Before I came to God’s Lighthouse (GLH), I didn’t know that a young believer had to be followed up on and cared for deliberately to help them stand. I gave my life to Christ before coming here, but I fell back into the world because I had no one following up and no one I was accountable to. But coming here, I have seen a difference, and I have been able to stand, as I am still being worked on by the Lord.
Monday, the 13th of January 2025, marked two years since I joined GLH. I’m thankful to God for the family He has given me here in Uyo, for the teachings in this house, and for the knowledge and understanding I have gained through the years. I thank God for the different structures that exist which have helped my work with God.
I have undergone a couple of deliverances in the course of my stay here, and will be highlighting three in this testimony.
My Struggle with Depression
I was someone who never loved being scolded or corrected. If I did something wrong and I was scolded or called some names in the process of being corrected, I would become angry and sad, and I might not talk to anyone for days. Sometimes, I would not be able to eat for the whole day, and I would constantly cry myself to sleep after analysing the names I was called.
For instance, if I were told that I didn’t have common sense, I would brood over that statement for days and harbour hatred and anger against the person who said those words to me. This also made me hate my aunt and her mother.
This depression got to the point where I started having suicidal thoughts. I told God that I wanted to die, but I never tried hurting myself. Thoughts of leaving the house I stayed in at the time also came, but I didn’t have enough courage to be foolish like that.
Coming to GLH, I heard a lot of teaching on the best way to handle offences and how to forgive properly. I learnt that unforgiveness can hinder your prayers from being answered and that when you harbour unforgiveness, you are the one bearing the burden alone, which causes depression, and it can also affect your health.
I obeyed what I was hearing and went on to pray as Pastor taught us. I asked God to forgive all those who have wronged me, instead of only saying “I forgive this person, or that person.” I also presented my hurts to Him to heal me. I typed a long message to my aunt and her mother asking them to forgive me for the times I had wronged them too. They forgave me, and now we are on good terms! I thank God for this because it has brought great peace to my heart.
Deliverance from Stealing and Lying
I used to take a lot of things that didn’t belong to me, ranging from money to foodstuffs such as beverages. Most times, I would be caught, and I would lie and be beaten for lying, but that didn’t stop me from stealing.
It got to a point that my aunty whom I lived with, had to lock the beverages in her room when stepping out of the house, because if she didn’t, when I came back from school, I would sip garri with it. And if I was asked, I would deny.
I thank God that now I have self-control. I fear taking what doesn’t belong to me. I wonder what that very act would have graduated to.
During the holiday in August last year, I went home and my grandma was giving out some of her clothes and bags. She gave me some bags. I searched one of the bags and found ₦6,000 and her hospital card inside. One voice told me to take it, but another rebuked me, and I returned the money with the card. My grandma was very happy and thanked me for making her richer by returning the money. Apparently, she had forgotten that it was there.
In December as well, I went to visit her again and she gave me some of her clothes to wash for her. Majority of the clothes had pockets. I found a ₦200 note in one of the pockets, and that voice came again and asked me to take it. But I told myself that I wouldn’t do such a thing, and that even if it was ₦50, I would return it.
I went on to find more money in the pockets of five more clothes. All the money I found totalled ₦2,600, with a receipt I also found. It was clear to me that it was a test, so I took it all and returned it to my grandma. This is something I wouldn’t have done in the past.
I thank God for the massive change in my life. I thank Him that I no longer steal or tell lies.
A Love for the Bible
Lastly, I am thanking God for helping me love the Bible. To me, the Bible was only for Sundays. Even when I tried reading at some point, I didn’t understand it because of the KJV version I was using. I am not saying that the KJV version is bad, but it is advisable to use a simpler version for better understanding if you are having difficulties comprehending what is being read.
Anytime I managed to read the Bible, I would only read Proverbs and some parts of Psalms. The rest were high-sounding to me, and the Book of Revelation was like a forbidden book to read.
Today, I have been able to cover my Bible from Genesis to Revelation twice. And this year, I am aiming to complete it again.
I thank God for the kind of Pastor He has given us in this house, who not only teaches from the Scriptures but also encourages us to go and read it up ourselves. I also thank God for my shepherd and my sub-shepherd, the older brethren in church who were assigned to take care of me and help my walk with God. They are always on my matter, ensuring that I stay accountable.
I bless the Lord for all these good things He has done.
— Sis G. N
15th Jan 2025
© God’s Lighthouse 2025
