In my last post I talked about what is in a name and how Saul/Paul lived his name after he met Jesus.
Joy and praise is the meaning of my name. Just like Saul/Paul, I didn’t live my name and left a lot of heartache in my wake.
Dewey has asked me to share my testimony. It’s my pleasure to share how my Beloved Lord has set me free.
When my friend, Angel Murchison asked me several years ago to be interviewed for her program Destiny Moments, I said, “NO!” A couple of weeks later she asked me again and I gave her the same answer. A couple of weeks after that, she said, “Dawn, I really feel the Lord wants me to interview you for Destiny Moments.” I told her I would pray about it.
That night, I asked, “Father, is this something You want me to do?” He said, “Yes, I do.” I said, “Okay Father, I’ll do it. I know You will take care of all the stuff that goes with it.”
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I didn’t want to share my testimony because I didn’t like telling people who I used to be. I left a lot of heartache and carnage in my past and wanted it to stay there. I was addicted to many things: cigarettes, credit cards, pornography, men, racy romance novels, and inappropriate magazines. I was a liar, an adulteress and I was a selfish, miserable little puke.
Some of these addictions carried over even after I became born-again because I didn’t know who I was as a new creation in Christ Jesus…..that my sweet Lord exchanged His life for mine and placed His spirit in me so I became as Him. (1 John 4:17). I felt and thought I was powerless to be free from all of the things that kept me from walking in the freedom my Jesus had died to give me. I felt condemned, unworthy, ugly, unloved……all lies, but notice the word “felt”.
When we don’t know who we are in Jesus, we continue to go by feelings, an earthy response. (See my post “In Adam or in Jesus”) When you get the revelation of who you really are when you become born-again, all that stuff doesn’t matter, because that is who you USED to be. Let me explain:
When you become born-again, the old is passed away. I believe that. At the time, I thought I was powerless to walk in the freedom Christ gives me. I thought I was helpless when the devil would tempt me and drop stupid thoughts in my head. It was exactly what he wanted because it rendered me powerless because that is what I thought I was. We are NOT powerless! The living God dwells in us! He has given us all power and authority in His name. He gave us a Helper, precious Holy Spirit, to help us walk in newness of Life. He has stripped the devil of all power and the only power the devil has over believers and knowers of Christ is what we give him.
Even though I saw who I was as a new creation, I still had to fight for freedom from my addictions.
James 4:7,8 Therefore, SUBMIT to God, RESIST (Take your stand against…be active to do it.) the devil and he WILL flee from you. Draw near to God and He WILL draw near to you…
I had to choose not to look at pornography, and that stuff would pop up everywhere let me tell you. I had to choose not to use my credit cards, but to keep paying them off. I had to take a stand after I submitted to the Lord , and I asked Holt Spirit to help me and He did. I asked Him to remove unhealthy images from my memory, and He did. I asked Him to help me see men as brothers, fathers, uncles….and He did. The cigarette addiction was the hardest because I liked smoking, but I knew it wasn’t good for me.
My friend, Mary, told me that the Lord delivered her from her cigarette addiction with no withdrawals. I got with the Lord and admitted to Him that I couldn’t do it without Him. I had tried the patches, the gum, and cold turkey to no avail. I asked Him to deliver me from cigarettes like He did Mary and make it like I had never smoked. I asked Him to bring me to that place where I could let it go. He did! Praise Jesus, it has been over 19 years since I have smoked!
He will do it for you, too! Just ask Him.
John 8:32,36 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Growing into who you are in Christ is a process. Remember that you were chosen of Him, just as I am. He sees us as we really are. Get to know Him and who He is and you will begin to see yourself with His eyes. Let Him guide you into all truth.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”
Psalm 113:2,3 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.
Forever I will praise You, my Beloved Bridegroom! You are my Heart, my Life. Praise you my Love!