My Personal Testimony
I grew up in a Christian family and if the doors of the church were open, my Mom and Dad made sure we were there. I was taught Bible stories with flannel boards and sung Bible songs with the children’s choir. I could answer all the questions in Sunday school with the right answers. In fact, I cannot remember not knowing that Jesus loved me or that I loved Him. The problem was, I knew all about God, but as I entered my teen years, He was not the focus of my life. My life was all about me, and what I wanted.
As a teenager I struggled. There was a feeling of emptiness deep inside of me. I found myself searching to fill it with approval and recognition from my peers. I poured my whole heart into making myself what I believed others wanted me to be hoping the emptiness would disappear. I became obsessed with myself and was consumed with what other people thought of me. I was living for acceptance of the world.
Eventually I came to the realization that no one, or his or her acceptance of me, could fill the deep void. I was alone and afraid. That was when God drew me to Himself. Due to my upbringing, I knew that only God could change me, if I would let Him. I needed to make Him Lord of my life. I fell down on my knees and confessed that I am a sinner and that I was trying to find life in myself and in other people. I acknowledged that He had sent His son, Jesus to die on the cross so that I could be saved from my sin and have eternal life. Most important, I committed to live my life for Christ, instead of others. I made Him Lord of my life rather than myself.
Once I had made that decision, God began showing me that being a “Christian” is not about just doing good things. As I studied my Bible, He made it clear that I could not do enough good things to earn my salvation or His love (Ephesians 2:8-9). He showed me that He loves me despite all my shortcomings and imperfections. When I pursued acceptance and approval from others, the results were always the same: I fell short, felt unsatisfied and empty.
But it is not like that with God. Through His Word, the Bible, He revealed that He loved me, at my lowest point. He rescued me from myself and from eternal separation from Him. I am grateful for His love and have never regretted my decision to make Him Lord of my life.
As a teenager I struggled. There was a feeling of emptiness deep inside of me. I found myself searching to fill it with approval and recognition from my peers. I poured my whole heart into making myself what I believed others wanted me to be hoping the emptiness would disappear. I became obsessed with myself and was consumed with what other people thought of me. I was living for acceptance of the world.
Eventually I came to the realization that no one, or his or her acceptance of me, could fill the deep void. I was alone and afraid. That was when God drew me to Himself. Due to my upbringing, I knew that only God could change me, if I would let Him. I needed to make Him Lord of my life. I fell down on my knees and confessed that I am a sinner and that I was trying to find life in myself and in other people. I acknowledged that He had sent His son, Jesus to die on the cross so that I could be saved from my sin and have eternal life. Most important, I committed to live my life for Christ, instead of others. I made Him Lord of my life rather than myself.
Once I had made that decision, God began showing me that being a “Christian” is not about just doing good things. As I studied my Bible, He made it clear that I could not do enough good things to earn my salvation or His love (Ephesians 2:8-9). He showed me that He loves me despite all my shortcomings and imperfections. When I pursued acceptance and approval from others, the results were always the same: I fell short, felt unsatisfied and empty.
But it is not like that with God. Through His Word, the Bible, He revealed that He loved me, at my lowest point. He rescued me from myself and from eternal separation from Him. I am grateful for His love and have never regretted my decision to make Him Lord of my life.