“Come and listen, all who fear God,
and I will tell what He has done for me” (Psalm 66:16).
I think the greatest weapon believers have against the enemy of doubt is their personal testimony. What I mean is, it’s not enough to know someone else’s story of deliverance. I could tell you the story of King David, or Paul, or Peter, or many others from scripture. I could even tell you the stories of those who have taught me, or from books I’ve read.
But if I can’t tell you what He’s done for ME, everything else is only hearsay.
Isn’t that a funny word?
Hearsay. It’s as simple as it sounds: information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate. In other words, you heard it and repeated it– but you weren’t there.
The problem with hearsay is it’s also a synonym for rumor. And a rumor is just a circulating story that carries some doubt.
Can you see where I’m going with this? I love a good story. My all-time favorite movie genre is true stories. I’m inspired by them. And because I decided a long time ago to believe the Bible, I 100% believe all the stories and testimonies written in the Bible are true– but nonetheless, my testimony (my personal story) strengthens my faith because I experienced God firsthand.
The same is true for you.
What has God done for you? If I were sitting with you right now and asked you that question, could you answer it? Could you tell the story of your deliverance? Could you recall the very moment life changed because of an encounter with His love?
Years ago, I was asked to lead a ministry team at a conference for a weekend. At one point, it was my job to share the gospel and invite those present to receive Jesus and be born-again. As I stood at the front and looked out over the crowd, I remembered how many times I was one who sat in an audience like this and missed the alter call on numerous occasions. I suppose my heart wasn’t ready, or was blinded. But either way, I went to church for some time thinking I was saved because I walked in the doors.
As I began to speak to those present that night, I asked them to close their eyes and recall the moment they gave their heart to Jesus. I said, “Where were you? Picture it again.” After a few minutes, I said, “If you can’t pull up that memory, raise your hand. I want to pray with you.”
A woman on our team came forward. She was older and to my knowledge was very involved in her church and volunteered in many capacities. She told me, “I may have been a child, I can’t remember. I’ve just always been in church.” I told her that’s a great testimony– to have been raised in church. But head knowledge and position aren’t the same as a personal heart encounter.
With tears in her eyes, she agreed and said she always wrestled with doubt. I said, “That stops tonight! From here forward, any time you hear an altar call, you will remember this moment– when Jesus met you at THIS altar.” And we prayed together. It was beautiful.
My point is, you don’t have to have had a tragedy or a Damascus Road experience like Paul. But you should know the moment Jesus introduced His love to you and you accepted it.
I love the Psalms because David wasn’t shy about this. Over and over, he recalls God’s faithful love. One of my favorites is found in Psalm 71. He said, “My mouth shall tell of your righteousness and your salvation all day long, for I do not know their limits” (v.15). One translation says, “I’m overwhelmed by all you have done for me.” This sums up my story. I was lost and confused and greatly ashamed. And God opened my eyes to His love. He showed me how “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
This is what I tell people. This is what He did for me (for all of us). There’s more to my story but that’s the simple version.
There’s a song by Elevation Worship called Trust in God and the chorus says, “I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered; That’s why I trust Him; that’s why I trust in God. (That’s my story).” When I sing it, I like to say “that’s why I love Him.” I sought the Lord and He answered.
So I pray I’ve challenged you a bit to think about your own story. A friend recently asked me how I keep my hunger strong. I said, “I just never forget what He’s done for me.”
