Out of the Darkness and into the Light--Share Your Story

by Lydia Najera⁽²⁴⁾

I am more and more amazed at how the words in the Bible are truly alive. It is one thing to know that God’s word is powerful, but it is another to experience its power daily. Three verses are currently filling my thoughts and actions, which are motivating me to continue to share my journey of faith with hopes that others will do the same.

Revelation 12:10 – 11 says that the accuser of the brethren, who is Satan, has been cast down, and that the people of God over came him by the blood of the Lamb and by the power of their testimony. This is a powerful verse because I believe it is referring to all Believers since Adam and Eve until now. It tells us that once we believe in God and surrender to Him through Christ, he has no power to accuse us before God. It also tells us that through Christ, we can overcome Satan and his temptations, and we do not have to believe the lies he speaks anymore. The way I see it, every time I share my testimony of how God delivered me, it builds my faith and hopefully it will give others courage and hope to reach out for the freedom that is waiting for them.

In 1 Peter 2:9 – 10, it says something similar. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.” This tells me that one of my responsibilities is to tell anyone who is willing to listen what God has done for me. It gives me courage and comfort in knowing that I do not have to wait until I know the Bible like the back of my hand, or that I have to have all the answers. For now, I will stick with what I know, and the rest will come as I continue to grow.

The third verse is from Ephesians chapter two verse 4 – 10. It says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

I may not use big fancy words, or have all the doctrines of Christianity figured out yet, but one thing I do know, God watched over me through all my trials and dangerous situations; some of them out of my control and some I made a conscious choice to participate in. He allowed me to think I was in control so that at the right time, I would find myself in a place where the only place I could look was UP. So just like this verse says, in the ages to come he would show me his grace and kindness, which he did. I also like how this verse tells me that I am already saved, and that as far as God is concerned, I am already sitting in the heavens with him. If how I live my life determines whether or not I would be saved in the end, this verse would not be true. So I take comfort in His grace and I determine to live a life of obedience, not out of fear or hopes of going to heaven, but out of my grateful heart.

Now I can start doing the good works God planned for me to do, long before I was even born. Like I said in the beginning, these verses are powerful, alive, and speaking louder and louder to my heart and mind. I will never stop sharing whether little, big, or somewhere in between, as long as I have breath I will tell of His wonderful works.

I hope this has encouraged some of you Christians to reach out and use the power of your testimony to help free others who are still in bondage to sin. You can start by sharing a little with me. I pray God keeps our hearts on fire for him and that no matter how long we have been a Christian we will never forget what God has done for us.

Have blessed day.

Lydia Najera

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’”. Romans 1:16-17

Article submitted Monday, July 27, 2009 & read 952 times.

Leave your comments through World Wide Bible Studies:

» left by Teresa Ortiz (2 years 197 days ago.)

HI Lydia, as I read this, I am reminded of the simplicity that is in the Gospel message. I appreciate the reminder to keep what God did for me fresh and at the forefront of my mind. It helps to remember that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance and my testimony will do more to bring sometime to the Lord than spouting "right doctrine" Thank you for the freshness you bring to World-Wide, with your rapidly growing child-like faith. I know it will prick the hearts of some of us "old-timers". Lord bless you! Keep growing, keep sharing! I am blessed and humbled to be a small part of the process.

I too came from a tough background with my mom and like you my dad was never aground - not till later, and moving a lot did not help with stability. A hard-heart is tough to get through, but I am grateful for God's patient wooing and understanding my reasons for being who I was and I am grateful for that sometimes necessary sledge hammer he was not affraid to use on my thick wall. It's a hard thing dying to old-selfish and self-protecting ways, and its hard to trust a heavenly father when our earthly fathers failed us. But again, God in his mercy, meets us right were we are. Sometimes we can only call him Savior, until it is comfortable calling him Father - I am gratefull that He has become my Abba-Father, which means "daddy". I pray others would feel encouraged to share their story with those around them and maybe even share a piece of it here, so that it will encourage any nonbelievers God may bring to your article. Love, Teresa
Respond to this comment

» left by Lydia Najera from Spangle, Washington (2 years 196 days ago.)

I thank God that you are very much apart of my life and have the ability to be the person that you are in the. By your example you have lead me to be alittle more than I am . I am also willing thrugh Gods help to share the things that I have gone thrugh so that others can see that they can be loved as well no matter what. LOve in our Lord Jesus Christ. Lydia

Respond to this comment

We appreciate your comments!

119-12-0-1-19-ADSO

Most Recent