December 16, 2009

Set Apart for God

My name is Justina.  I wanted to share a testimony about what God has been doing in my life through listening to Pastor Derek's sermons.  Praise the King of kings!  

 

Couple years ago I became addicted to watching television. I would watch it all day long and it became my entertainment.  I would ignore phone calls just to watch t.v.  One day as I was praying I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to stop watching t.v for a year.  I stood in silence because I was shocked that He would ask such a thing.  I thought I was being religious and just making this up.  However, I began to think about the reason behind it all. Then I thought that only good can come out of it because it's not a bad thing.  After five minutes I came into agreement with God which lasted for a month.  I still had doubts about whether I was being religious.  I got back into watching t.v again.  I just wanted to tell you that those doubts cleared away when you (Pastor Derek) shared the fact that you yourself do not watch t.v. for certain purposes.  This year I renewed my vow with God and it has set me free from that addiction as well as a plagued mind and heart!  

 

A few days before the beginning of this year 2009, I spoke to a friend of mine.  Since her and I are involved in youth ministry, I really felt that the Lord wanted to prepare us in prayer before we give out to others. I told her that, " we need to spend consistent time with the Lord".  She came into agreement with me and we started spending that consistent time with the Lord.  The funny thing was that your first sermon of the year was, " The Power of a Continual Devotional Life".  It's amazing how God speaks.  He's so creative and full of surprises!  When I read the title of your sermon I almost fell off my chair!!  Hahaha.  It even stirred up my heart to encourage the youth to commit themselves to spend consistent time with God for one month which eventually led to a continuum.  Praise the Lord!!!!!!     

 

Quite recently, I was telling a friend of mine that I was not able to get a job because I was being prepared by the Lord in prayer.  I wasn't even aware of what I was saying but I left it at that.  Couple days after, as I was praying…

My name is Justina.  I wanted to share a testimony about what God has been doing in my life through listening to Pastor Derek's sermons.  Praise the King of kings!  

Couple years ago I became addicted to watching television. I would watch it all day long and it became my entertainment.  I would ignore phone calls just to watch t.v.  One day as I was praying I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to stop watching t.v for a year.  I stood in silence because I was shocked that He would ask such a thing.  I thought I was being religious and just making this up.  However, I began to think about the reason behind it all. Then I thought that only good can come out of it because it's not a bad thing.  After five minutes I came into agreement with God which lasted for a month.  I still had doubts about whether I was being religious.  I got back into watching t.v again.  I just wanted to tell you that those doubts cleared away when you (Pastor Derek) shared the fact that you yourself do not watch t.v. for certain purposes.  This year I renewed my vow with God and it has set me free from that addiction as well as a plagued mind and heart!  

A few days before the beginning of this year 2009, I spoke to a friend of mine.  Since her and I are involved in youth ministry, I really felt that the Lord wanted to prepare us in prayer before we give out to others. I told her that, " we need to spend consistent time with the Lord".  She came into agreement with me and we started spending that consistent time with the Lord.  The funny thing was that your first sermon of the year was, " The Power of a Continual Devotional Life".  It's amazing how God speaks.  He's so creative and full of surprises!  When I read the title of your sermon I almost fell off my chair!!  Hahaha.  It even stirred up my heart to encourage the youth to commit themselves to spend consistent time with God for one month which eventually led to a continuum.  Praise the Lord!!!!!!     

Quite recently, I was telling a friend of mine that I was not able to get a job because I was being prepared by the Lord in prayer.  I wasn't even aware of what I was saying but I left it at that.  Couple days after, as I was praying and fasting I felt led to read Joshua.  Even though I wasn't supposed to be listening to my ipod I felt led to listen to one of your sermons.  It was "His Kingdom, Your Purpose: Pursuing Your Purpose Part 1" sermon. As I was listening, you started talking about the promised land.  Then you mentioned, " God will often prepare you to receive your promised land in unlikely challenging and difficult places" which spoke to me because I have been jobless for over a year after finishing my undergrad.  Then you went on saying, "No matter where you are currently placed even though it might not be your promised land yet, be a faithful servant" and "God could be putting you in a time where prayer and preparation is required to step into your destiny".  I was blown away after hearing this!  The whole sermon was entirely for me. God was confirming to me about preparing me in prayer!!  

As I was there for this year's Three days in His Presence it took me so much closer to God!!  I had dreams about God that really shook me.  It took me to another place in the prophetic!  

Thank you for always talking about prayer.  I get so enouraged to spend more time with God when I hear about it.  

Justina