving in his life and the light of Christ will do the rest if he places God first. Basically, getting himself in a right standing with God, and God will take care of the rest.
I asked him about going to Church. He says, “Ya, I know I need to get back to Church. My daughter asked me a couple of weeks ago if we could go to Church again.” I asked him which daughter and he said the younger one. I asked, “The one in counseling?” and he said ya. You see, he was moved to contact me because of things on Facebook, his daughter in counseling is asking about going to Church, he is in turmoil, and he’s reaching out, seeking, knocking. So I asked, “Do you see what’s going on here brother?” He saw.. praise the Lord. “My daughter wants to go to Church and I ignored this while blaming God for issues in my life. He’s trying to get my attention.” Bingo.
This is where it gets good. He starts to flow about hardships. I start talking about James 1, trials and tribulations. He goes “That’s weird. That’s been on my mind for the last 2 weeks. ‘Trials and tribulations.’ What’s it mean?” I gave him the scripture, count it all joy in trials and tribulations and explained it. The response? An exhale on the phone… you could literally hear the stress leaving him. Then the ol’ famous “This is weird. That’s what I needed to hear.” Praise the Lord.
As we discussed further about trials, tribulations, burning off of the impurities, etc., I bring up Daniel 3, the prophets in the fiery furnace. He asks, “Is that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?” I confirmed, and then another “Wow. That story has also been on my mind.” Another exhale on the phone… I literally could hear the negative energies leaving this man. It was amazing. Praise God. God is always present. Before we started talking tonight, I prayed, “Lord, please give me the words to speak.” Those 2 scriptures were his words that came to my mind. They were perfect for the situation. Thank you Lord.
At the end of the call, I asked him about how his daughter would react if dad took her to Church this week. He said it would be very good for the both of them. I then asked, “How would your daughter take it if dad walked into her room tonight with a bible and read a chapter to her?” He said it would do wonders and said he was going to. I suggested James 1 or Daniel 3 and we ended the call.
So that was about it. Ya know, sometimes I get attacked as mentioned-above, and the enemy plants things in my head. These wicked seeds get me thinking things like, “Huh, maybe I shouldn’t talk about the Lord.” Ya know, if I let these things cause me to place the light under a bushel, such events would never happen. Daddy and daughter very well may be going through a very special moment right now. If I allowed the enemy to move me off course and hide my light, I could not be of service to God. Believer, regardless of what you see, think, or what other people say.. God will do what He says He will do. Keep the light shining..
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Update – Last night as I was talking to this friend, I said something like, “Now that you are seeking out the Lord, attacks from the enemy will happen and impurities will begin to get burned off. They may start immediately. Be watchful as I have experienced it and have seen it happen to almost every person that starts to draw near to the Lord.”
The man is in a relationship with a woman outside of marriage. I held back my tongue last night, which I’m not sure if I should have. I was ready to say something like, “The relationship may get hit first.” That’s what happened to me and I have seen it happen in others, but I didn’t want to scare him.
His Facebook post in the early hours of the morning – “today is not a good day. just lost the best thing in my life.” I just called him. They broke up. “The best thing in my life.” An idol. God just knocked it down. Hallelujah. Please hold this man up in prayer. He needs the Comforter. God knows who He is. I was about to send him a devotion this morning before I found out what happened. I now see why God moved me to send it –
“For I know my thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). God said to his people, “Your nightmare is going to end. I have only good, loving thoughts toward you, and if you seek me with all your heart, you will find me” (see Jeremiah 29:11-13).
God is not mad at you. Saintly people do get afflicted, so do not waver in your trust in him. In times of stress and feelings of loneliness and regrets, go to prayer. Pour your heart out to the Lord. He is thinking of you – and he is at work for you.
