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Focus: Sharing your testimony

Hebrews 6:9-12 (NKJV) But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

Part of the beauty of a person who is walking in recovery is that they are not only a precious example of what God can do in the life of a broken individual who is completely surrendered to His hands—but they are also a beacon of light to the ones who are just starting on their own journey.

If you keep walking in victory, your life can have a tremendous impact on others.

If you are faithful, God will certainly give you opportunities to share what He has done in your life. It may be person to person, through divine appointments that could only have been arranged by Him—or it might be in front of a roomful of people. This might not sound appealing to you, but it’s an important part of your own healing…to tell your story in a way that will help and encourage others.

As you verbalize what has taken place in your heart, God will multiply His blessings on you. As you hear your own voice making declarations about your progress and recovery, you will become even more strengthened in your commitment to keep moving forward and stay clean.

Most likely, someone was a role model to you, as you began your own journey. At times when you’ve been discouraged and tempted to fall back, you might have remembered that person and how they were also tempted, but made it through tough times, too. Knowing other people have struggled as you have helps give you determination to press on when it would be so much easier to just slack off.

If you haven’t had another person you could turn to during this time—that’s all the more reason you should make yourself available to someone who might be needing the kind of support you could have benefited from.

You might be wondering what kind of role model you could possibly be to someone else, when you still feel barely able to get through a day. Don’t be too concerned about the amount of experience you have under your belt. If you are a day or two ahead of someone else, that’s enough encouragement for them to keep trying—just like you have. It’s a day by day effort.

God is very much in favor of giving a person like you the help you need to become a minister of hope. If you tell Him you’re willing, He will give you the right opportunities.

If you worry that you might fail and be a stumbling block, try to remember that it isn’t your power—it’s God’s power that has sustained you this far. His power is the only thing that will get you through today, tomorrow, and the next day. If it’s His power that you’re trusting in—then you have nothing to fear, because He cannot fail. It’s looking at our own strength that makes us start to worry we might not make it.

Thoughts and fears that you can’t succeed are from the devil, who is the author of lies and the accuser of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

Remember what Isaiah 54:17 (NIV) says. “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the Lord.

Walking in victory includes yielding yourself for the Master’s use. Your own personal testimony is the most powerful story you can ever share. You are a sinner saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, and your experience is unique and beautiful to the ears of someone who is suffering from the insecurity and weakness associated with depression and dependency.

Being an able minister of the gospel is really very simple. All you have to do is share the truth of what has happened in your own life, which is something no one can dispute…since it’s your story.

Declaration: I will find new strength by verbalizing my progress in recovery whenever I am given the opportunity, as a labor of love. As I hear my own words and make positive declarations, I will be blessed…and I will be a blessing.

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For music selections that will help bring hope and encouragement during your recovery from depression and addiction, https://www.youtube.com/user/NewStrengthMusic/playlists?sort=dd&view=1

All NEW STRENGTH posts are Copyright by Christina Cook Lee 2012. Please request permission to re-post or re-blog.