Full-Time Training - Testimonies

Thou Hast Established Praise, Kristen Bekker

I consider it a great privilege that the Lord has given me two years here in the Full-Time Training in Anaheim (FTTA). The time I've had in the Training has really enlarged my experience and enjoyment of Christ and I can testify that having passed through these two years, I now know Christ in a deeper, sweeter, and richer way than I knew Him before I came to the training. As I've come to know the Lord more here, I have found that unmistakably, Christ gets more and more enjoyable. Two years of classes--instead of bringing me into complex theological study--have enlarged my appreciation of Christ. Two years of fellowship, prayer, and experiences in my house, my team, and my service has enlarged my enjoyment of Him.

Just as in the Old Testament the children of Israel were allotted various portions of the good land, I have enjoyed a particular God-allotted portion of Christ in the FTTA. One area of the Training in which I have enjoyed the Lord to the uttermost has been in my service. Since partway through my first term, I have been serving with the staff of Continuing Steadfastly, a publication of the FTTA. My top enjoyment in this service has been praying with the other trainees on the staff. Time after time, we have gathered together to pray, fellowship, coordinate, and deal with the work at hand. I have found that our true supply came not from merely getting items of business accomplished, but rather, from touching the throne of grace. Many times, we simply practiced looking away from the messy earth to the bright heavens. As we prayed not for our needs but simply to touch the Lord, our eyes left ourselves and turned to our wonderful Lord Jesus.

After many such times of prayer, I have begun to see that when I get with others and look away unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), I can't help but enjoy Him. When we look at Him, we see the One who is worthy of all of our praise; then, seeing such a One, we spontaneously love and appreciate Him. By our praising Him, not only does He get exalted, but also, we get saved. Sometimes I've come to our meetings feeling very down and utterly lacking in energy, but as I've practiced to simply open my mouth to praise the Lord, I've gotten saved from my mood, from self, and from everything else.

I'm so glad I could be here in the FTTA. Enjoying the Lord in so many conditions, and situations, regardless of my feelings, has been a real salvation. I trust that the Lord will continue to enlarge my enjoyment of Him and continually open my mouth to praise Him.

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