A powerful part of our Christian walk is to share your testimony. The Word tells us we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11) It is very exciting to tell and to hear about what God has done, knowing that He is no respecter of persons…if He did it for them, He can do it for me and He can do it for you! By sharing your testimony, it brings glory to God and healing for both the person telling their testimony as well as the person hearing it.
However, if not done with wisdom and discernment, the enemy can come in and manipulate the situation and cause pain, offense and destruction. Many times the issue with telling our testimony is that it involves other people who may not want to be identified; or revealing situations that people may or may not have known about. It can be very destructive to your relationship with another person, as well as impact their thought or relationship with God. Therefore, it is important to find a way to share your testimony with minimizing the negative impact on others involved in your story.
Here are three ways to help you share your testimony
1. Pray – Ask God to word your mouth.
The Bible tells us in James 1:5 that if we lack wisdom or understanding, ask and God will not withhold that from us. Start by asking God to help you discern which details are important to set the scene of His miracle. Many times, it is about stating the situation briefly. Take the majority of time elaborating on how God moved in the situation!
2. Make the Details Generic
Please be clear, I am not saying to lie or change the truth of the details. You just don’t need to give exact names, dates, and locations of the situation. For example, if you are sharing a testimony about a situation involving you and your best friend named Alexandra from high school; instead of sharing the name of your friend, the name of your high school and the year you graduated, just say, “when I was in my teens, me and my best friend…” You are also welcome to change the names in the story – but walk in integrity and let people know.
By not including a lot of specific details, the receiver can continue to follow the story. Once you start giving details, people get stuck on trying to figure out who you are talking about – especially if that person knows you personally.
3. Discuss your Testimony with the ones that will be impacted…BEFORE you share it!
Multiple times I have seen situations where people have given their testimonies that have blindsided others that are in their lives. For example, if something happens to you as a child, like a rape, share that testimony personally with friends and family before you share it on an open platform such as a speech or in a book.
Don’t let the Devil get in the details
The truth of the matter is the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. He doesn’t like to see anyone get set free from the chains of their past. When God has healed you, the enemy will continue to try and find a way to use that thing against you, ESPECIALLY when you open your mouth and try to share! He will try to use parts of your testimony to make you feel shame, regret, or condemnation. He will also use the details to try and stir up offense in others. Once you know how he plays this game, with the help of God, you can beat the enemy at his own game!
Sharing our testimony is one way God receives the glory for what He has done. Sharing our experience with God also helps to remind us of what He has done for us and helps build the faith of others. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to share your testimony, just use wisdom in how you share.
