This issue of El Centinela is special—I would say very special—because it is the first issue in more than a century of continuous publications that consists only of testimonies of lives that were touched by God during times of crisis.
We are sharing twenty testimonies, ten written in Spanish and ten in English, for the purpose of strength-
ening our faith, knowing that if God worked miracles for other people during difficult times, He can do the same for us.
The Bible is full of stories that have been preserved by the Holy Spirit for our salvation. We are epistles written by God (see 2 Cor. 3:2, 3). I believe that there are three spiritual benefits of testifying about God’s power in our lives:
- It refreshes our memory. “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness” (Deut. 8:2).
- It increases empathy. “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).
- It increases positive emotions. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Phil. 2:1, 2).
May these testimonies remind us of God’s unbreakable love and purpose for our lives, that we may say with the psalmist: “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches” (Ps. 119:14).
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references in English are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Minervino Labrador is a pastor and serves as vice president of Multilingual Ministries for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. He writes from Silver Spring, Maryland.
