In order to bring glory to the Lord, I want to start off by sharing some of what He has done in my life. The best way for me to do that is to share some of my testimony. I have to brag on God! Okay...so here goes...
Being born and raised in the Bible Belt, going to church on Sundays and attending VBS has always been the norm for my family and me. I grew up in a Christian home and lived a "Christian" lifestyle. I was baptized at about age 8 and knew that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and that if I believed in Him, I would go to heaven. I understood sin and I understood that as a human, I wasn't perfect, but as long as I asked for forgiveness from God, He would forgive me and still love me...and I would go to heaven. As a child, and for about half of my teenage life, I thought all I had to do was believe and ask for forgiveness every night. I lived a happy, carefree life up until middle school. I entered the days where I never thought I was good enough, pretty enough or smart enough and I felt the judgment of the other prettier and smarter girls, as well as the cute boys. Through this rough time in my life, I began to draw away from God because I just didn't feel worth loving anymore. After this time, I went to another school. I became desperate to fit in...and sometimes "fitting in" means doing away with your own values and beliefs. Which is essentially what I did. I changed, not for the better, and faith became such a small and minimal part of my life. I still "believed" of course because that's all that mattered to get me to heaven. Getting up to high school, I still continued to live this way. Not long into school though, my parents (now I know by the grace of God) basically told me it was time for a change. I straightened up but my positive actions still didn't necessarily mean that I was leaning on the Lord. Again, I still believed and lived a lukewarm Christian lifestyle. Starting in about the fall of 2010 though, I felt God stirring something in my heart. I began breaking to Him more and more, but there were still some things over that year that I just wasn't willing to give up to Him yet such as my love life, friends, fun weekends and even school. But He did put some great and influential people in my life in order for Him to reach me more and more. Starting college this year, I knew it was time for some changes. Oh my word, did things change. Not long into school, I began to feel the presence of God more and more; I began to realize I wasn't living the right way--I talked the talk but did not walk the walk. Honestly, I was sick of living for things that were temporary and that were never fulfilling. Finally, on one special weekend, I let God break me. Of everything this time. I knew I could not go on in the life I had been living and I knew I could not depend on the world for my happiness and satisfaction. I was tired of having my "spiritual mountain highs" just to fall back down. I was ready to live it all the time. I gave the Lord my heart, and I handed over the control I once had over areas in my life. I wanted to live for more, for something permanent and something that would be fulfilling. I have found that fulfillment in the Lord. I have found that my delight and happiness comes from Him alone. Since that time, God has done so much work in my life. I know now that it is not about "believing to go to heaven" but it is about finding joy in the Lord and living like Christ. Each morning, I wake up with the excitement to go out and live for Him, to praise and glorify Him. He gives me the strength I need for anything and He loves me the way no one else can. He knows my every thought and my heart. I live every second knowing that NOTHING can take me away from the love of my God. My old life is gone and my new life is all about living for Him! Amen!
I am here to testify that God can do work in your life, He can change you! He will give you the love, the happiness and contentment, and the satisfaction that you are always looking for. Nothing in this world will ever satisfy--you will always be chasing something else. Let the Lord have your heart, He will do great things for you.
If you're still reading, thank you. Though it is hard to share my dark past, it is so awesome to boast on the Lord in how He changed me. Praying for you all and I'm always willing to chat about Jesus and more of how I've seen Him work :)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!" -2 Corinthians 5:17
Glory to God forever.
Love,
Jami
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