Today we’d like to introduce you to Imani Fisher
Hi Imani, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was always a person who believed God existed. That Heaven and Hell are real, and that as long as I was a good person, I’ll make it in. Obviously, that was the furthest thing from the truth.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and got baptized in 2021. I stopped doing all the things that no longer felt right to do once I made this decision.
Homosexuality? Check.
Smoking weed? Check.
Drinking alcohol? Check.
Pornography addiction? Check. Narcissistic tendencies? Check.
Just to name a few.
However, along the way in 2022 the world became more appeasing than being a new creation in Christ. So I found myself back living a lifestyle of homosexuality.
During the time of that relationship. Everything I was prior to accepting Jesus showed up x10. To describe in a nutshell who I used to be, imagine existing through 24 hours of a day, merely because you woke up to see it. Not because there was a true joyous emotion about it. Imagine wanting to believe you had some level of value. However, when you would reflect on yourself, the decisions you made, your heart behind those decisions only revealed the evil and wicked nature that dwelt within. I felt like a bad person, who could only could pretend to be good.
So for the next 7 months all of that showed up in high gear. Abuse, being controlling, lying, cheating, etc. and to think this was more appeasing than a God I barely took the time to even get to know. Truth is, for me, sinning was indeed pleasurable. Until it wasn’t.
Some may not see God in this next portion, but He was there. I would then find myself spending the next 3 days in Harris County Jail for a felony after that relationship came to a close. The fits of rage have finally caught up to me.
The first day, I’m in a psych ward
The second day, I’m in a holding cell with a bunch of other women.
But on the night of the 2nd day, I get assigned to maximum security to a cell by myself. The door slammed closed behind me, and every tear I kept in my eyes outside of these four walls came down instantly. I called out to three people in that moment. The first person was God, and I said “GOD, PLEASE GET ME OUT OF HERE!!”. I cried a little more to myself, whilst beating the cement walls. I called for my mom, “MOM, PLEASE COME AND GET ME”. Lastly, to the individual involved, “….PLEASE DONT DO THIS TO ME”, when in my heart I knew I did this to myself, and was pleading for mercy.
The 3rd day is what I received. I was awakened out of my sleep to my last name being called, to grab my things and go home.
Fast forward, I was invited to spend the next 2 months with my aunt and uncle in El Paso. I knew of my aunt and uncle but up until this point we had no real relationship. Being that they are Pastor and First Lady of a ministry in Alamogordo, NM. I was about to learn first hand what this walk really meant. I was blessed to see a Godly marriage, I learned so much about God, I went from just hanging out and doing what I wanted, to attending Monday night prayer, Tuesday night Bible study, Sunday services every week. Although it was difficult at first because I didn’t understand. I really started to have a reverence for God. I was filled with the Holy Spirit and started to speak in tongues there and it was just all coming together, so I knew without a shadow of a doubt, when I have my next court appearance. God got me.
So the next day after landing back in Houston I have my court date. My confidence is high, I’m in just great spirits about it all. I go to the court hearing, I see my court appointed attorney and she tells me, I won’t be seeing a judge today. In fact, she informs me I would be going back to jail. At that very moment. She stated I had another felony, the exact same charge, except this one pre dated the one I got arrested for initially.
I’m lost, I’m confused, I don’t understand, but my hands are tied, and there is nothing I could do at that point. So the bailiff let me keep my phone to gather phone numbers and things, and I did. I texted my aunt and uncle and my mom. Just informing them of what’s happening, but that I am okay and to not inform anybody of what’s happening. We mention peace that’s surpasses all understanding but I’ve lived it. I received a text from a friend of mine who simply stated they missed me, and that’s it’s been awhile. This individual had NO knowledge of me literally about to be handcuffed, but my reply was something around the lines of, “I miss you too, I’m a little busy though I have to go” with a red heart emoji.
I’m in another 3 days.
I go through intake.
