Newly Found in Christ

You can read a more detailed version of my salvation testimony here.

A lot has changed over the last several months and it has stirred me to share, so here I am, beginning a blog. Looking back, I realize that this has been happening for a few years without my knowing exactly what it was–that is, Who it was!

Set free and made new

I’ve grown, learned, starting thinking about things differently, and been reborn. I’ve made discoveries about my life concerning myself and who I am. Some things weren’t actual “discoveries” in regard to this word’s meaning, but things religion and the world had caused me to believe about myself, people, morals, Heaven, etc. have been made right through Jesus Christ.

I know the truth and the truth has set me free. Jesus is Truth and He is the Way! God has finally been allowed to truly enter my life, and He has shown me who I truly am in Him.

Things I’ve learned

Never let the world make you into who you think you are. The world didn’t create you, God did! I often start to regret all the years I spent trying to figure out who I was–in music, in art, in what I do or don’t, in this world and its ways, but I remind myself that God was there even when I didn’t truly acknowledge His presence. He was always there, giving me the ability to know that when I finally found Him, I would discover that nothing else equals truth and love except Jesus and God’s Word.

My way of thinking is changing. It’s refreshing, it’s reassuring, it’s bringing more lasting peace, genuine friendship and real happiness into my life. I now know that only God can provide this; nothing of this world can. Even my values and goals have changed.

I have something to look forward to now and forever, no matter what happens in my life in the here and now. Most of all, I am saved! I now have a relationship with my awesome Creator, Father, Healer, Protector, Stronghold, my Everything, because Jesus Christ paid the price and made the way for me. He showed me the truth and I have received it and given my life to Him.

Growing in God

I’ve been growing in my relationship with God more and more as each day goes by! I used to think I was going to spend eternity in Heaven simply because I believed in God, but as I recently discovered, believing in God and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are not the same.

I did not know Jesus in a personal relationship or even live in a way that showed I loved Him. In fact, I didn’t love Him at all before because I didn’t know Him at all.

There is a huge difference between believing in Christ as the only way of salvation and surrendering your life to live for Him, versus just believing in God without relationship with Jesus.

Other things have been changing in my life too, but truly having Jesus in my life is why and how all of these things are changing more than anything else ever would or ever could. I’ve become a new person, my true self as God created me to be, through Him and my relationship with Him.

The last few months already I am happier, less stressed, less anxious, less afraid and less worried about how much money I make, where I live or what I can afford to buy. I don’t care what my status is in this world in relation to such things. I can live my life now with fewer outbursts of stress, anxiety, hurt and anger. I’m learning to change my thinking and my attitude toward life and other people in the most positive ways.

I’ve made mistakes, and I still make them. This is how it will always be as an imperfect human being, but I know even more now that it’s worth living a life closer to God (worth more than anything else!), living in a more Christ-like way and in service to Him & the people of this world, giving Him my all because of what He gave in sacrifice for my life. I’ll never be perfect or avoid making mistakes, but I surely want to try! I now have a True Inspiration to do so–Jesus Christ, even more now than ever.

I can’t get enough! Singing, playing, worshiping, praying, serving, reading His Word, thanking Him and feeling His presence. It’s all so amazing. I want to be glorifying Him, worshiping, serving and thanking Him every moment of my life. I’m glad to be truly living in the arms of God, and consciously so, each and every day of my life!