Why testify or give a testimony?

What happened?

Not really. It gives me someone to talk to to vent steam, but it doesn't really help me with my issues. We've tried all kinds of treatments and nothing seems to work. I kind of think I am just defective. Good thing I never had kids. I'd hate to think how messed up they'd be.

Neck injury.

Oh, dear. If nothing else is working, it sounds like there's a spiritual component. And only a good Christian counsellor can work with you to help heal as God intended. I've seen a few counsellors and I'll see another in the near future and all were Christian. They bring a dimension to the counselling that you just don't get with others. After all, we are spiritual beings, not just physical beings. God bless you, mate. I pray that God heals you of whatever is ailing you.

I have found, this thing about "giving a testimony" is more pronounced in certain forms of Christian religious backgrounds, than others. Some people like doing this, some people like giving, hearing, sharing in and supporting a testimony of coming to faith. It is good, nice and helpful for some. Some people have a scripture or two they relate to the practice.

I don't mind talking about my walk/experiences, but I was never influenced by my church to form or practice giving a "testimony" about my godless upbringing, life struggles, choices, seeking God and coming to faith etc.


Well, you take it easy.

Ouch. I'll pray for your neck and your mental health as well. In fact, I just did. Hope you feel much better soon!

My counselor was working with me on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to see if we could change my perceptions about situations to help get rid of the anxiety and he was even going out with me on outings to help me, but we just weren't getting anywhere. The physical symptoms are just too much and it all kinds of feeds back on itself. Social situations = anxiety = physical symptoms = anxiety about the symptoms = social avoidance.

I for one love reading testimonies because it still proves God is still working and making himself present in every situation even when it seems like the world is crumbling all around us. It increases our faith, but I have also seen where people witness these miracles and wonder why God is letting them go through the trials they are facing, but as a result it causes growth in their faith and appreciate things more than they had before if they continue pursuing a relationship with him.

This past Saturday I took my mom to see Miracles From Heaven showing this little girls deadly illness and the impact it had on her faith as well as all those around her. It took her to fall three stories and land on her head for her to be completely healed of all this and she walked away with a minor concussion. After she spoke of this there were several that didn't believe that God healed her, but let me tell you something he is in the miracle business and the same God that raised Lazarus from the dead is the same God that healed this little girl and so many more and for that I will praise him

Re: Why testify or give a testimony?

Paul gave testimony of his own conversion in Acts 22:1-21. God took Saul, a persecutor/murderer of Christians and made him Paul, one of the greatest evangelists to preach the faith! Paul says this:

"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." 1 Cor 15:9-10


"Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed." Gal 1:21-23

If God could use someone like Paul, there is hope for anyone, amen!

Funny you should bring up Paul. It was after I understood that Jesus worked through a man like Paul (Saul) to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles that I had a little bit of an epiphany and understood that even a wretched man like me can have the gift of salvation.

Me, too. Saul's transformation to Paul. That's how it was for me. But it wasn't written testimonies or verbal speeches. It was a young blind woman named Mary who lived in my apartment complex. She was poor, blind, very thin & plain looking, wore drab clothes, and walked her little mutt around the neighborhood talking to Jesus as if He was walking with her. She was always joyful. She perplexed me! Why should she be so happy when she had so much against her, I thought.

I on the other hand was lost in depression, anxiety, fear, hopelessness... it was so dark & scary in my mind. Yet on the outside everyone thought I was doing great. I tried to fool everyone until one day the bottom dropped out. I knew I was lost and knew I needed to find the Lord. I had searched churches and revivals & Bible studies, etc. and all I got were scriptures read to me. I heard nothing alive in what they were telling me. It was so tormenting because I was spiritually starving!!

And one day Mary befriended me and she never preached at me. I began to ask questions about who Jesus really is. In a short time I knew with all my heart this young woman knew Him personally. I ultimately fell at her feet in complete despair and begged her to show me the Lord. That was on Friday October 13, 1978. The first time I met Jesus.

Well, basically....it's this simple.

To know a person and their walk and struggles is to better relate and helps others who may be going through certain struggles. Every ones path and life helps others. And EVERYONE is molded by their past.

I don't even know if I put one there. Normally I'd shut up about these things because everyone around me in church and just everywhere was normal and judgemental. But then one day I went to a mental hospital and lol there was this guy who said all the time: we're past the shame. So there I just told those women that wanted to kill themself: hey I had the same thing but God healed me. He can heal you too. And there was a guy who saw coffins and ghosts. Hey let me pray for you. I had the same thing. So that was awesome lol but with normal people I still tend to shut up. If they don't have that problem what use is it to share? They only look weird at you and say you're nuts.

I READ testimonies sometimes (not often) to be encouraged.
I GIVE my testimony if someone asks because I want to glorify God.
It's a...gratitude thing for me.

I didn't like people at ALL, for many years after I met God. I didn't like myself even!
He's slowly brought me (slowly) from contempt for the world to a place of...compassion for it.
I still have some bad days where I can't stand any of us though.

We give our testimonies because that's what God arms us with, and even more than that because it is a very personal thing and doesn't happen the same way for everyone and our personal testimony may speak to this guy and not that. My testimony may be the only one that would speak to this certain person who has lived through the same type things I have and help them understand.

Our testimony is our testament of God's power in our lives and how the truth, living, and VERY REAL God came into our lives and changed us forever. It is a way He gives us to help tell of His truth and glory to point the lost to His Truth and to salvation. Our testimony is the only thing God arms us with, our only offensive weapon if you will.

When I first joined the website, I might have posted a short testimony. I thought I'd learned a valuable lesson and that others might profit from hearing about it.

I logged in to say that I'm not following the thread any longer. I've gotten all out of this website I can or care to.

Best wishes to most of you.

The Lord bless and keep you, Shpadoinkle.