When you tell your story, it’s God who is responsible for changing people’s hearts. You are simply called to be ready and to share what God has done in your life.
No matter how simple or complicated it is, your story (or “testimony”) is meant to be told and can help introduce people to Jesus (John 4:29,39).
If you’ve ever felt nervous or unsure about sharing your story, here are some tips that can help you take that step of faith.
God’s Spirit lives inside you from the moment you first trust Christ as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit gives you the power to be His witness (Acts 1:8).
You don’t need to muster up courage or even be an amazing speaker (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Just be honest about who Christ is and what He’s done in your life.
God is already at work in the lives of others. You can’t tell whether someone is moving toward or away from Him based simply on outward appearances (Acts 17:26-27). Don’t let assumptions keep you from asking others about their spiritual journeys and sharing your story of how God has met you.
Throughout the Bible, we see God moving in people’s lives. It is exciting! And even more, He invites you to be part of other people’s spiritual journeys to faith (2 Corinthians 5:20). Your story might help connect someone to Jesus.
The Bible says to always be ready to give a reason for the hope you have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). One great way to be prepared is to write out your spiritual story (your testimony) ahead of time.
After you’ve written out your story, practice it out loud a few times. Try recording yourself on your phone. Time it, aiming for about three minutes. Make sure what you’ve said is clear.
Ask God to bring someone to mind — a friend, a family member or an acquaintance — who doesn’t have a relationship with God yet. Then pray for God to draw that person to Himself.
Ask God to help you see and take the opportunities He provides to share your story. He might give you that chance in the midst of everyday conversations, or you could set up a time to talk.
Before you begin to share your story, ask permission. You might say, “Can I tell you a little bit about my spiritual experience?”
Sharing your story is not meant to be a one-way conversation. It’s a chance to show you care by listening and taking an interest in the other person’s story.
Asking questions is one great way to do this. Try these:
Share your story in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God. No matter how someone responds, continue to pray for them. You never know how the Lord will move in someone’s life down the road.
Sharing your story isn’t about accomplishing a task; it’s about loving the person you are talking to — someone God loves (Ephesians 2:4-5) and wants to be in a relationship with.
Who has God brought to mind for you to share your story with?
1994-2020. Tandem Ministries All Rights Reserved. Part of the Cru global network.
