Testimony of the Week

So I had a message of somebody on facebook this week encouraging me about this blog. He is a top guy for doing that and I asked him if he wanted to submit his testimony on here and he duly did :)

So here it is:-

I have been going to church since I was very young, when I was 3 days old in fact,

I grew up in a Christian family and so came to church really because I had to, which at the time I don’t think I really liked but there was never really a time when wanted to just stop coming.  I came to junior church and holiday club here and that provided a good foundation for me.

However looking back I would say I was a church go-er and not a committed Christian although at the time… I thought I was. I read the Bible and prayed, but it wasn’t really a personal relationship with a God.

When I was about 15 I became more involved in the youth group here at Park End and also started going to youth events such as Ignite.  At each event there was always a time towards the end when the speaker would say something like ‘if anyone here has not given their life to the Lord then I invite you to now’. But because at the time I thought I was a Christian I thought this didn’t really apply to me.

After a few of these events and from the teaching at youth, I felt God prompting me that I did need to make the decision for myself but whenever the chance came, I would always feel a bit silly when I thought about standing up in front of everyone mainly because the other youth from Park End knew I had always been to church and so I assumed that they would think I was odd going forward so publically.

So quite often the chance would just pass me by because I didn’t want to look silly.

Then I really felt God speaking to me at Soul Survivor last year.  I was really overwhelmed by the whole occasion and because of the amazing things happening around me, like people receiving the Holy Spirit, I felt overcome with the feeling that I had to give my life to Jesus and I did, all be it quietly just in my heart, not by going forward and declaring publically like a lot of people did. 

I would say that that was when I became a Christian.  Then after that I think I changed a lot, I knew I had to stop living how I was and to live a life for Christ.  At first it was something I found really hard because I still wanted to live for me.

Then at Ignite Hope this year, a Youth event, God was saying to me that I had to live for Jesus completely and do what he wants me to do not just want I want to do.  I remember hearing the words to a song, and the chorus was ‘my whole life is yours; I give it all, surrender to your name’.  It was then I realised that even though I think I know what’s best for me, the fact is that God’s way for my life is much better than anything I try to do myself. 

Since then I have been able to see God in my life, whenever I feel sad or down about something, I can feel God comforting me and bringing peace to my situation. 

I am now sure that with Him I can have a fulfilling life and that he has a plan for me.

So to anyone who is undecided or not sure if they have Christ in their lives - maybe doesn’t want to give up the things they know are wrong, I would really like to encourage you to make the decision to turn away from sin and accept Jesus into your life and live only for him.

I’ve done it and I am looking forward to living my life trusting my Lord and Saviour.

Back to me - Maybe a great News Years Resolution for us all would be to spend more time seeking out God? I have another resolution which I will post about tomorrow!

Happy New Year everyone, Have a Blessed 2011!!