If you have a personal relationship with Christ, you have a testimony! It’s yours, and it’s the most precious thing that belongs to you. No one can take it from you, but it’s something you should desire to share with others. By sharing our testimonies, we can glorify God and point others (especially those who don’t know Him) to Christ.
There is no certain format for a testimony. Each person’s story is unique. However, below is a simple, three-point pattern. I have included my personal testimony under each point to help you get the idea.
1. Tell what your life was like before you were saved.
As long as I can remember, I have been in church. I was raised by parents who loved God and me. They taught me to love God too. Although I was young, I learned from my parents, my pastor, and my Sunday school teachers that God loved me. My mother prayed with me every night and often prayed that I would “accept Jesus as my Savior.” I knew that God lived in Heaven, that He had a son named Jesus who died on the cross, and that in order to go to Heaven we had to “ask Jesus into our hearts.” But I wasn’t exactly sure what all that meant.
2. Tell how you got saved (when/where/what lead to your salvation).
One night, after my mom prayed with me at bedtime, I asked about what she had prayed. Specifically, I knew that I wanted to go to Heaven when I died. Even at the young age of 5, I knew that sin was doing wrong. So, I had no problem realizing that I sometimes did “bad” things. My mom went on to explain that because of sin, we are separated from God, who is perfect, holy and sinless. Then she told me the good news—that Jesus (through His death and resurrection) had already paid the price for my sin. He was punished in my place.
She asked me if I understood, and I said that I did. But I wanted to know exactly what I needed to do to be saved. She told me that if I wanted to live forever with God, that I had to believe that I was a sinner, accept that Jesus was punished in my place, ask for His forgiveness for my sins, and give Jesus my heart and my life. She explained that in doing that, Jesus would become the boss of my life. When she asked if I wanted to pray, I said yes. In simple, childlike faith, I admitted my sin, asked God to forgive me, and invited Him to come into my heart and life.
3. Tell what your life has been like since you got saved.
After that night at my bedside, I spent some time talking with our pastor, Bro. Gunn, in more detail. A few weeks later, I went forward at the end of a service to announce my decision to the church and was baptized as a public demonstration of my faith. Although I was very young, God changed me that night I prayed in faith to accept Him.
Very soon after my own salvation, when I was afraid of shadows and monsters, Bro. Gunn reminded me to pray and ask Jesus to help me, and I did. When my grandfather (who didn’t have a relationship with God) was dying of cancer, I prayed fervently for his salvation and was so happy when he finally came to the Lord. As I grew older, I learned more about the Bible and learned to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart. As a teenager, I struggled with depression and self-esteem, but I found peace and assurance through God’s love. As a wife and mother, God has helped me through tough times, especially when my son, Brandon, died unexpectedly. It is only through the mercy, grace, and love that He exhibits (often through other people) and through the comfort and assurance of thinking of our Heavenly home that I am able to deal with my grief.
Because I came to the Lord when I was young, God steered me towards better decision-making and saved me from many potential mistakes. My life is not perfect; there have been times I have struggled to make Godly decisions and times that I have given in to sin. But God has been faithful to always call me back to Him, forgiving me for my mess-ups, and reminding me of His love and His sacrifice.
I am so thankful for my parents’ love, for pastors, teachers, and friends who taught me truth, and for a mother’s bedtime prayers. Most of all I thank God for His Son, Jesus, and for making a way for me to know and love Him. If you don’t know Jesus or understand what He’s done for you, I would be happy to tell you more.
Click here for more Tips for Writing or Telling Your Testimony.