“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” – 1 Peter 3:15

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One day, a friend sent this thought to me: “Those around you desperately need to be encouraged by your latest encounter with Christ.” Since then, I have pondered that thought often.

There is something thrilling about hearing a new convert tell of the change God made in his or her life. It is exciting and encouraging to hear firsthand about a healing or of God providing financially. How many times have you been going through a trial and the testimony of someone with a similar experience came to your mind? These accounts of God’s faithfulness and goodness to His children can give us just enough hope and assurance to keep us trusting in Him.

The helpfulness of testimonies should come as no surprise, because the Bible tells us plainly that victory is in store for those who are ready to tell of “the hope” they have in Jesus: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Not only do we overcome through sharing our testimony, but we are also helping someone else to overcome. Rehearsing with each other what God has done in our lives is critical to our strength as Christians and the furtherance of the Gospel.

We live in a world that is desperate for the Good News. People are struggling to find a better way. We can win others for Christ, one heart at a time, but two things are required on our part. First, we need to have a testimony. We must have a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ on a daily basis so that His hope is alive in us. Second, we need to be prepared to share our testimony. We must boldly proclaim the power of Jesus Christ when we have the opportunity.

When was the last time you told someone about the reason for the hope that is in your heart? Today, let us think about God’s love and what He has done for us, and most of all, let’s share it with others.