King James Bible
King James Version (KJV)
Testimony: God Let Me Know He Was Real
Anonymous testimony "God Let Me Know He Was Real" on 11/12/2014, 10:14am...
So I think It's time for me to write my testimony. Probably a little past due. Sorry it's a bit long, I tried to make it as short as possible.
I'd like to start off with my upbringing. I had a good childhood. I was raised Mormon and was baptized when I was 8 to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but never truly believed. I quit going once I entered Jr High. High school came around and I started smoking weed, drinking and sloughing school. I distanced myself from my friends, all I cared about was smoking. Eventually I wasn't getting high off weed anymore so I switched to a drug called spice. The same thing happened with this, I wasn't getting high anymore but I kept smoking so I wouldn't feel sick from the withdrawals, it also made me feel normal and happy. I tried quitting a few times but went back to smoking again.
Eye Opening Experience
August 2014 was when it all changed for me. I tried quitting again but this time I wasn't just getting sick from the withdrawals, I thought my lungs were giving out on me. It felt like there was a constant scratch on my left lung and sometimes on my right. I went to the ER a couple times but they couldn't find anything wrong with me.
While all this was happening I was looking up other peoples testimonies and doing some research on Religion. I decided to give it a go, what harm could it do right? So I repented and asked for forgiveness.
During this whole experience I was sleeping upstairs to help with the withdrawals. One night I decided to pray again. After praying I layed down, 2 minutes later a storm literally came over my house and lightning was striking in the field next to my house and in the block up the street. ( There's windows all around my house so I could see everything, also this wasn't just a ordinary storm with trickling rain drops, it was an amazing experience and I thank God for showing me this, along with everything else hes shown me. God knows that for me seeing is believing and he's given me more than I could've imagined. )
Since I was laying next to windows and the lightning was so close I got up. Once the storm passed I laid back down. After laying there for a little bit I realized what just happened.
Why do I Think This Happened?
I believe God did this to show me he heard me, I was worried that he didn't hear me when I repented, for me seeing was believing. I'm sure people will try and say this was a coincidence but keep in mind this happened a couple minutes after I prayed, it didn't last more that 5 minutes, it was the end of summer/first week of Autumn, and the storm died after all this. I still remember watching the last lightning strike on the top of the hill. The rain was about 4 times the size it normally would be, I remember watching a jeep drive up the street and it looked like he was driving up a shallow river with the water splashing up to his windows. I wish I could explain this experience in detail. Something else I remember seeing is watching the lightning bolt hit in the field and watching the bolt spread and kinda jump on the ground.
Am I Following The Right Religion?
Now lets jump forward a couple weeks. During these 2 weeks I was praying, reading my bible and googling all these other religions, I realized the only way to God is through Jesus. All these other religions are teaching false doctrines and it bothered me that so many people are deceived so one night I broke down and started talking hoping God would hear me out... That night when I was sleeping I heard "Mark 7:7" twice, it woke me up but I didn't think anything of it so I went back to sleep.
I heard the same thing again, "Mark 7:7". ( now I want to explain how this sounded the best I can. I know it wasn't a thought because it was audible, like someone whispering in your ear but it was in my head and didn't come through my ear. That's the best I can explain it. ) This time when I woke up I remembered that there's a book in the bible called "The Gospel According to ST Mark".
So I opened up to Mark Chapter 7 verse 7 and this is what that verse says. "But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Keep in mind I've never read the Gospel According to St Mark. I read A couple chapters in Mathew and some in the old testament but that's it. This verse answered the question I asked that night. I believe I was shown this verse because I was thinking about going back to the Mormon church.
Now let me say this, I don't hate any religion. I come from a long line of Mormonism and honestly wouldn't be here if it weren't for that. I think a lot of people follow in their parents footsteps and I nearly did the same but I decided to pray and do some research.
I've had many more experiences with God that I could share but I think they're more meaningful if you have your own, this is just a overview of how I came to know God was real. The bible say if you seek you WILL find. But you need to repent and change your ways because sin blocks us from hearing God. God Bless you all :)