I remember the way your smile rewrote every tragedy in my bones. Short poem by Allie Michelle
“They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death”. Revelation 12:11 KJV
This verse describes believers’ victory over Satan, the accuser, during a cosmic spiritual battle. The “blood of the Lamb” signifies Christ’s atoning sacrifice, while “the word of their testimony” emphasizes the believer’s active role in declaring and living out their faith
The great significance of this verse is that there are two characteristics of the believers that will be called unto eternity with God.
The first characteristic is that the believers that have relied upon the blood of Jesus to save them. They did not believe that church doctrine, rituals and rules or their own hard work, at being good or perfect, earned them any salvation benefit.
The second characteristic is their testimony. This testimony is not recounting personal experiences in detail. It is not to bring any attention to the person giving the testimony. Your testimony is strictly sharing what God has done for you and how it has changed you. Your testimony is how you came to know God through the work of the Holy Spirit. How God is presently working in your life today.
The best testimony you can give is not to start off with any words. SMILE. Always in every situation or circumstance have a smile on your face.
A Smile builds trust, lowers stress, and triggers emotional contagion, making people around you feel instantly safer, happier, and more willing to connect with you.
One smiling person can change the mood of a room full of people. Why? Because when people see a smile, “mirror neurons” fire in their brains and evoke a similar neural response that makes them feel like they are smiling themselves and before they know it they are smiling. And that smile makes them feel happier and they are likely to have a more positive attitude toward you.
Is there such a thing as a “fake” smile? Yes! People will recognize that smile immediately and your testimony is wasted. Fake smiles show that you have not let the Holy Spirit change you from the inside and you just want to look like you are changed. You are whitewashed.
You need what is called a Duchenne Smile. This is a genuine, heartfelt smile that engages both the mouth and the eyes. It signals true happiness and at peace with God. Fake smiles only move the mouth while a true deep smile of the Holy Spirit reaches the eyes. It raises your whole face to reflect God without saying a word.
Smiling, from the heart, is singing while in prison with your feet shackled to the floor.
Smile everywhere you go. As you walk through the door, consciously put a smile on your face, and as you walk down the aisles or stand in line. You’ll be amazed at how often you’ll get a look of surprise when they see you smiling. You just changed their mood, and their day is instantly better, and you have not said a word.
A smile is the very first, silent expression of an inner peace. It acts as the opening note of your personal testimony because it shows God’s joy, grace, and transforming power at work in your heart before you even speak a single word.
You are smiling because you have accepted the Father’s sacrifice of His Son as the only way to be saved for eternity. Once you allow the Holy Spirit to convince you of that saving grace and stop working at being good and believing that doctrines will save you. The weight will be lifted off your shoulders, and your face will show genuine love with your smile.
Negativity or condemnation about circumstances, government, politics, sins and problems in this world will not bring people to God. God did not send His Son to condemn so why would you do it in person or online with any post? A person does not want to see or experience the god of a negative or condemning person.
The moon does not have any light in and of itself. You only see it because it reflects the light of the sun.
You can be a moon that reflects the light of God this morning with a Duchenne Smile on your face.
Your Testimony is the bridge to God’s ministry.
Remember it is not a religion, it is a relationship.
Prayers for all.
Larry
Unbolt The Door To Your Heart 