(Revised and Edited from 2018)
When you grow up in a Christian home, it is easy to go through the motions. When I was seven years old, I had an "experience" with Jesus. I vaguely remember the night. My family had gotten home from church that night and my sisters and I went to get ready for bed. I get in bed and I waited for my daddy to come to kiss my head, as he always did. My baby sister was on the bottom bunk and I was up top. My daddy kissed me and I burst into tears. I really do not remember anything else about that night. I remember getting baptized and wearing a white robe, seeing my mama crying. And that's all I remember of my "salvation." And in my heart that was enough for a while. It was enough up until a year or so ago. I began to have major questions about my relationship with Jesus. Yet, with pressures to be that "good" Christian girl, I suppressed those questions in my heart. I did not address them and that caused me lots of fear and anxiety. So I went on with my life and just tried not to think about it...that did not work very well, as you could imagine. I tried to live for Jesus, but it really felt pointless. I went on a mission trip to Africa. I learned and I grew tremendously. The things that I saw and the people I met, the lessons I learned, all showed me how extremely important my relationship with Jesus is and how it deeply affects everything.
My soul was restless.
I want everyone to know Jesus. Because knowing Him makes life worth living. I want to challenge YOU. If you are a believer with some doubts, like I was, please seriously consider your salvation. It is the most important choice you could ever come face to face with.
My soul was restless.
The night of July 7, 2017, my heart changed.
I came home from a friend's house that night and my soul was in turmoil. I felt sick to my stomach. So I decided to talk to my dad. We talked for an hour or so and I cried. I just knew he would be disappointed in me. But no, he was so joyful. That night, I knelt with my mom and dad and accepted Jesus into my heart forever. All doubts in my heart vanished. Then the most difficult part was ahead of me, I needed to tell my friends and church. I was mortified. I was so scared of what they would think of me now. They might even call me a hypocrite. But, God is so good and everyone I told was also overcome with joy. My church family was so excited for me.
Then, I was baptized! It was truly a wonderful day. I was able to teach the kids at church that morning, then the whole church drove out into the canyon to the lake. There, we had a baptism and a church-wide picnic. After lunch, my family and I hiked in the mountains. God blessed me abundantly that day.
I came home from a friend's house that night and my soul was in turmoil. I felt sick to my stomach. So I decided to talk to my dad. We talked for an hour or so and I cried. I just knew he would be disappointed in me. But no, he was so joyful. That night, I knelt with my mom and dad and accepted Jesus into my heart forever. All doubts in my heart vanished. Then the most difficult part was ahead of me, I needed to tell my friends and church. I was mortified. I was so scared of what they would think of me now. They might even call me a hypocrite. But, God is so good and everyone I told was also overcome with joy. My church family was so excited for me.
Then, I was baptized! It was truly a wonderful day. I was able to teach the kids at church that morning, then the whole church drove out into the canyon to the lake. There, we had a baptism and a church-wide picnic. After lunch, my family and I hiked in the mountains. God blessed me abundantly that day.
I want everyone to know Jesus. Because knowing Him makes life worth living. I want to challenge YOU. If you are a believer with some doubts, like I was, please seriously consider your salvation. It is the most important choice you could ever come face to face with.
Maybe you have never acknowledged Jesus in your life. I would like to encourage you to invite Him into your life and make Him a part of your story. This is what you need to know -
- Because of sin (the bad things we do) we are separated from God.
"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" Romans 6:23
- The penalty for our sin is death, but Jesus paid that penalty for us!
"But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
- If we repent our sins, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins! "For WHOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10
I'm thankful that you took the time to read through how Jesus has changed me. I hope He changes and continues to mold you into who He wants you to be.
- Because of sin (the bad things we do) we are separated from God.
"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" Romans 6:23
- The penalty for our sin is death, but Jesus paid that penalty for us!
"But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
- If we repent our sins, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we will be saved from our sins! "For WHOEVER calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10
I'm thankful that you took the time to read through how Jesus has changed me. I hope He changes and continues to mold you into who He wants you to be.
by Colleen
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