It doesn’t take long for us to realize when Jesus changes who we once were. That old weakness to sin is suddenly empowered by Gods Word, and we begin walking by a faith that continually grows as we do our part, and God does His.
Our hearts will no doubt need chiseling, moment by moment, step by step, and day by day. It is an ongoing process. But something new and wonderful takes over, thrusting us from darkness and despair into a glorious new hope that is found only in Christ.
The writer for my August Masterpiece has experienced just such a thing, set free from chains that once bound her and trading her darkness for His joyous light. May you be exceedingly blessed as she shares her story below.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me;
but God meant it unto good,
to bring to pass, as it is this day,
to save much people alive.
Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
Life is full of choices, and based upon perspective.
When asked what my favorite verse is in the Bible, without hesitation I say Genesis 50:20. I truly believe this is the one that defines my life best. We all go through hard times, but when we allow God the space to move within those times, we find that He will use it for good; to build our testimony in a way that points directly to Him.
Before Christ, I allowed my circumstances to define me. It seemed as if life was crushing me, steam rolling me over, to the point where I almost took my life. Notice I said almost.
This was a time full of darkness. I felt alone. unloved. scared. There was a moment in time that I cannot even recall. One that is as if I have no memory of. To this day, I cannot tell you what happened. It is a lapse in time that nearly took my life. What I can say is that it is only by the grace of God that I am here to tell you about it. He interceded on my behalf before I truly surrendered my life. He loved me first.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Revelation 12:11 (ESV)
We must stand up and share our testimonies.
God placed it on my heart to share my testimony for the first time at youth camp two years ago with a small group of young women. I was scared. Hands shaking. Heart pounding. Sweat coming from every pore. Thoughts were racing through my mind. “What will they think of me?” “Will they still call me friend, or will they run the opposite way?”
The moment I began to talk, it was almost like an out-of-body experience. The words began to flow from my mouth, with no thought process whatsoever on my end. It was all God. He was giving me the strength and courage to share my story; the one He had given me and had now empowered me with. The girls sat looking at me as I shared, and I became very vulnerable in front of them.
I cannot tell you how much that moment has changed my life. Better yet, it has affected many others. If I had my way, I would not have shared my past struggles. I would have backed out. God, however, took over and He moved in a powerful way that I am thankful for, and I have been blessed ever since.
So, I ask you friend, will you allow the sins of your past to define who you are today, or will you surrender and allow God to work for His good in your life? When you are a child of the living God, no matter what your circumstance, know that He has you in the palm of His hand.
_______________________________________
Laura Dahl is a faith walking wife to one and mother of two. She works full-time (in addition to her many other roles) and is currently pursuing a masters degree in counseling. Her hope now is to fulfill God’s purpose for her life as a professional Christian counselor and help others. Laura was saved at a young age, however, it wasn’t until 2009 that she completely surrendered her life to God, and she has been walking by faith, and sharing her story, ever since.