I go through the whole process again, but now I meet with a public defender, to help show I’m not as wicked as the state of Texas can read. Here is where things take a turn mentally for me.
“Lord I just got done worshipping you, I just got filled with your Spirit, Lord I actually want to follow you now. WHY AM I HERE AGAIN!?!!?! I followed my bond agreement when you know every fiber in me didn’t want to, LORD I REMAINED AS FAITHFUL AS I COULD.” Are just a few things I thought to myself as I’m in court with my public
defender.
My bond is higher than the first time
I’m hearing about who I used to be. Everything is worse than the 1st time, but the process was exactly the same as far as how quickly things moved for me.
On the 2nd day, I get assigned to maximum security to a cell by myself. Again. The door slammed closed behind me, instead of crying, I just sat my items down on the desk, but engraved were the words “This too shall pass”. I said aloud “You right” and just sat on what I wouldn’t dare call a bed.
Time is just passing, I hear the screams of a young lady to the right of me. She was being tormented in her mind, but I prayed for her. I say that to say, yes I was in jail, but I wasn’t at the same time. I was more focused on me having class because I registered for school, my dentist appointment I was going to miss, everything outside of that cell.
I had moments of being frustrated and I didn’t have mighty words to pray, I didn’t recite any scripture, but I prayed from my heart. Every time doubt crept in about me being free from jail I said “Lord, I don’t know how you’re going to get me out of here, but I know you will”, “Lord, I didn’t do anything wrong this time to be back here, but I trust you”.
I knew overall from the moment I turned my back to God, I did this to myself. All I had was faith in God at that moment.
The 3rd day my faith in God didn’t fail me. Just like before I was awakened out of my sleep to my last name being called, to grab my things and go home “ATW” which means “All The Way.”
Short story longer…. That case was not only dismissed, but it was disposed of as well. It does not hinder me AT ALL to this very day.
Although, this is just a portion of my testimony. I know it conveys God’s mercy and grace. It conveys how God is the true source of peace, it’s a depiction of various scriptures, such as, faith the size of mustard seed can move a mountain, how if you submit to God and resist the devil he will flee. So many Bible verses I now see in this one situation. I’ll never understand how God even in me turning away from Him, still chose to help me. Still heard me, still saw me. Still chose me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Letting go of who I became and really believing that who I became was not who I actually was, and also that God doesn’t see me as that person.
I had a big misconception that when I came to Christ. Everything would disappear. Such as, insecurities, the unforgiveness toward myself, pain that I cemented deep inside. I had to learn that my soul (Your mind, your will, your emotions, etc.) just doesn’t automatically line up with your spirit. You have to feed your soul, by feeding your spirit. That’s with the word of God and Holy living,
I do believe through being born into a bloodline, that I recognized has a spirit of perversion attached, It doesn’t surprise me that my testimony is what it is. God will ultimately get the glory. He can save anyone.
Homosexuality was a, if not, the biggest sin to overcome.
Being insecure, from having an immense amount of lack of self worth.
Gaining self control. The list goes on.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a studio recording artist. I go by “itsIMANI” on all streaming platforms, and will be releasing more songs in the near future.
I am most pleased with my growth in Christ. I am pretty hard on myself because going from rapping how I wanted, about what I wanted, and not having necessarily any caution about it became therapeutic for me. So now, giving the gift God gave me back to Him, and I still get the same level of therapy and excitement when writing new bars, completing songs, it’s just really fulfilling. It’s even better now, because we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. God’s Will is for us to share the gospel and save some souls in the process.
What sets me apart are my life experiences. I’m able to speak to the heartbroken and to the heartbreaker. Being in Christ just ties those experiences in to depict He is able. By His grace I’m able to reach a broader audience than most, and I’m blessed to be able to do it musically.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjustimani__?igsh=Mnp1d3VrdWZsYnVt&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@itsjustimani__?si=chJIVzaotxESAEzL
- Other: https://dot.cards/itsimani
Image Credits
solemnpactmedia
