ROOTED RENEGADE

Testimony has power. Just the word alone carries weight to it. Some use it to reference what is given in the court of law, as a “formal written or spoken statement (dictionary.com)”. This can be your own recall of events that happen when you use testimony against or in defense of yourself or someone else. Another use of testimony is when is recounts an experience or conversion, publicly, especially a religious one (dictionary.com). Testimonies also is defined as “the precepts of God” and “open declaration or profession of faith” (dictionary.com). Interestingly, these are all linked together and powerful on their own or collectively combined.

A testimony carries weight. Testimonies carry greater weight. Stand alone a testimony has the power to shake a person’s life to its core, challenging that person to face a mirror and either change or walk away the same but know there was a challenge to be had. Testimonies does the same, but with a power much greater as it shows the connection of more than one. It defines connection in a way that one cannot deny as in a previous singular experience, but be a fool to do so. Moment after moment after moment, testimonies show the connections of God in a way that is indescribable and undeniable, yet they are very much tangible. It takes the natural and smashes it into the supernatural in a way that leaves the people experiencing it breathless and bewildered yet very much aware that testimonies occurred not only at a heart level but a soul level. There was more than one experience that led to the heart of God and connected to the soul of a person.

One person said YES to God and decided to pray on a particular day. That prayer led to a soul being saved during a horrific event taking place. That saving led to another saving which led to a planting at a ministry. That planting led to a serving which led to another serving. That serving led to deliverance by the person who said YES to God that particular day to pray. That deliverance led to the person saying YES to God which led to souls being poured into for God, all the while both people are on separate paths not knowing that each other had a date with God many years before because of one testimony and one yes. You following so far? 7 (seven) years later they meet again and have another testimony for the Lord by serving together in a ministry assignment that the Lord puts them both on at different times because one says yes during prayer time to go serve in a ministry that the other is already on. Another testimony. All the while this woman is pressing and pouring and giving all she has to the Lord in testimony and after testimony after testimony. Then she meets this woman after a few years of having done deliverance on her because most people forget. The Lord brings it all back to remembrance (there is more to the story but you get the gist of it). Testimonies. Plural. There is always more than one. Connection. There is always more than one. Yes. There is always more than one.

You see, one testimony in a woman’s life, led to shattering glass ceilings and smashing false mirrors in another woman’s life. Which led to multiple testimonies in both of their lives. A testimony produces multiple. It is not a singular event because we are connected beings. Our lives are not our own when we give them over to Christ Jesus. His life was not His own and He released His to God when He said in the Garden of Gethsemane in Luke 22:42, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” I had to get to the place of surrender with many moments in my life and each time I did there was testimony. Each testimony produces sweet surrender like this so that a vessel, our vessels, can be clean for Christ and Holy Spirit to indwell each place. It’s a process that brings for new wine and good fruit.

What glass ceiling and false mirrors in your life do you have that need shattering? Where do you need to say yes instead of no? Is there someone in your life who has partnered with you along your journey that the Lord is asking you to share testimony so there can be more testimonies? Where do you need to just do some sweet ole’ face planting and get down to the nitty gritty with Jesus? I will be honest with ya! I used to hate face planting the floor! Now, well let’s bring it on! I want the new wine, the good fruit, the sweet testimony and the good ole’ fashioned tissue box and messy face! Nothing like a good ole’ fashioned reason to be real with my Jesus! I would rather be as clean a vessel as I can than all cluttered up and miserable! How about you?

I can’t think of one person who hasn’t been through some stuff in their life. If they haven’t been through something they most likely buried it in the backyard or deep within the recesses of it their soul and are desperately trying to hide it. Don’t try to mimic the behaviors of others who seemingly have it all together and are looking through false mirrors and are being smashed by glass ceilings. Bust through those barriers and say YES to JESUS! Allow the Holy Spirit to blow your mind and cleanse your soul! It may not feel good at first, but whew! You will be so glad you did! Nothing like the Joy of the Lord!!!!!

God bless you on this journey! May you find it fruitful and may you find it healing!

Faythe