(I am going on vacation and taking a two-week break from blogging. This week, guest blogger Wes Feshler will be contributing a testimony of encouragement regarding what God has done in His life. Take it away Wes!)
My pastor graciously invited me to write some encouraging words which, prayerfully, will increase our faith in Jesus Christ. My words come from over 25 years of Christian experiences in many churches with many people.
Initially and for many years, I read the Bible literally, assumed a lot of negatives about others, judged and analyzed their weaknesses and failures, and tried to fix their problems. I went from church to church, job to job, relationship to relationship without repenting from my own attitudes and works of pride and sin. Through it all, Jesus remained faithful to me, and He allowed me to bump along. He had planted within me an enormous passion to help troubled believers, but I never recognized that I needed first to repent from my own troubled self and its very natural and carnal ways. I searched for my fit or purpose in many areas – drug and alcohol rehabilitation, shelters, psychiatric facilities, music, visitations to the sick, youth athletics, church projects, Christian education, TV evangelism, and many books. I thought I could be a Christian counselor or at least a referral service, and I would continue to write personal notes to exhort and to edify family and friends.
The fire to help or coach always burned within me, but there was not much fruit and absolutely no joy. I started praying, after an unsuccessful attempt at Bible college, that the Holy Spirit would do in me what He had to do in order that I could complete God’s mission for my life. I started a daily, prayerful journal and wrote two personal devotionals in which I was able to face the truth about myself. I thought, of course, that the latter would be used for home groups, but they were part of God’s process in freeing me from many of Satan’s lies and my addictive behaviors. He continues that work within me, and He brings a peace and a joy to me every day.
I do not regret my past of ups and downs and all arounds. I believe that Christ allowed it all to be a testimony of His grace and His power. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your faithfulness to me, your unconditional love, your patience, your settling of me, your establishing my roles and my priorities, and your presence and Lordship in my life and in all of the lives to whom I write and speak. Thank you Lord Jesus for doing the impossible within me. Let us never give up on Him.
My friends in Christ, He alone is worthy to be praised. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Without Him, we can do nothing of spiritual significance.
In and with Him,
Wes Feshler
Write a comment