DRUSILLA L. HALL Everyone, thank God out loud

"Oh, I hope they don't call on me to testify today," I thought, as the testimony service began at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in my Pennsylvania hometown.
I was just a little girl, but every now and then the grown-ups would ask each of us children to stand up and tell what God had done for us. I was shy, and I didn't like to talk in front of groups. But because I knew that the leaders in our church would not take "no" for an answer, I started putting a testimony together in my mind.
"Giving honor to God, pastor, deacons, members and friends, I want to thank and praise God for waking me up this morning, clothed in my right mind. I want to thank him for giving me health and strength. And for giving us food to eat, a place to live and clothes to wear. All you that know the word of prayer, pray much for me. Pray my strength in the Lord."
And then I could sit down.
This was my standard testimony, made up of words I had been hearing people stand up in church and say ever since I could understand the meaning of words. But as a child, standing to give a testimony had no meaning to me. I felt like people just said the same thing every Sunday, and I could not see the benefit of this.
Quieting evil
Now that I am older, I understand better why the leaders at our church would make the children stand and testify. They knew the power there is in praising God. Psalm 107:42 says that when the righteous rejoice about God's goodness, wickedness stops its mouth.
Can you imagine? When people who believe in God talk about God's goodness, evil has to be quiet. No wonder the church leaders encouraged all of us to speak about the good things God had done for us. They wanted to quiet the room from doubt, fears and other evil tidings. They didn't care if we said the same thing every Sunday about the goodness of God. They just wanted to make sure that God was thanked and praised.
Do you want to silence the enemy of your soul? Start thanking God out loud. Do you want to stop feeling weighted down by the bad things in your life? Start talking about the good things God has done for you. Even if you have to begin by saying the same thing every time you speak about God's goodness, know that there is a benefit. When evil is silenced, more good can be accomplished. The more you speak about God's goodness, the more you will eventually have to tell.
Remember: If God has been good to you, let somebody know. If he has made a way for you, don't hesitate, say so!
XDrusilla L. Hall lives in Sharon, Pa., with her husband and their four children. The family attends the Church of God.