“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15 ESV

I have a love/hate relationship with public speaking. I’m fine if I’m speaking in a dark, crowded auditorium. I’m fine if I’m speaking about something I’ve prepared on a specific topic.

But it’s different when it’s personal, with people I know, when I can see people’s faces.

I don’t like speaking about myself in church. I’ll sing my heart out, but for some reason speaking makes me really nervous. Probably because of the honesty and transparency it takes to offer a testimony. A pastor once told me to speak more, but I’m leery of making my words about me.

Because it’s not about me. It’s about the goodness of God.

A prayer of mine was answered in abundance after praying for five years. I was going to lead worship one week so I had the opportunity to share about this answered prayer, but I went back and forth with God about what to say. . . and whether or not to actually say it. One day I’d have an idea of what to say, and the next day I’d decide not to share.

So I considered what my motives for sharing should be:

• To praise God: “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. . . ”  2 Corinthians 2:14-15 ESV
• To encourage others: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11 ESV

And not coincidentally, the Verse of the Day that Sunday morning read: “This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.’” Isaiah 48:17 ESV

I did share my testimony. God kept me calm, and I had an idea of what I wanted to say, but left room for God to move. And a bonus was that members of the congregation shared their similar testimonies with me at the picnic following the service – evidence that God used my testimony as encouragement and worship.

And starting the worship service with a testimony affected the rest of the service because we, as a church body, in all the singing, scripture reading, and praying, were focused on the goodness of God.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Testimony video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Qcln86W4

How can you testify to the goodness of God? What’s holding you back?

“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15 ESV

Special thanks for my friend Jessica for this week’s picture!