I always had a belief that there was a Creator of the universe. I could not envisage how all the planets were held in place, and everything worked in unison all on its own without a supernatural force designing and creating.
I visited churches sometimes as I went through life and wondered what it was all about. It was when I was having my son baptised in a church, and I had to make those promises to bring him up as a Christian that I realised I had no idea what this meant. I was challenged at that moment and thought I had to make more of an effort to find out what that meant.
I visited more churches but did not find the answer. I looked into other religions but did not see God there.
Then one day, a friend invited me to a local church, which was quite different from the ones I had visited before. Everyone was friendly, and there was a different sort of atmosphere. The minister announced that the Holy Spirit had told him to preach on forgiveness, and when he spoke, it was as if every word pierced my heart. I was not very comfortable about it and did not go back there for another four weeks, but again when the minister spoke, I was very challenged.
I realised that God was speaking to me, and I had better do something about it. I joined a small Bible Study Group that the church ran and went along to the first meeting. The lady who was running it asked: "if there was anyone here who had not invited Jesus into their lives". I gingerly put up my hand, and she asked me if I would like to invite Jesus into my heart. I said yes as I knew that something beyond my understanding was happening to me.
When I prayed the sinner's prayer (where we ask Jesus into our lives and ask Him to forgive us for all our wrongdoings), I could feel him cleansing me of all those things I had done wrong in my life as he brought them to mind. I felt so very clean inside, and although I was not too sure what all this meant, I knew in my heart I had made the right choice.
That was the start of the rest of my life from that time onwards, and I gradually became a very different person. When you get adopted into God's family, he gently changes you from the inside out by the power of the Holy Spirit working in you. You no longer want to do some of the things you did before, and your attitude towards people and life are quite different.
Although you have lots of struggles and problems in life, just the same as those who do not invite Jesus into their lives, you are not alone in them as God helps you understand what you should do, and you also have the support of your local church. You develop a relationship with Jesus that nothing on earth can compete with. Your spirit is in touch with his spirit. It is a spiritual love affair. Jesus is God's son, and he died on the cross so that you could have your sins washed away. All this is free, and you cannot earn it, all you have to do is to sincerely invite Jesus into your heart. Why not do this yourself today?
When you are adopted into God's family, you need to find a church to join so that you can meet with other Christians, and they will help you to grow in your new faith. As you get to know Jesus more and more, you will realise that he loves you so much and that when you die, you will go to be with him in heaven, where there is no sin, sickness, pain, or death.
It is such a privilege to be adopted into his family, and it is not something you can earn, but it is a free gift, and all you have to do is accept it.
Susan: Australia
Christian Testimonies Main Page
Do You Want to Invite Jesus into Your Heart?
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Reaching the World With the Message Of Jesus
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Samuel L Mills
PO Box 4456
Maryville, TN 37802