Here are instructions for using the EZ Witness Testimonial Tool to demonstrate how we struggle and fail when we try to resolve our problems on our own but how God can help if we only ask. Click this link to download the following detailed instructions as a pdf file: EZ Witness Tool Quick Instructions For Overcoming Struggles
EZ Witness Tool Quick Instructions for Overcoming Life’s Struggles
Life throws a lot at us, doesn’t it? Many times throughout our lives our circumstances can be overwhelming. Financial worries, stress at our jobs, personal or family illness, marital strife, addictions, accidents, and so many other undesirable issues are hurled at us every day by our adversary, the devil. We try and try to overcome our daily struggles but just can’t seem to come out on top. We often feel like for every step forward we end up falling two steps backwards. We tend to go at it on our own and try to fix our own problems. We are a stubborn, stiff-necked people who look to ourselves in our own pride and arrogance thinking that we have the power to control our own destiny. In fact, we don’t and we certainly don’t want to admit that we need help. It is also difficult in hard times to see beyond the turmoil to consider that there may be a purpose for our current trials. In times like these it is so important to realize that we have a resource waiting and ready to help.
The Bible has much to say about this. The key passage on this subject is found in Jeremiah 17:5-9
“Thus says the Lord:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.””
The Bible tells us in Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” We are instructed in Proverbs 3:4-6 to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
God’s promise is not for a trouble free life but that He will always be there to help us as we are told in Isaiah 41:10 “ Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” How often do we look to God for help in dire situations? Psalm 34: 17-19 states that:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Do we spend time in prayer and in His Word to seek His help as we are instructed to in John 15:7
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”?
Joshua 1:9, Psalm 50:15, and Philippians 4:6-7 shows us that God is ever present and ready to help if we just put away our pride, ask, and be thankful.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We need to realize that God who was capable of creating everything we see, feel, hear, and taste can fix any problem we bring to His attention and ask Him to take care of as we are told in Jeremiah 32:27
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Isaiah 40:30-31 tells us that putting our Hope in God has awesome benefits:
” Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
The EZ WitnessTestimonial Tool can demonstrate trusting in ourselves and contrast it to asking and trusting God to help.
- Start the presentation with the sliding component in the position that the black surface is visible in its open area.
| The black area is the pride and arrogance that keeps us from realizing our need for help. It also can represent our problem that we are focusing on. |
| The red surface represents the opportunity for help we are afforded through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross |
| The white edges are the partial successes we have at resolving our own problems. |
| This moveable component represents us as we try to work toward a resolution to our problems |
| This end represents the goal of a resolved issue or struggle overcome. |
| Using the protruding pins or by simply using your thumb on the top of the sliding component, push it to the left toward the representation of the goal. A force will be felt pushing back as we attempt to solve our problems on our own because of our pride. |
- Push the sliding component toward the solid end of the main body.
- Point out and explain the resistance encountered and the gap that cannot be closed when the slider is pushed as far as it will go. No matter how hard we try on our own to reach the goal we can never quite overcome the struggle or problem we are facing and obtain the goal of complete resolution.
- Let go of the sliding component and reveal that it moves away from the solid portion of the main body on its own. This demonstrates how things like addictions can destroy any progress we may have achieved on our own.
- Repeat the actions of steps two and four several times for emphasis. Optionally hand the tool to the audience member and let him or her try it as well.
- Push the sliding component to line up the short pins with the first pair of grooves in the main body.
| Using the protruding pins or by simply using your thumb on the top of the sliding component, push it to the left toward the representation of the goal until the short pins line up with the first pair of grooves our pride. This shows our part in desiring to work toward a solution. |
- Press down on the end of sliding component where the long pins are to release the opposite end from the track. Alternately, push up on the sliding component at the end where the short pins are located by inserting a finger through the bottom hole. This is the point where we recognize that we can’t fix our own problems or overcome our difficulties without help and we turn to God and ask for His help through the blood of Christ.
- Push the released, pivoting sliding component away from the solid area of the main body.
- Continue pivoting the sliding component over as you line up the short pins with the middle pair of grooves to re-insert it back into the track.
- Hold the sliding component in place once it is back in its track using the two long pins protruding out each side of the track. Our pride is gone being replaced by the redemptive work of the cross.
| Christ’s blood shed on the cross applied to our problems or struggles replaces the pride in our heart that prevented us from being successful at finding a resolution to our problems on our own. |
11. Release hold of the sliding component and it will snap to the goal on its own leaving no gap between you and the goal.
| The previous gap is gone and the problem is fully resolved. We can be rest assured that whatever problem or struggle we were facing has been totally removed. Be sure to give thanks to the Lord for providing the help we needed. |
12 Press down on the right end of the sliding component in this position to flip it back over (or press up through the left hole in the bottom), line up the short pins with the right most pair of grooves and push it back into its track to reset the tool. God Bless!
