Sunday, May 15th, was our second week in our summer series 1000 Names of God, where people shared testimonies that revealed different names of God in their life stories. Hearing testimonies is one of my favorite things about Sunday morning service. Testimonies are so life-giving; they tell the story, or as I like to say, adventure of what God has done in their life during trying or uncertain times.
While I have many testimonies of what God has done in my 61 years of life, this is the testimony God placed on my heart to share with you.
God Can Remove Anxiety and Fear.
For many years I suffered from severe anxiety, panic attacks and fear of unworthiness due to childhood trauma but could never admit that I had anxiety issues. It was about 12 years ago that I suffered a financial crisis. As I was praying to God about what I needed to do, I heard his audible voice so clear. I'd only heard it twice before and not again since:
“I'm going to remove anxiety and fear from you, trust me.”
I was like, “No, I need a financial miracle.”
Thus, began a nine-month adventure where I said, “Okay Lord, I trust you” and for the first time really surrendered myself into the hands of the Lord. I took my eyes off the financial problem, which was hard for someone who needed to be in control for self-protection. Putting my trust and faith completely into the hands of the Lord, I surrendered my financial situation to the Lord and focused my attention upon Him.
Trusting God’s Word Brings Healing.
There were many times during this process that I wanted to give up, but God’s still small voice reminded me that I could trust Him and He would not leave me nor forsake me. Two of the many scripture verses that were so key for me during that time where God revealed himself through scriptures are found in Proverbs and I John.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight". ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
The second scripture, 1 John 4:19, has become my life verse:
"We love because he first loved us."
Slowing day by day, month by month, I saw the hand of God at work - things that would normally cause me to either stress or become anxious no longer caused me to become stressed or anxious. When the enemy would try and test me, I had an inner strength that rose up and said, “No, I'm keeping my eyes focused on the Lord.”
Throughout this journey I saw God’s love, hope, faithfulness, trust, peace and provision. At the end of this journey not only did God remove the spirit of anxiety and fear, but he provided provisionally far which exceeded what I could have ever imagined.
I've discovered over the years since that the things in the past that would send me into panic and anxiety no longer have that power because I now quickly turn to the Lord, thanking Him for what he has done in my life.
We All Have a Testimony.
Everything we go through is an invitation from God to draw closer to Him and allow Him into our lives and reveal the testimony He wants to bring forth from us.
While my journey took nine months, that doesn’t mean every journey takes that long. I have other testimonies, and have heard testimonies, where God worked instantly or over a course of a few days. God heals according to His perfect wisdom.
My point is, life is a journey (or adventure as I now like to say) to allow God to reveal to us the testimonies within us that He wants to bring forth and share with others.
I’ve listed some of the names of God that are part of my testimony.
- El Olam - The Everlasting God
- Agapao - Love
- El Roi - The God Who Sees
- El Shaddai - God Almighty
- Yahweh Nissi - The Lord is my Banner
- Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord Our Provider
- Jehovah-Shalom - The Lord is Peace
- Hanneeman - Faithful
- Jehovah-Shammah - The Lord is There
- Yahweh-Rapha - The Lord Who Heals
- Mesites - Mediator
- Yahweh Tsuri - God is My Rock
- Soter - Savior
- Eyaluth - Strength
- Racham (Hebrew), Agapao (Greek) - God of Love
As we spend the summer hearing about the different names of God, consider which names and how they have been manifested in your life.
If you were at the service on Sunday May 15th, but weren’t able to share your testimony, please let us know; we want to hear your testimony and find a time for you to share it on a Sunday morning. If you have a testimony, but don't feel comfortable sharing publicly, you can send us an e-mail at info@ncchico.org, so we can celebrate with you.
Here is the link to 1000 Names of God series.
