Our Testimonies: Jessica Colwell

Worshiping God is the most precious thing to me. No matter where I am, it instantly becomes my “thin place” where I can look beyond what I see in the natural.

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I’m SO excited to introduce my readers to this beautiful woman and finish off my Testimonies series with her powerful story of the Father’s redemptive love!

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Jessica is one of those women you just need in your corner. I heard parts of her testimony the night I met her at a Moms in the Making homegroup and was just blown away with her story. Over the last year or so we’ve gotten to know each other better and she’s just the sweetest. I was able to confide in Jessica back in April about things happening in my heart and then was able to celebrate with her when Holy Spirit answered some of my questions and calmed some of my fears.

Do you need more hope? More joy? More Jesus? Then you need this girl in your life!!

Speaking of things I love, Jessica is on the board with Moms in the Making and this weekend we’re having the 3rd annual conference in Irving, TX. Girls, it’s not too late to join us! Want more info? Head to the website HERE! Or just show up at the conference and pay at the door. Either way, you just have to BE THERE!


HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LIFE BEFORE JESUS?

I grew up in a Christian home where I knew from a very early age, who Jesus is and what He had done for me. I think in some sense not having a deep personal relationship with Him until I was in my 20s made life until then more painful and emotionally and mentally exhausting as well.

The analogy that comes to mind, would be like going on a hike and getting lost in the woods without your backpack. Knowing you had a home but trying in your power to get back there without using a map, phone, flashlight, or really any kind of help. Knowing you have all the tools to get you home, but not being able to access them is an awful place to be.

The good news is that He was always there, I was never really lost, and I just needed to have the faith to look up and see that He had His arms stretched out the whole time waiting for me to seek Him.


HOW DID YOU MEET JESUS? THE HOLY SPIRIT? GOD AS FATHER?

I had this realization during my freshman year in college that I had been striving to make sense of a lot of things. I somehow thought that I had to dictate how much I was worth to Him, when really God had deemed me worthy of all His love from the moment He created me. In one weekend Father highlighted Psalm 139 to me several times in public and in private.

As I heard and read that all weekend, it hit me on that Saturday evening that Father was with me always and more than that, He created me, He deemed me worthy, He loved me, and I did nothing to deserve any of it. I didn’t need to strive, I just needed to receive.

As I looked back on the not-so-good moments of my life, the ones that I thought defined me, I saw Jesus’ loving arms holding me in each one and I was no longer a victim, but instead, a child of God who stood in an unshakable place of victory from the moment Jesus died on the cross! He was and is bigger than any trouble or trial that comes in life.


HOW DO YOU JOURNAL OR TRACK WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TEACHING YOU? WHAT DOES YOUR QUIET TIME TYPICALLY LOOK LIKE?

I always start my day by giving thanks to God for all that I have and what is around me. When I stop to pause and give thanks for a comfortable bed (that I don’t want to get out of most mornings), by the time I get to my Bible, I am in this state of awe and wonder of just how sweet and in every detail He is.

By that time, He has usually placed a song on my heart and I start my conversation where we left off the previous night. Worshiping God is the most precious thing to me. No matter where I am, it instantly becomes my “thin place” where I can look beyond what I see in the natural and see into the supernatural realm of where His tangible presence is.

It’s just me and Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is where my “quiet time” starts and it is just an ongoing time that continues throughout the day.


WHAT SCRIPTURE(S) DO YOU GO BACK TO WHEN YOU’RE STRUGGLING WITH FEELINGS OF ANXIETY, FEAR, WORRY, ETC.? WHAT DO YOU DO TO BUILD YOUR FAITH?


IF YOU’RE WILLING TO SHARE, WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE PROPHETIC WORDS SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU? HOW ARE YOU STEWARDING THAT PROPHECY?

A little over two years ago, I received a sweet prophetic card from one of the ladies on our intercessor team at church. In the card, she wrote Luke 8:10 which reads, “You have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God’s kingdom realm.” She went on to write that even my name means, “foresighted” and how God would use my stories to encourage and help other women in their time of need. Reading that card was like holding a beautiful key to a door that just appeared right in front of me. My life has never been, and will never be, the same because of that. It enables me to walk boldly into things that I would have been timid about before because I am reminded that it is not what I see, but what He sees in me.


JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS THAT I’M CURIOUS ABOUT! WHAT SONG DO YOU HAVE ON REPEAT THESE DAYS? WHAT ARE YOU READING THAT IS CHANGING YOU?

In no particular order (and probably way more than you asked for):

I’ve been in Romans for some time now and it is just so refreshing and renewing for this season that I am.

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on juliehills.squarespace.com.

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Julie is a lover of Jesus, His Word, and His people. She lives in Dallas with her husband and two Golden Retrievers. When she's not blogging, she can be found in her teardrop trailer glamping in the mountains, photographing a beautiful family in the DFW metroplex, or learning a new song on the guitar. After trying for babies for almost a decade, she fostered an incredible 7-year-old little girl who she remains in contact with to this day. Each day is an adventure and Holy Spirit is teaching her how to trust Him through it all.

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