“The Power of A Testimony”

continued…

I felt like I was in a big vice grip. I could scarcely breath. It seemed like a two ton elephant might just be sitting on my chest. This was the Holy Spirit prompting me to do God’s will. Ephesians 4:29-30: tells us to speak “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

We had finished our Post Abortion Bible Study, had our memorial service and met for our final meeting and dinner. We talked about how we might help others with the truth we had learned and how we could show our love and thankfulness that we were healed. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

I told Rita I would co-lead the next class with her because I wanted to help others find forgiveness. Still the Holy Spirit had me in a headlock and wasn’t about to turn lose. I knew God wanted me to give my testimony at church and that I would obey Him. I felt I would explode if I didn’t tell how God had changed me and released me from my misery.

The next Monday morning I went to the credit union to deposit my check and in walked Rita’s husband, Bruce. He asked me if I was ready to give my testimony in two weeks. I told him that nobody had said anything to me about this yet. He said, “Oops, I thought Rita had already asked you to give your testimony on Sanctity of Life Sunday.” I told Bruce that she hadn’t but I knew in my heart that I must tell all who had ears to hear what God had done for me. I knew I would give my testimony for “Sanctity of Life Sunday” on January 21, 1996.

You’ve seen movies and cartoons about writers who go through page after page, writing, then wadding the paper and tossing it in the trash and on the floor. I also had my trash basket overflowing. I cried and prayed, wrote and tossed. I spent the two weeks writing until I felt I had what God would have me tell others.

The Sunday morning was finally here. We had two services so I would give my testimony twice that day. My palms were dripping with sweat! Before the first service my pastor, Bro. Gary, prayed with me. This helped tremendously! The time to tell all was here. I read my testimony with tears streaming down my cheeks. A couple of times I really choked up. I think I even snorted once. Then I was finished. What a relief and a flow of joy filled my soul. It was indeed good to obey the Holy Spirit!

When the service was over, a man I had not seen at church before came to shake my hand. He had been sobbing. Tears still in his eyes, he thanked me for my testimony and told me how much it had touched him. There was something so different about this man I now know as Paul. I know now it was God wooing him to salvation. I thanked him and told him to please come back.

The next Wednesday night I learned that Paul had asked Jesus into his heart. He said that if God could forgive my dreadful sin, then He could forgive anything. Wow! God had used me to bring Paul to salvation. I don’t have the words to tell you how very blessed I was. I cried for joy for such a long time after. Even now when I stop to think of this miracle, tears fill my eyes.

I hadn’t stopped to think about what the consequences of my testimony might be. Suppose my church family hadn’t forgiven my sin of abortion. What if they wanted nothing to do with me again? Yet, not one person snubbed me! I’m thankful to my church family for showing their love for me. They helped even more in my healing process. They cried with me and rejoiced with me in my new freedom.

I “overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [my] testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Satan “intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

“Jesus said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you’” (Mark 5:19). “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Read Part 16