Testimony...

Every Thursday evening I meet with an amazing bunch of people from church and we pray, worship, and discuss our biggest passion in life...God. This week I'm on Witness, a section of the night that consists of something evangelistic or at least challenging. Whilst thinking of what to do I decided to think about my testimony and think about how God saved me and made it clear to me that I need Him in my life. (Now, I wasn't going to write it down in this blog, but maybe next time.)

I would never profess to have a particularly gripping testimony with jaw dropping stories of rebellion and intrigue, but it's gripping in the sense that God chose me, saved me and has used me. I used to think it was a mundane testimony in comparison to the converted murderers, drug dealers and alcoholics, but actually the fact that God woke me up and said He wanted to use me is pretty awesome in itself.

My testimony contains an abundance of stupid mistakes that I still see the consequences of and will in the future, but something struck me when I thought about it. It was this...

...when I screwed up BIG time, God waited with open arms for me to run back and find Him.

There was one part of my life where I was painfully torn between God and earthly pleasures, I can't begin to imagine the pain I inflicted on God as He watched me hurt myself and disobey Him time and time again.

And yet He waited.

He listened patiently to my guilty and disgraced sobs when I called out for forgiveness and asked to escape the life I was leading.

He gave me strength to tear me away from it.

When I finally broke free He waited...with open arms. My Daddy, the Creator of the Universe waited for my return.

He wrapped His arms around me and didn't shun me or send me away...He instead debased Himself to save a sinner like me.

So yeah, you know what...I want to lay down my life because a God like that is worth it.

He is priceless, beyond value and so totally incredible that giving my life is quite frankly, pittance in comparison.