Tell Your Story

Daily Reading: Acts 22

Scripture Focus: As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me...  (Acts 22.6)

Devotional Thought: It was a hostile crowd, but Paul didn't care.  He had a passion for telling his story to everyone - in the hope that they would turn to Christ. 

When I read about Paul telling his story, it reminds me of my story and how I need to tell it.  The Lord started calling me when I was 25 years old.  I believe someone at the Nazarene church in Williamsburg, OH was praying for us.  My husband and I had visited there infrequently.  Then we had a sudden death in the family and our world fell apart.  It drew me to the Lord.  Christ completely turned my life around.  I started attending church and took my three pre-school boys with me.  Up to that point, they didn’t know who Jesus was.  My oldest had come up to me the year before and asked me who Jesus was.  I felt the shame of that, but it didn’t matter to the Lord.  When Jesus forgave my sins, he forgot my sins!  And, just as God had a mission for Paul, he had a mission for me, too.  Paul’s mission was to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.  Mine was to live the gospel as a good wife and mother.  And, he gave me the love it took to do my job. My husband and I were able to rear 4 children and save our marriage through Christ.  He is so good!

I plan to tell my story to more people soon.  I hope you do, too.  You may face a hostile crowd, but no one can argue with your experience.   

Fran

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.  Give me the opportunity and the courage to tell my story, so that other souls may be saved, too!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 73.21-28

21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,

22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.