Waiting on the Lord can be a challenge especially after prolonged seasons. While it is true that we wait in hope and wait by faith, the fortitude to wait day in and day out without experiencing breakthroughs can be a challenge. The waiting period can be the most tempting too because it can lead to discouragement, impatience; emotional, physical, and even spiritual weakness. There is however a hidden secret to overcoming all these; this secret is past testimonies.
Revelation 12:11 highlights the power in testimonies as overcomers in Christ. This scripture says that “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. There are three tools in this scripture that aid in times of waiting; the blood that Jesus shed, the word of our testimony, and loving God with all-out heart, mind, and might. For the sake of this blog, I will focus on the power of the testimony.
“Word of their Testimony” in this scripture may refer to the promise or word of God you are standing on in this waiting period, the prophetic word, or the assured answer God had given. But the word of the testimony may also mean past wonderous things that God did in your life, past victories, deliverances, healings, and or past answered prayers. Past testimonies unlock, faith, power, strength, and determination to continue to wait on God.
Whenever I am down, discouraged, anxious or fidgety, tired while waiting on an answer from the Lord, I have drawn from past testimonies; how God delivered me, how He fought for me, how He came through with provision at the nick of time, how He responded with abundance amid my unbelief, when He responded to short impromptu prayers and when He listened to my tears and comforted me and courage when I had no one and nowhere to run to. When God avenged me publicly and when He rescued me from death several times.
I encourage you to glean from your past testimonies. Whatever hardship you are going through right now is temporary and it shall pass. If you are in the waiting period, retrieve your past testimonies for strength, courage, and empowerment as you wait for the breakthrough. Use your past testimonies in thanksgiving prayer in expectation of great and might deeds God will answer you with!