can i have a testimony, please?!

Does that sound familiar to you? If you've ever been in a Pentecostal church, you have probably heard that question--that invitation for someone to tell of something God has done in their life! An invitation to proclaim the greatness or the faithfulness of God... An invitation to tell all those within hearing distance of some way the Father has touched a life, healed brokenness, or uplifted the downtrodden.

It is an invitation for someone to tell aloud of the goodness of God--to acknowledge Who He is and what He has done, to bring glory to God and encouragement to others.

Today, I accept that invitation. Let me tell you something which God has done for me this week...

It may not seem like much on the surface, but I must tell you of a way in which my Father has provided for me this week. If you're a regular reader, you may remember Saturday's post about my unexpected car repairs with which I began the new year. I was not thrilled about the car repairs nor of having my Fixing-the-Finances plan thrown off track by this unexpected expense. The enemy attempted to use it as a vehicle (pun not intended but appreciated!) through which to rob me of my sense of peace and hope... to thwart my intentions of trusting God in this area.

I chose to STAND. I refused to listen to his lies (that it's hopeless, impossible, and that God will not be there to provide). I refused to go to that place of anxiety and unrest--of fear. I chose, instead, to trust that no matter what obstacles are cast in my path, God is my Provider.

But, this is not a testimony about ME... this is about GOD...

So, I took my car to the mechanic on Saturday, walked down the street to the coffee shop, and awaited the verdict. After an hour or so, the mechanic called me on my cell phone and told me the immediate problem and what needed to be done to fix it. (He also then proceeded to tell me a couple of other things that needed to be taken care of in the future but which weren't crucial at the moment.) Thankfully, the total cost was just around $300. I told him to go ahead with the repairs.

Now, $300 is not terrible compared to some of the other car repair bills I've had in the past couple of years. With my newly set-up financial plan and tight budget, however, there's not that kind of "wiggle room" for such expenditures. And, the big picture is not to incur any credit card debt--not even for 'emergencies.' I figured God and I would have to figure it out somehow over the next month or two, and I charged it on my credit card.

(And here comes the cool part of the testimony!!) As part of my financial plan, I had started saving small amounts of money from each paycheck for various future expenses. When I got home from the mechanic's, I just thought I would check out my "car repairs" savings to see if I had any money in that account at all. Guess what....?!

I had just $7 short of what the repairs had cost me!!!! Really! How awesome was that?!

This kind of thing doesn't normally happen to me, and I could totally see it as God's handiwork! Especially after the battle with the enemy over this area, it was such a testimony to me of how God provides for our needs when we trust Him! It felt like a 'reward' for my choosing to not let the enemy pull me into his place of darkness but, instead, to walk in the Light! It definitely served as a reminder of God's care for me and an encouragement to continue to trust Him!

And so I proclaim this testimony of the goodness of God--to acknowledge Who He is and what He has done, to bring glory to God and encouragement to others. May He and you be blessed! (174)