Psalm 66:16, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a testimony as:

“1a: a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official. b: firsthand authentication of a fact : EVIDENCE. c: an outward sign. 2a: an open acknowledgment. b: a public profession of religious experience”

As a pastor, I enjoy hearing other people’s stories and testimonies. All of us have unique stories and testimonies of God’s work in our lives. Sharing our testimonies is a powerful act of acknowledging our weaknesses vis-à-vis God’s strength. While most people I meet are willing to share their testimonies to me in a small setting, few people have the courage to publicly share their testimony. Understandably so, public speaking is one of America’s biggest fears! Whether you fear public speaking or not, I want to encourage you to gather some courage to tell others your testimony. Some people have dramatic testimonies, while others think their testimonies are boring and dull. No matter what your story is, your testimony is valid. Your testimony matters. Not all testimonies are made the same.

Here are some advantages of sharing your testimony:

CHRIST. Testimonies point to Christ. Testimonies show how horrible our lives were before Christ, what Christ did at my conversion, and what Christ is doing in my life today. Testimonies elevate the presence and goodness of Christ.

CONFESSION. Testimonies are vehicles for confession. I am sure most of us have heard the adage, confession is good for the soul. When we testify, we confess our sins, struggles, and failures. When we testify, we acknowledge our failures and our desperate need for God.

CONNECTION. When we testify we connect with others. Often people walk away from hearing a testimony saying something like, I did not know they are struggling like me. I did not know my problems are like theirs. I thought I was the only one struggling with this. I never knew they went through that horrible experience. Testimonies have the power to even the human ground. We soon learn we are all in this together.

CELEBRATION. Testimonies are opportunities to brag about what the Lord has done. Testimonies offer opportunities to celebrate victories – big and small. Testimonies help us look at the bright side of life. Testimonies are vehicles we use to count the blessings. If we look around, there is so much to thank the Lord for.

A testimony is a public declaration of God’s work in your life. Have you testified of God’s goodness lately? Have you used your testimony to connect with others around? Have you celebrated the small victories in your life? Your testimony could change someone’s life.