I have a very dear friend from the Philippines who I’ve seen grow so beautifully in the last year in the Lord. She has walked the path that many of us walk until we finally “get it!” 
Her Testimony:
Thirty six years ago, with many faithful Christians praying for my salvation, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in one of the Christian Universities in my hometown. After school that night, I walked home singing, rejoicing that all of my sins were forgiven. The following morning, I shared what I did the night before with my family and everyone thought I was CRAZY. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, that was the first and one of the Happy chapters of my life.
Today I would like to share with you how Satan made me a slave THEN, and how I wanted to be a servant of the Greatest Master of all….Jesus Christ!
It Began with a Green Banana
This reminds me of:
Psalm 139:14 “I will Praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
HE is the Only One who we can look upon us in awe of how HE fashioned us. Back then I didn’t know what life was all about. I knew nothing about God’s purpose and the plans He had for me. I had no excuse, though. WHY??? Back then I had the BIBLE – HIS Word, which has everything for me to know about HIM and His plans and purpose for my life.
However I made a choice: To do nothing …like this yellow banana. It just ripens in time without doing nothing which leads to DESTRUCTION. It was an opportunity for Satan to have a hold of me, making a big place for me to be his slave. He tells me lies, many deceitful schemes, which we know he has many, because I DON’T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE of the WORD. All I did then was to listen to all his lies, followed everything he told me to do, make me feel good about myself. And of course, he made me believe that it was OKAY… BUT IT IS NOT.
This is what happened to me. This overly ripe banana is not edible; just like my Spiritual walk. I was not pleasing in God’s sight. If you let this banana stay for another week, fruit flies will come and contaminate it. Then they are going to have a party eating the whole banana, like my spiritual life, with wrong, unrighteous choices (doing nothing was one of them). I became rotten inside like this banana, allowing the forces of evil to RUIN my life.
My life then was a MESS! I never thought of:
- the consequences/struggles I have to face
- griefs to bear
- guilts to haunt me
- shame to know that I am a Christian
- hurts I will carry
- and the lists goes on…….
The time in my life came when I felt so helpless; not only physically exhausted, but spiritually hungry and thirsty for His presence in my life. The God of the Bible specializes in giving help and hope, regardless of how guilty or weak I was – I was beyond help.
Luke 5:32 Jesus said: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Jesus seeks the lowly ones when others do not care. His loving-kindness, faithfulness and His help, He longs with us to share. God is my Redeemer!!!
HE rescued me like this frozen rotten banana. God picked me up from the pit of despair and froze me. On Sunday July 20, 2008, I re-dedicated my life COMPLETELY to JESUS CHRIST to be HIS humble servant! Nineteen days later, HE started delivering HIS promises!
John 8:36 “So if the Son (who is Jesus Christ) sets you free, you will be free indeed”…..now I am FREE from Satan’s SLAVERY! Thank you JESUS:-)
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that the Lord has not forgotten HIS people: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
My Relationship with God is now RECONCILED, RENEWED and REFRESHED or I may say RE-FROZEN…like this frozen rotten banana. HE is now RESTORING my life with all of HIS Resources (the Bible) which I need, to recover everything that was taken away from me by the enemy. GOD is my Rebuilder! After I am set FREE (Thank you Jesus), He doesn’t care about my past failures, stupid mistakes, and wrong choices.
He cares completely for who I am, one of HIS greatest creations whom He can: teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness that I may be thoroughly equipped for every good work for HIS kingdom and have a relationship with Him. Whatever I do for Him, I do because I love Him; not because I am trying to get something from Him for He already gave Himself on the cross for you and me.
Hebrews 13:5 Is the greatest assurance we have where He promised: “I will never leave you , never will I forsake you.” God is true to HIS promises, He Delivers! With God’s faithfulness, now I can stand back and watch Him manage my MESS into a GLORIOUS outcome. ( I can see curious George – hahahaha)
It’s Now All Banana Bread
I could hardly wait to see the final product of this testimony. ALL PRAISES TO HIM WHO LOVED ME in spite of what I’ve done before…What a LOVING FATHER!!
Pilar Delmo
Pilar, you are such an awesome lady and I love the fact that your testimony is unashamedly proclaimed to all you come into contact with. Truly you are banana bread! 
