SWHW Bible Reading Plan: July 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Alonda Tanner:

Do you ever talk about your testimony? How often do you find yourself thinking about the moment God stepped into your life and showed you exactly who He is; or the moment He saved you from what you couldn't escape on your own? 

Maybe He brought you out of addiction. 

It could be that He rescued you from the many deceptions embedded in various religions and philosophies adopted by our culture. 

Your story might include healing in your body or the renewing of your mind. 

Or maybe, your testimony is like Nebuchadnezzar's, where God saved him from himself. 

We often treat our testimonies as though they're delicate. We protect them from anyone who might criticize or question the freedom we experience or the newness of our character. For those reasons, we're careful. We try to keep our testimonies in safe circles. Sometimes we protect them so well that the ears that need to hear them never do. 

In Daniel 4, we get a summary of King Nebuchadnezzar's testimony. He didn't go deep into detail, but what he does share with us is gritty. 

He lost his entire kingdom (Daniel 4:31).

He was exiled to the wilderness, lived among the beasts, and ate grass like the oxen (Daniel 4:32). 

His hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds’ claws (Daniel 4:33).

He quite literally lost his mind. 

Can you imagine sharing this downfall with crowds of people? If I were to put myself in Nebuchadnezzar's shoes, I'd be tempted to keep those parts to myself. In a way, it feels safer, like we can escape the judgment of people if we just leave out the hard stuff. (Can you relate?)

Something happened while Nebuchadnezzar was in this low place that was worth sharing. It changed his life and drastically impacted his kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar experienced the reality of God, His sovereignty, and His grace. He shares this realization in Daniel 4:34, 

“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” 

After the way Nebuchadnezzar ran his kingdom, the people needed to hear from him who God really was. They needed to see his reverence for Him. He proclaimed the goodness of God before (see the story of the fiery furnace in Daniel Chapter 3), but he was quick to forget. 

Through his exile and the series of lows he experienced,  Nebuchadnezzar was reminded there is one God and He is worth serving with our entire being.

His testimony allowed the people of his kingdom the opportunity to join him in turning from their old ways and living for God. Our testimonies have the same power. 

I want to challenge you to start talking about the ways God has shown up for you in your life. For someone out there, freedom in Christ is on the other side of your testimony. I'm praying God gives every one of us the boldness to share our stories with the ones who need to hear them. 

God, You are the biggest and most important part of our stories. Each person reading this has a powerful testimony of how You've changed their heart and life. Today I'm asking for the boldness and the discernment for each of us to know how and when to share the good news of what you've done in our lives with people who need to hear it. We don't want Your goodness to be a mystery or a secret. The world needs to know exactly who You are. So we ask for You to strengthen us, individually and as a church body, so our stories are used for Your glory and so the people You love can find You. In Jesus' name, Amen.