When we look at today’s athletes in competition we rejoice with them in their glory and marvel at their commitment. In some cases we know that it may be this one glorious moment that has given them purpose.

Two thousand years ago someone was committed to giving purpose and meaning to life that it cost him dearly. It cost him his life. That person was Jesus Christ. This commitment may seem costly but consider the triathletes and their commitment. They have paid in time, sweat, and in some cases, their lives, to win a prize. God offers us the ultimate prize (eternal life), in exchange for our lives, something that we never truly own anyway. Jim Elliot said it best:

“He is no fool that gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Some time ago I watched Escape From Alcatraz. No, it wasn’t an episode of America’s Most Wanted although it may sound like one. It was a triathlon on the island of Alcatraz where the famous prison is located. In watching the race I was struck by several characteristics the participants shared.

This triathlon is one of the toughest in the world. The rough waters and terrain the participants must cover contributes to its incredible challenge. The triathletes swim from San Francisco to the island, bike several miles around the island and then run 13 miles over rough terrain.

Each one of them had made a commitment to buy lightweight, streamlined clothing designed to help them run, swim and cycle efficiently. The race began at 6:00 AM which showed that they were also committed to the time of day. There was a commitment to discipline evidenced by their obvious training for this race and also by the fact that several participants who had previously competed in this triathalon said it was a favourite. But it was their commitment to the reason why they were in the triathalon that impressed me most. A few triathletes wanted to better their time from previous runs but many just wanted to finish in order to say they had done it. There was even a family of three who had made the race a family project.

As I watched the progress of the race and all the people who were struggling through, one woman stood out. She was a young woman in her late twenties. She had cancer. Her doctors had told her she was crazy to compete, her family feared it would take too much out of her and her friends were concerned it would set her back physically. Yet she wanted to run. She wanted to show you can continue living even with a disease like cancer.

Throughout the race this woman was the one person the commentators focussed on and the one the bystanders and race officials cheered on. She fell several times, walked up most of the hills and was at the back of the pack. Yet she smiled the whole time, said she was having a good time and eventually finished the race.

All the runners paid something for their commitment to compete in this triathalon, whether in dollars, time or some other way. But none paid a cost as high as this woman did. Her commitment cost her the misunderstanding of her doctors, her family and friends. It cost her precious energy and it may have cost her life. She knew the risks, evaluated the end result and determined that the high cost of this commitment was worth it for her. She had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It forced onlookers to consider, “What am I committed to?” Is it the outer aspects of life–how you look, what you wear, what you drive, where you live? Is it the physical aspects of life–your career, the comfort and pleasure of money? Or are you committed to living a life with purpose and meaning, regardless of the cost?

Explaining Jesus’ commitment to you

Do you know God loves you? He created you to have a personal relationship with Him. And He wants you to experience a full and meaningful life. Jesus says, “I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly” (Romans 3:23). And there’s a penalty for sin–spiritual separation from God. As a result there’s a hug void in our lives.

Jesus Christ is God’s only solution to our sin. That’s why Jesus Christ came to earth to die to pay for our sins so we could have a relationship with Him and fill the God-shaped void in our lives.

“The proof of God’s love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us”
(Romans 5:8)

Jesus Himself declared, “I myself am the way and the truth and the life. No one approaches the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). But, just because Jesus died for you doesn’t mean you automatically begin a relationship with Him. You have to respond. You can either accept or reject the gift of forgiveness that Christ offers.

To receive Christ and the meaningful life He offers, you need to realize that turning to God means turning away from yourself–giving up your way of doing things, asking Him to forgive you for all your sins and take control of your life. You can only do that through faith. “For it is by grace that you are saved, through faith. This does not depend on anything you have achieved, it is the free gift of God; and because it is not earned no one can boast about it”.

Take a look at your life.  How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times.  There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget.  In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new.  What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

Believe me, I know about being single.

It’s hard to tell when a person officially becomes single but whatever the age, singles share some common characteristics:

• Singles are independent. No one else will take out the garbage or change the light bulbs. In order to get things done, singles must do it themselves.

• Singles are free. They can go to the movies when they want, buy the outfit they want, clean house whenever. They have “free” time that married people wish they had. They have dollars they can spend on themselves.

• Singles are lonely. They don’t have anyone in whose life they are number one. They don’t have anyone to buy them flowers, take them to dinner or share their intimate thoughts and dreams.

