
A book¹ I once read quoted this verse, “Those who believe in the Son of God have a testimony of God in them.”² Our testimonies or stories are unique. God wants us to be intentional about sharing them. Mine is about how a church lady became a Christian. This may sound a bit backwards. At the same time, you may relate.
When I was young everyday had a task. Monday was washday. Tuesday was ironing day. Wednesday was sewing day. Thursday was shopping day. Friday was cleaning day. Saturday was baking day and Sunday was church day.
Sundays were the highlight of our week. If it was Sunday, my family was in church. Even after I got married and was working full time Sunday was still church day. Along with going to church I did a lot of church-type activities. I was a Sunday school teacher, a choir member, and a small group leader. I also read my Bible and learned how to share my faith.
One evening when I was a young mother, I was reading my Bible. It dawned on me that despite all the church things I had done I was not serving God. I might sound all right to you. I might even look good to others. But it is what God thinks that matters.
The Bible told me: “[You are] infected and impure with sin when [you] display [your] righteous deeds; they are nothing but filthy rags.”³
For the first time I began to think of sin in a personal way. I had done many “righteous deeds” but the bad things such as impatience, anger, lying and self-centeredness polluted the good I was doing. I fell asleep that night with tears in my eyes.
The next morning, I had a conversation with God that changed my life forever. I thought about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and how Peter resisted, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and head!”† I thought the same as Peter. God, I thought, wash all of me. I am that dirty. From that moment God saw me through the righteousness of Jesus; I was cleansed from all my sin. I felt deeply loved by God. I was brand new inside. I had been born again.
Later, I realized that I had been a church member for 15 years. What would my friends think? When I told my husband, he tried to talk me out of it. He had become a Christian through me! But truly I was different. Something had happened. My heart was full of joy.
This is not the end of the story. It is just the beginning. Throughout my life I have been up. I have been down. I have laughed. I have cried. I have been poor. I have been rich. I have been well. I have been sick. I have served God and yes, I have served myself. But through it all I have learned I can depend on God and His word. He is faithful and forgiving. His Word is trustworthy and true. God is always constant no matter what life holds.
¹ The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
² 1 John 5:10 (GW)
³ Isaiah 64:6 (NLT)
† John 13:9 (ESV)
Copyright © 2021
Lena Rae
All Rights Reserved
There’s nothing more powerful than a personal testimony. Thank you for sharing yours, Lena Rae! I appreciate the reminder that all our righteous acts are SELF-righteous acts when performed from an unclean heart before God. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for your insights David! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing….a genuine deep relationship following Jesus faithfully is what it’s really about…makes the difference between a church lady and a Christian!! Beautiful testimony!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Alicia! 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the difference between knowing About Him, and Knowing Him…. such a freedom, that priceless pearl found in the field! That more and more may come to the same…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen! 💗
LikeLike
Wonderful testimony, Lena. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting BeYeGlad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Testimonies are so wonderful. They are God’s workmanship and crafting of His creation. Lena, I love your new page design and layout. It is very beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for your input about the new page design. And Yes! Testimonies are wonderful. God is so good. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Those who believe in the Son of God have a testimony of God in them.”² , I love this most. Thanks for sharing.🤩
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for commenting! God is so good. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Emilly! Appreciate your comment. ❤
LikeLike
I mostly love your post because I was also a Church person before I became a Christian, I did some of what you did, sang in choir, read the bible, prayed etc etc. Though from experience not many people would believe I was serving in Church before I actually really became a Christian because I was in the scary Roman Catholic Church.🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh! but how wonderful you truly came to know the Lord Jesus! There are others like us in churches. God has given me a ❤ for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person