04/10/2024
Ye Are My Witnesses
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. (Isaiah 43:10-12)
Ye are my witnesses. The words just popped into my brain this morning. It wasn’t part of my normal verse for the day reading. Why does God want me to think about witnesses today?
When I think about witnesses, I think about somebody being in court and having to testify about something they have seen or heard. I haven’t seen or heard anything to testify about. So, what is it?
“What does “witness” mean?”
I looked it up. And it is just what I thought. Someone telling about something they have seen or heard.
“Is that all?”
Well, no. It is also evidence.
“So reread the verses.”
Ye are my evidence….
Wait a minute! Ye are My evidence? That seems to be a totally different thing!
“It is. You are the evidence, the proof of what I am like. Your very existence shows what I am like.
I don’t think I like this definition, God. I love to share about You and what You are like. I can testify, but I don’t like the thought of being the evidence. I already know You are going to ask why, so I’ll just say it. It’s because talking about You is easier. Being the one on display, “exhibit A,” it's not easy to even contemplate. Sometimes, I want to be angry, to let people know they've bent my last nerve.
Now I have a problem. I have always understood that I am supposed to be telling what it is like to have been with You, to know You, and to tell others what You are like. But now that I have a different definition, I realize that when I had the opportunity to be the evidence, I wasn’t. I showed them me, not You.
My heart hurts, God.
I had the opportunity. I didn’t realize it was an opportunity at the time—but I had the opportunity to be a good witness. Instead, I was upset. I was distressed, distraught. I was totally peeved because I had been “done wrong.” I had been falsely accused. My character had been maligned. I knew You said, “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” and I was praying that You would keep me from taking vengeance. I asked You to help me not want vengeance. I asked for Your help to let Your will be done; help to be Your representative. You know I was struggling, but I wasn’t evidence of Your character at all!
“What was the problem, since you know I do repay?”
It was not easy because no one wants to have their character maligned. No one wants to be falsely accused, nobody wants to be done wrong. And I am one of those “no one” people. It was about me. Period.
“What changed?”
Communion Sabbath. I was in the situation, knowing that I could not, with a clear conscience, participate in that service because my spirit was not right. I wanted You to get me out, get me through because it hurt! And it hurt because the person who should have understood didn’t. And so, I wrote and wrote. I wrote almost four pages about the situation, why it was wrong, what should have happened, etc. I wrote out my grievance. Well, not exactly grievance but explanation—how I felt about the entire process of being misused, abused, and falsely accused. And I got through it. I made it through Communion with a thankful and grateful heart, and I was okay.
“So, what’s the problem now?”
I went to work Monday and realized it was back. I was carrying that same heavy load that I did not want to carry. It wasn’t exactly the same, but I realized I was still carrying something—I was still feeling “some kind of way” when I was still talking about it! I did not like it. Why was I still carrying it? Why wasn’t I free?
“You forgot that I promised My Spirit would raise up a standard against the enemy when it comes in like a flood?”
No, I remembered that. That is how I got over the anger. You never fail me. I failed You. I don’t know what to think about that.
“What did you do to change your side of the situation, then?”
To change my side? Am I supposed to do that?
“Yes. You cannot change the other side of any situation. Have you forgotten that YOUR response is your responsibility?” Your children learned that in elementary school.
It seems I did. I was so wrapped up in being bent out of shape that I forgot a lot of things! Why do I forget things You taught me years ago?
“You are still in the process of becoming like Me. You are still growing. So is everyone else. You are not perfect, and neither are they.”
Ouch, God. That stung a bit. But You know what I did today changed ME. You inspired it all, I know! When I asked my coworkers to pray with me about our job situations, we did. One prayed a generalized prayer for everything. I prayed one I thought addressed the needs of the day—MY situation. But the third person (who knew my specific situation) prayed the prayer that NEEDED to be prayed. She asked that we remember that it was not about us; the battle is not ours; it is Yours.
You sent the word that I needed today, God. Thank You. You reminded and taught me that I AM Your witness—to testify and be evidence. And when You allow me to face misuse, abuse, and be falsely accused, I don’t have to fight that battle. I don’t have to fight the battle to maintain my “status,” my reputation, my sense of worth, and value. It’s Your battle, and I can put my weapons down and watch You work it out. I can thank You for the honor and privilege of being on display for You—to everyone.
God gave me an SMH moment, y’all. He brought me a test. I did the “Job” and whined about it at first, but today, when God asked, “Have you considered my servant?” the world got the answer, “She will serve Me no matter what!” And I will serve Him. I will not bend, I will not bow, and I will not break. That is my motto. If God is for me, it will never matter who is against me! I will always be more than a conqueror through Him.
How about you? Does the enemy have you wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in foolishness so you cannot testify or be His exhibit? This is a good time to let it go. He has you and the situation under control—as soon as you do. He can and will handle the business.
I love y'all!
