My life was once ruled by the lusts of the flesh. I wandered around in life and never knew where I was going. I was always looking for the next best thing. I lived for the rush of the moment. All I wanted was to feel the pleasures the world could offer. I was going nowhere fast. I knew that if I didn’t give myself to God that I would one day lose my family, my job, my house and anything else that was precious to me. All I could see at the end of the tunnel was Hell. During this time of my life, I went to church on Sunday but that was all I gave to God. I never had a desire to go to church, I only went because my family went.
In these times of living for the world I thought to myself how could a God forgive someone like me. I had done too much evil, how could I be forgiven? I thought this for many years and for that reason I never tried to fully come to God. It wasn’t until life came crashing down on me as I was about to lose my family that my heart changed. I remember being so upset with myself for the way I had treated my wife and God. My life was full of sorrow. I needed help and I finally decided to come to God. I got down on my knees and told the Lord how sorry I was. That I didn’t know how I could be forgiven but that I would do what it took to make things right.
From that day forward my life changed. I prayed, read the bible and started paying attention at church. People would ask me if I knew I was saved and I still didn’t know that answer. I was told that all I needed to do was accept his sacrifice and my sins would be forgiven. It was then that it hit me that Jesus paid for my sins a long time ago and that He was waiting for me to accept it. That night I told the Lord that I wanted to change my life and give my life to Him. I felt His overwhelming presence. I could feel His forgiveness and mercy. Tears were streaming down my face. I couldn’t believe that I was forgiven. The Lord told me that things were ok. That He would never leave my side. The Lord kept His promise and I have never been so happy.
I live each day to one day receive the Lord after this life passes. I can feel His presence now and can only imagine His glory round about me in heaven. Jesus’s love fills my heart each day. His arms are always extended towards me. He is always watching over me. I can feel Him by side. He is my protector. He is my shield. I don’t want to go anywhere without the Holy Spirit as my guide. The feeling I get in my heart when He is with me cannot be expressed. I don’t want to live life in the world again. My destiny is to be with the Lord. For that reason I share His good news to the world so that many will be saved. I know that there are people out there just like me who are dealing with addiction. I want to tell you that the Lord will break your chains. Come to Him and you will find true joy.
Romans 7:5,6,11,23-25
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Artist: Third Day
Album: Come Together (2003)
Song: Show Me Your Glory
