Lord, Do It Again
by Gilly Mathiesen
The Hebrew root of the word ‘testimony’ is ‘uwd’ and means ‘repeat, return, do it again’ as well as ‘restore, exhort and bear witness’. Each time we share testimony, we are speaking life to the hearers as we bear witness to the goodness of God, causing faith to be built, that He can do it again. If He did it for that person, He can do it for you and me. ‘Uwd’ also means ‘encircle or surround’, and I can’t help but think of a beautiful, comforting, and protective blanket when I hear these words. What a precious thought that we are ‘surrounded’ when testimonies are shared, with God’s love, truth and the faith that He can do it again!
Maybe you are reading these words today, struggling with one or more situations in your own life. Health issues, family issues, marital strife, loss, discouragement and hopelessness can hit many of us at different times of our lives. We all need a fresh injection of hope and courage when we are struggling, and testimonies can be the perfect antidote.
Psalm 145:3-7 gives a wonderful example of the power of testimonies, where David writes enthusiastically about God’s amazing works and intervention in the lives of God’s people and His mighty acts being shared from one generation to the other: ‘Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise … One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts … They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness’.
In Psalm 77, the psalmist Asaph is in a place of distress and is looking to God to ‘do it again’ as he cries out to Him in despair. He asks ‘Will He never show His favour again?’ (verse 7b). Almost halfway through Asaph changes his focus from himself, his own doubts and despair to reflecting over the powerful testimonies of the Most High’s deeds from the past. He reminds himself of God’s faithfulness in past generations, His great works and miracles, as he makes his supplication to the Lord: ‘I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds’ (verse 9).
Asaph pens Psalm 78 with even greater detail about the testimonies of his forebears and how the Lord commanded them to teach their offspring of the Lord’s ways and of His deeds. I can’t help but think that it was a command because the Lord knows how powerful testimony is in building faith and trust that He can and will do it again.
Jesus paid such a precious price with His own blood, so that you and I could overcome the enemy of our souls, experience God’s love and forgiveness, and have testimonies to share with one another. If you are needing the Lord to intervene in your life, I encourage you to read the psalms mentioned. Also remind yourself of how God has moved in your life in the past, and in the lives of those around you to let faith rise that He can and will do it again.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You have moved powerfully in the past and You can move powerfully in my situation now. I choose to trust that You will do it again for me and those I am praying for. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Gilly Mathiesen Gilly has a heart to see broken lives healed. She got involved in Christian ministry at a young age, working as a missionary for some years, as well as teaching at a Christian school. She has been involved with Ellel Ministries for the past 10 years and trained and worked on the team in Northern Ireland before moving to Denmark in 2016. She and her husband Steen have been pioneering an Ellel work there since early 2018. They long to see people healed and set free to be all that God has designed them to be.
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