MY TESTIMONY - THE PRESENCE AND POWER OF JESUS

One of the many things I'm looking forward to about heaven, is getting to speak to the heroes of the Old Testament, to hear their story in their words.   I wonder if they knew they were heroes?   Still, they will each have a testimony of the faithfulness of God, and I'm looking forward to hearing each one.

I'm writing for Five Minute Friday and today's prompt is TESTIMONY.    

Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story  - those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.  Ps 107:2

This beautiful lily was all but dead during the drought.   But after just a little rain, it came back to life and thrived.   It doesn't flower often, but it reminds me that God's will is always for us to thrive, even after many difficulties and heartaches.   If it could talk, what would its testimony be? 

 

My blog posts are my story, my testimony of God's presence, of His faithfulness and healing power, particularly over the last eighteen months.  

Abraham's testimony was that Jehovah Jireh, the God who gave him a son in his old age, and who was now asking him to surrender that son, provided the price for the sacrifice that He was asking for.    Gen 22:14

Hagar's testimony was that El Roi, the God who sees, saw her in her misery and brokenness and had a plan for her, even though others had dismissed her as insignificant.   Gen 16

Jacob's testimony was that, after all his years of scheming and wrestling, El Shaddai would choose to bless him and make him fruitful.   Gen 48:3,4

Moses' testimony was that God, Jehovah Nissi, was the banner for His people, that He would fight their battles for them.    Exodus 17:14,15

Gideon's testimony was that God, Jehovah Shalom, who came to restore peace, saw him as a mighty man of valour, and backed him in battle, even though he was shaking in his boots.   Judges 6

David's testimony was that God, Jehovah-Raah, was his Shepherd who led and comforted and healed and pursued him with goodness and mercy.   

Jeremiah's testimony was that Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, would restore righteousness to His wayward people.  That must have given him hope in the light of their many sins and brokenness.   Jer 23:6

There are so many more testimonies throughout the pages of the Old Testament.  God, our mighty, amazing God, reveals different aspects of His character to His people, often in times of crisis or at a turning point.   The Old Testament is full of testimonies of God coming through for His people, with HIS plan, HIS power, HIS higher purposes, HIS mercy, HIS way forward.

On Sunday, one of our pastors preached a powerful sermon that reminded us that ALL of the names and character and power of God, as revealed in those Old Testament accounts,  is contained in the powerful name of Jesus.    That's why we should pray 'in Jesus' name' as He taught us to, but with an understanding of all that it carries.    

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power.........   Heb 1:1-3

So, what is MY testimony?   That this same Jesus, glimpsed, foreshadowed and foretold in their testimonies, is Immanuel (God with us), right here and now, in MY life.  This same Jesus is my Healer, my Shepherd, my Light, my Shalom, my Friend, my King, my Provider, my Lord, the Alpha and Omega, I AM, the Author and Perfecter of my faith, El Shaddai and El Elyon, 'the God Most High, (the) God who fulfills His purpose for me.'  Ps 57:2

This is one of my favourite songs to sing, when I need to remind myself of His redeeming power - 

Let The Redeemed, by Josh Baldwin.    

He led me out of the desert

Brought me into His streams

River of living water

Turned my bitter into sweet

And all my burdens are lifted

You took the shackles off my feet

There's no sound louder than a captive set free

So let the redeemed of the Lord say so

Sing of His promises ever more

Pour out your thankfulness, let it overflow

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so