• Singles are often uncommitted. If something doesn’t benefit them, they won’t do it.

• Singles want to belong, to fit in somewhere. They want to know they are making a valuable contribution to society.

Singles also have a lot of challenges:

• The most common challenge singles face is the comments: “You’re how old?” “Why aren’t you married?” “What’s a nice girl like you doing single?”

• Family members often poke, “Well I guess I’ll never get a son-in-law.” “Boy, isn’t it about time you gave me a brother-in-law?” “All your cousins are married and having children. When is it your turn?”What do you say? A classic line is “I haven’t found the man who could make me as happy as I deserve to be.”

• Another dilemma singles face is, “Where do I fit into society?” Just about anywhere, these days. John Naisbitt in his best selling book Megatrends states: “The basic building block of society is now the individual, rather than the family.”

Being single is challenging. Single women often feel like the lone sock lying in the dryer – left there until its mate is found. They’re in a holding pattern, left lying somewhere until they get a mate. They feel there must be something wrong with them – that God has abandoned them or forgotten them.

In all of my reading and studying of the Bible, I have come to the conclusion that singles are whole people in God’s eyes. They have each been given unique talents and skills, that can and should be employed. They each have a purpose, whether they remain single or get married.

Being single is just a state of being, not a sentence. Singles are not one sock waiting for another sock before they become useful. Rather than waiting to become the spouse they would like to be, they need to find their fulfillment in becoming the individual God intended them to be.

Live each day to its fullest!

As a child of God, you have a powerful story to tell. Sharing how you came to Jesus and the difference He’s made in your life can help others discover how they, too, can know God personally.

But how do you distill a lifetime of experiences into a few minutes and communicate the significance of your faith in a way others can understand? This is the challenge.

It’s also the reason we’ve put together a template and some tips to help you draft your personal testimony. This guide will help you develop a three-minute synopsis of your story that you can share with individuals or groups. A carefully prepared testimony, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can be a tool you can use anywhere to effectively share the message of God’s love.

Getting started

As you set out to gather ideas, begin by asking God to bathe the process with His Spirit, and give you wisdom as you write. Your objective at this point is to write freely without editing–to just get all your ideas on paper.

The outline below will provide a solid frame to build your story on. Try to think of specific examples and details that relate to each question.

1. What was your life like before you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord?

• What were your attitudes, needs and problems?
• What did your life revolve around? What was most important to you?
• Where did you look for security, peace of mind and happiness?

2. How did you come to accept Christ and give Him complete control of your life?

• When did you first hear the gospel? When were you first exposed to dynamic Christianity?
• What were your initial reactions to Jesus Christ?
• When and why did you begin to feel positively about Christianity?
• What was the turning point in your attitude?
• What feelings did you struggle with right before your decision?

3. What happened after you trusted Christ?

• What changes did you see in your life? In your attitudes? In your actions?
• How long did it take before you noticed any changes?
• What does Jesus Christ mean to you now?

Threading it together

During this second step, it’s time to get selective and decide which details to include. Read through your ideas, and using a highlighter, underline the most important feelings, examples or incidents that relate to each of the three points in the outline above. Use the ideas you highlight to begin writing your story, and make sure you explain what your life was like before you knew Christ, how you came to know Him, and what your life is like now. These guidelines will help you shape your story.

• Begin with an attention-getting sentence or incident.
• Be positive from start to finish.
• Be specific. Give enough detail to arouse interest.
• Be realistic. Do not imply that Christ removes all of life’s problems, but, rather, that He walks with you through them.
• Use one or two Scripture verses, but only where they would directly relate to your experience and fit in naturally.
• Edit and rewrite as needed. Consider writing your first draft and setting it aside for a day so you can go back to it with a fresh perspective.
• Write a conclusion that makes your testimony sound finished and complete.

There are certain things you should filter from your story to avoid detracting from its essential message.

• Don’t harshly criticize the church, organizations or other people.
• Avoid mentioning denominations; the concept of different kinds of churches can be confusing to non-Christians.
• Be careful not to glamorize how “bad” you used to be.
• Steer clear of vague terms such as “joyful,” “peaceful,” happy,” or “changed” unless you explain in a concrete way what you mean.
• Do not use Christian jargon such as “saved,” “convicted,” “born again,” “sin,” or “repentance,” without clarification.

