My KAIROS Time: Telling About My Jesus
Deidra's story: When time caused me to understand the urgency of sharing my story:
In April 2017, with two bags of groceries in my arms, I fell through the sheetrock in my garage, narrowly missing the doorjamb. In that fall, in that very moment, I cried out in my heart, "Help me, Jesus!" Then, I blacked out, experiencing a stillness my doctor later described as a "jumpstart." I remember a tingling sensation that started at the tips of my toes and moved up to the top of my head, followed by the same tingling sensation traveling back down to my toes. I slowly got up, noticing chipped tooth enamel and pieces of sheetrock in my hair and eyebrows, yet I didn't see any blood. I gradually moved to my knees, then stood up and went inside. Sitting at my table, I wrote down the words that described what I had experienced: stumbled, fell, lost consciousness, tingled, and shaken. I prayed and read my Bible, thanking God for sparing my life, but I didn't even tell my son. I did not realize the seriousness of my situation, until my doctor's appointment the following week. He scheduled X-rays, tests, and bloodwork, and sent me to the ER the following Monday, for possible infections in my back and neck. Only by the grace of God, I lived. My son, Wade, stayed with me in the hospital, and helped me through this time of trial. Through this ten-day hospital stay, nurses, and others came into my room, talked, we shared our struggles, and we prayed with them. I cherish every person God puts in my path that I can talk with, spend time with, hopefully, make a difference in their life and mine: [Romans 13:10-12 KJV Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. [11] And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. [12] The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.] John 1:18 KJV No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Every day, for as long as I live, I must be about my Father's business, as Jesus said in Luke 2:49. Colossians 3:2-3 (KJV) states: "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
How many times a day do you eat and drink? That's for your physical being. What about for your Spiritual food? Your soul needs nourishment too! Persistent prayer, reading your Bible, and prayer journaling at least 10-20 minutes a couple of times a day WILL change your life. Though I have a long way to go still, daily I’m experiencing a purity of mind and thought, strength to make right choices and avoid wrong ones, wisdom for critical decisions, and the privilege of serving others in a way that I get to see lives radically changed. Everything I’m experiencing is because of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful I met Him, and He is changing me! Acts 1:8 KJV But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Your personal story, your “testimony,” is an effective connection point to others: It is your history, but, it is HIS-story, the Story of Jesus in you. Writing your story down and being ready to stand up and tell it when GOD puts someone in front of you is a godwink moment: Acts 17:30-31 KJV And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. [The following is information to help you write out your story:]
Finding Your Headline: Who is Jesus to you? What scripture compels you to Christ? When did you come to "know" Christ? Through Scriptures, share Where you have experienced God changing you and helping you overcome lies you have believed about Him; Share Why you believe; Share How were you drawn by the Holy Spirit to Christ? What's the central theme or 'headline' of your story? Choose the headline below that best illustrates your experience and delete the others. If none of these resonate, feel free to create your own:
Just as in a courtroom one tells “what I saw” or “what I heard” or “here is what happened,” so it is with your story of coming to faith in Christ. You must want people to know what matters in your life, what is the most important thing that has ever happened in your life. You were there! You know what happened and what Jesus has done in your life. People relate to real life examples. You can tell others in such a way that they too can come to faith in Christ. Here is a simple way to express your story. Write the details in a conversational way with each point. You could begin by saying “Could I tell you about my spiritual journey and what has really made a difference?” or by simply asking, “May I tell you my story?”
1. Tell about—My life before I came to faith in Jesus. What was your life like? What concerns did you have? What fears did you have? What problems did you face? What did you try to do to “fix” yourself or your situation before you came to Jesus? No need to go into great detail about your sin. Share in a way that does not glorify or brag about the things that were wrong in your life. For some who came to Christ early in life, there are not a lot of “big” sins, but there is always a spiritual need in every life.
2. Tell about—How I came to place faith in Jesus personally. When did you first hear about Jesus Christ? What about Jesus got your attention? When did you begin to be convicted about your sins? What other spiritual truths did you begin to think about? The love of God? The needs of your own life? Fear of the future? What did you think of the story of Jesus, His life, His death for your sins, His resurrection from the grave? What Scriptures touched you? Where were you and when did you call on the Lord to forgive you and save you, giving Him your life, placing faith in Him as Lord and Savior?
3. Tell about—How Jesus has changed my life since I placed faith in Him. Did salvation change your desired career choice? What changes did I notice at first? What changes have I seen over the months or years since placing faith in Jesus? Have I had a Barnabas encourager to help me? How has Jesus impacted my life? How is life different in Point 3 than it was in Point 1? What is going on in my life now because of Christ? How is He real day by day? What did you experience in the Holy Spirit leading this week?
__Realized the power of my new identity in Christ
__Realized that in Christ, I am secure, significant, and accepted
__Realized the significance of being a saint rather than a sinner
__Realized that when I go wrong, it doesn't change God's love for me
__Understood that faith is simply believing what is already true
__Understood that I was operating under an unbiblical worldview
__Understood what the flesh is and that I can choose to walk by the Spirit rather than by the flesh
__Understood the battle going on for my mind and how to win it
__Realized that I do not need to be frightened of Satan and demons
__Saw my feelings change over time as I made a determined effort to believe the truth
__Saw that I can be emotionally honest
__Made a choice to forgive someone and, in the process, was set free myself
__Realized that I need to take personal responsibility for my walk with the Lord rather than looking to others to 'fix' me
__Brought my belief system back into line with what is true through renewing my mind using 'stronghold-busting'
__Realized all the lies I had been believing and took steps to change my beliefs
__Realized that I can be a success in God's eyes but a complete failure in the eyes of the world (or vice versa)
__Was completely released from all the negative effects of the past
My story in a couple of paragraphs….(continue on the back)
If you have questions, want to talk, or need help, send me an email to itrustyourword@gmail.com, or phone or text 9047058239:
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