Even though I was born into a Christian pastor’s home, I am thankful that I learned that I needed to have Jesus forgive my own sins, live in me, and give me an ongoing relationship and confidence in God.
I remember doing some mean things to one of the smaller boys in my neighborhood, taking some things from my mom’s Women’s Missions purse, and from a store, which were not mine. There were also some little friends in my Sunday School class who encouraged me to do some things which could have had devastating effects on my life. On one car trip with my parents, when I was 4 or 5, we saw some sheep being taken to a market. I had some other friends who had a pet lamb, and I wondered what would happen to the sheep in the truck. My mom used Isaiah 53 to tell me about Jesus being the lamb God chose to die for the sins of all of us (mine included). I learned that I needed to tell him about my own sins, and that I was sorry I had done them, and to ask him to come into my heart and live in me. I made the choice to do that right there in the car. I know that something happened inside me immediately, because I couldn’t wait to tell my brother and sister that I was a Christian, and I started telling my friends about that, and that I was different now. Some still tried to get me to do things that were bad, but now I realized I did not want to do those things, and that I did not want to hurt Jesus anymore. There were some real changes! There was also a physical healing in my body that our orthopedic specialist said could not have happened without a miracle. I remember one of the older men of my dad’s church praying specifically for God to heal me of the disease that was in my body. As a child, I knew that God had answered that man’s prayer.
There are several verses of Scripture that have been significant to me over the years. Philippians 1:6 became one of my favorite verses when I was a teenager (and what teenager would not love to receive encouragement and be given some confidence during the years of adolescence?). Paul says: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” I knew that God had started making some changes in me, from the moments of that car trip. Over the years, Romans 8:15 and 16 has encouraged me: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” John 10:10 has also been a favorite: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Throughout the six decades since I asked Jesus to forgive me my sins and live in my core, I have enjoyed thriving in almost all circumstances. I have not been perfect, but God has blessed all along the way.
God has had His hand on my life for as long as I can remember. He has been infinitely patient with me and gracious to me. He has also given me a sense of confidence, peace and purpose that goes beyond my own ability to figure things out. I have countless reasons to be eternally grateful to Jesus for his death, resurrection and abounding grace!
