Small Talk
It was interesting to find myself in two different study groups on this particular week, each participant sharing their testimony. What should have been a brief word of their testimony became a long version of their life history. I was a bit frustrated for some reason. I guess one reason was because we were not going to be able to get into the word because the time was running short. I had to sit back and consider other reasons for my frustrations. I think I was seeing reality more clearly. Women like to talk. Now, I know I am a woman, but I have had a quiet nature for the most part. I don’t really talk endlessly and I see no point in it. My testimony was pretty brief – I hit the highlights. The more others were talking, I thought, I want a do-over. But I realized that was my own desire to be heard coming from an insecure place.
How should a testimony be given? What are the specifics that are really important to share? What needs to be shared at a different time? I have never thought about this before until this moment. I gave the basics of my story. I realized others stories are just as important as what I had to say. God is at work in everyone’s life. In another group, one lady shared how God was working in her life. I realized I had asked God on this particular week to help me learn my place of importance. My pride gets the best of me sometimes. I heard someone say pride is what kicked Satan out of heaven. Ouch. I don’t want to think too highly of myself, but I know I do sometimes.
God is introducing me to a new perspective. I need to pay attention to these instances when circumstances repeat themselves. A friend was talking about seeing her car all around town recently. Before the last few weeks, she never saw it. But now everywhere she goes she sees herself. What’s the significance in that? I don’t know, but she’s been made aware of a pattern that she had never noticed before. When we are made aware of a pattern, we will recognize it when we see it. God is showing me a pattern that I can easily fall into unless I am aware of it. My pride will go before a fall. I need to recognize the pattern that so easily entangles me and causes me to fall. Falling is the pits!
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
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