It took seven years from the time the Lord set me free from sin to the moment I felt strong enough in my faith to share it. Sharing publicly was something I never planned on doing, but God had me do just that. Before I shared, two good friends told me how foolish I was to do such a thing…that I would lose everything…my family…my future…my ministry.

But according to God’s Word in 1 Corinthians 1:27, God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. He has chosen the weak things of this world to show forth His great strength! Bless the Lord! As I learn more about laying down my life for the sake of others, I know I must become more and more transparent. It is through a transparent life that His light is free to shine. And when His light is allowed to shine through freely, His power is released to do far more than we ever imagined. No other god could ever do what my God does! No other god can take a homosexual and make him a new person with new desires. No other god could take a prostitute and make her a completely new person with new desires. No other god has the answers for the questions and problems of today like our God…..Lord Jesus!

I will never forget the first time I shared my story publicly. Expecting to be humiliated, I came away feeling…honored! How great is a God Who could do that for someone? After I shared, I stood at the altar for almost 2 hours as person after person came to me and thanked me for sharing my story…because the grace God had given me to be honest had given them the faith to believe for that same grace. Many told me of heart-wrenching hurts and failures in their lives and how God had healed them simply by getting honest about their hurts and failures!

It may seem foolish to the world to say that God has changed my identity, but the truth is that He has! It may seem weak to admit I could not rescue myself or that I was a complete and utter failure or that I was trapped without hope in my depravity…but the moment I got honest with God about my need…about my weakness…I was set free and given a brand new identity in Christ…and what seemed foolish has been shown to bring eternal wisdom because I see what God sees rather than what the enemy wants me to see.

I glory in my weakness, because it gives me a better view of my need for a Savior. I glory in my physical weakness of Parkinson’s because it gives me a better view of how God wastes nothing in my life. I glory in the times of mental anguish and temptation because it helps me focus on my absolute and utter need for rescue and redemption. I glory in my weakness because God’s grace really is sufficient to meet me at the point of my need and His strength.

God’s Word says in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NASB:

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

I will never forget the freedom I found in finally going public with my testimony the first time in July of 1988. As I look back I easily see the simplicity of the wisdom found in John 8:32 which says…“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

I never got free until I took the first step truth requires…and that was my own honest confession of my need for Jesus. He had the power to change me. I did not. He had the power to love me. I did not. He had the power to restore me. I did not. He had the power to heal me of my sin and rid me of my shame. I did not!

Let’s purpose to walk in God’s grace in the coming days. As long as the world has sin in it, there is need for God’s grace. As long as the world brings temptation our way, there is a need for grace. As long as we exist, there is a need for God’s grace…and the best part of all? He offers it freely…so get yourself some grace today and walk in victory…by allowing the Lord to be the strength of your life!
Dennis Jernigan

To listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast on this subject and to hear a song inspired by what he has learned about God being the strength of his life, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/you-are-the-strength-of-my-life/

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