Telling your story

It might seem tough the first time or two, but the more you share your story, the easier it will get. Most people will appreciate your willingness to talk openly about your life, and no one can argue with your personal experience.

• Rehearse your testimony until it becomes natural. Practice sharing it with a Christian friend or family member.
• Share your story with enthusiasm, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Smile often. Ask the Lord to give you a pleasant expression.
• Speak clearly, in a natural, relaxed tone. Speak loudly enough to be heard.
• Stick to your time limit. Go too long and you’ll lose your audience.
• Tailor your story to your audience. Use examples from your experience that will relate to theirs.

Beware of nervous mannerisms that can distract others as they listen to your story, such as rubbing your nose, swaying, jingling coins in your pocket, playing with a pencil, clearing your throat, or using many “you knows” and “uhs.”

Also, remember that a testimony should never be a “preachimony.” Stay humble; never argue or use high pressure methods to persuade people to make decisions for Christ.

Keep it fresh

New chapters of your life are being written all the time, so in one sense, your story is never complete. Feel free to add new content and revise to keep your testimony fresh and reflect God’s ongoing work in your life.

Look for openings

Ask God to give you opportunities to tell your story, and look for openings. People you meet may comment that there’s something different about you, or even ask you why you’re such a “religious” person. Such situations are windows of opportunity to tell your story of faith.

Besides sharing your story one-on-one or in group situations, consider putting your testimony in written form to give to people you meet.

Be creative in sharing your life! And enjoy sharing with others the incredible story of what Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, is doing in you!

At the age of 12, I had come to understand that Jesus Christ died for my sins and had accepted His gift of forgiveness for my sins. I really wanted to be a “good” Christian and do what He asked, according to the Bible. But no matter how hard I tried; it just didn’t seem to work.

I would go along, trying to live the Christian life, but just not seeming to have it all together. Then, a week of special services would be planned for our church, and I would go. During that time, I would feel convicted of different attitudes and actions that I knew were displeasing to God, and would confess them. I would have that same feeling of cleanliness, of forgiveness, and an all-encompassing joy that I had when I first came to accept Jesus into my life.

But, a week or two after the series of meetings, that sense of joy and peace would be gone. So, the next time there was a series of meetings at the church, I would be there, seeking that experience again.

Finally, at the age of 23 I was finished with this “Christian” experience. It seemed to come and go. The only difference between my life and those who were not Christians was that I had “fire insurance”.

Looking for…and finding joy

That fall I started working for a Christian company. One of the trainings they gave all new employees was a week of one to two-hour sessions a day on the basics of the Christian life; such as how to be sure you are a Christian and understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life.

It was the session on understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s life that changed my life. I learned what the Holy Spirit can do for a Christian; I learned that you need to let God have complete control of your life; I learned that the fruit of letting God have control was love, joy, peace – all those things I was looking for in my Christian experience. All I had to do was ask God.

I wanted the end result, but I just knew some things would have to go, should I let Him have control. And one of those things would be my boyfriend. I wrestled with this for a week. Finally I reasoned, “My boyfriend is a strong Christian and why would God take that from me?” So, I prayed, and I asked God to take His place on the throne of my life.

Within days, my boyfriend broke off with me in order to date my best friend. I was so devastated that I went into a mild depression for about six months. At that point, the coworker who had taught the basic spiritual disciplines when I first joined the company, challenged me. She said, “You may have invited God to take control, but you aren’t letting Him have control. You have wallowed in depression for days now. Try letting Him be in control for several days, before you throw it all away, and just see what He does.”

I accepted the challenge. For the next several days, I would pray each morning, and many more times throughout the day, “God, You be in control.”

And I changed. I began to enjoy living again. I enjoyed being with people again.  I stopped telling people my “pity me” relationship story. My attitudes and actions change. I began to wear colors and clothing that suited who I was. I began to be involved in people’s lives without fear of what they thought of me.

Over 20 years have gone by since learning that concept, and it still “works.” Are you willing to accept the challenge of letting God have complete control of your life, continually? Then do it, and your life will become the great adventure God designed it to be.

God wants to be our leverage in living, empowering us to feel better about ourselves, more excited about our future, more grateful for those we love and more enthusiastic about our faith.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, we would love to hear about it!