Testify, Brother

"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away." And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?"--Mark 8:2-4

Whoah, stop the presses....did they really just ask that? Hop back not even two whole chapters, and you find Jesus feeding five thousand people--through the disciples' own hands! So why, when Jesus tells them that He has compassion on a hungry crowd of four thousand, do they give Him the "duh" stare? The best response they have is, "So what are you going to do about it, Jesus?"

Really, guys? What do you think He's going to do?

I don't mean disrespect to the disciples, because my point is that we all do the same thing. If we are believers who follow hard after Christ, we each have an amazing personal testimony to share. In times of challenge, it's important to look back on our own testimonies and remember that God is consistent and is going to deliver us again.

I started this blog to encourage people with the word of my own testimony, but recently God put it on my heart to publicize other people's testimonies as well in order to build up the body of Christ. So I will occasionally post praise reports, miracles, salvation testimonies, etc, on these pages so that we may encourage one another.

I started with someone I know very well. I know this dude is telling the truth, because this dude is my little brother. I asked him to type up his story for me, and it goes as follows.

Joey, Age 22

"I have always had a relationship with God since I was a child. However, I have had my times of running away from God in the midst of trials. 

When I was four years of age, my father lead me in the sinner’s prayer, and I was born again. At age five, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, Jesus came into my life at a very early age. However, when I was twelve years old, I started battling OCD and depression. This would begin a very hard and long four years of my life. My grades started dropping drastically in school and all I could think about was how I hated myself and life in general. 

Unfortunately, at the same exact time as I was having these problems, my family was having financial difficulty, and my dad lost his job. He began to work two jobs at a time and was not home very much. It was hard on the family, and especially me. At the time I needed him most, he was rarely there. In seventh grade, the depression escalated, and I started cutting myself. It was a horrible time. My mind was in constant torment from the OCD, and on top of that, I was depressed. I was mad at the world, and especially God for having to deal with these issues. I started running far from him and even dabbled a little in the occult. I also started looking at pornography online. I not only was depressed, but I was confused about my sexuality. I had feelings of lust towards other boys in school and didn't know why. The devil took full advantage of this.These satanic influences made me only more depressed as I delved even deeper into a spiral of despair and hopelessness. I isolated myself from everyone and was a very mean person. All along, my spirit was just longing for its creator, the only one who could rescue me from this torment. 

Finally, it got so bad I attempted suicide and just wanted to end it all, still angry at God, yet feeling very guilty for what I was doing and how I was acting. In the summer of my ninth grade year, I finally gave it all up, fell to the floor one night and prayed. I prayed “God, either I’m going to die, or you need to help me. I have nothing left at all.” I suddenly felt his presence come over me and I wept. God had been pursuing me the whole time. I grabbed the little Bible my sister gave to me as a present and began reading. I realized this journey would not be easy. 

For the next few years, I had to rely on the help of Jesus to change my thought patterns and heal my depression. I had been oppressed by demons for years, and it was time to take back my spiritual ground. I am 22 now and in Bible college, studying to be a minister. This is purely by the grace of the almighty God and because of his loving pursuit of one stray sheep. Jesus has brought me through so much in my life and I give him all of the honor and glory."

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.--Psalm 118:17

Word.

This is the basic story, and there are many other details, but the main point is that God changed my brother's life in an instant. He didn't "grow out of it" or "work his way out of it," but rather, God did the work that no man could do.

When I look at Joey now, I am so overjoyed to have the funny, lighthearted brother back that I had lost for years. What medication, therapy, and punishment couldn't fix, God restored. What doctors and psychologists and even relatives and friends said was hopeless, God redeemed. He wasn't watching from a distance, but was in the midst of the battle, because He had Joey's name engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). I can't wait to see how Joey's ministry will bring His kingdom to earth in crazy, exciting ways. This living, walking miracle is ONLY a product of God's love. Jesus Christ literally saved my brother's life.

I might not say so except that I saw it myself.

My aim in posting people's testimonies will not be to climb on any platforms or to try to sell you God like an infomercial with "testimonials." I just want to share real, true stories, and let them speak for themselves. It's important for us as believers to be reminded that He is a God who won't be stopped. I want you to be encouraged by these testimonies and reassured of His power, love, grace, and peace. They are very real.

Maybe your testimony is not as dramatic as Joey's, but it is still beautiful, and it is so precious to your Father. Have story time with the Lord today. It is a very real and very personal way to worship Him.

Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!--Psalm 9:11