Before Jesus Changed My Life
Before Jesus changed my life, I grew up in a Christian home, where I always prayed, read my Bible, and talked with my parents about God. I knew what it meant to be a Christian and always wanted to know God, but I didn't put in the effort. I thought I could do everything on my own. I always knew God was real and didn't hate Him, but I never sought Him out. I was living my life for worldly pleasures. I would make it through, giving Him thanks and reading my Bible every so often, but I didn't honestly care about Godly things. I just did them because I thought I was a "Christian."
How Jesus Changed My Life
I was at Youth Camp during the Summer of 2024, like every other summer. I was engaged by the sermons for the first time in a while, but I didn't dwell on it for too long. Then, after being bummed out to learn that the last night of youth camp was going to be a worship night outside, I went. I was expecting it to be normal worship time, but everything felt different. I could feel Jesus over me as I was singing those songs. It was the most real experience I've ever had. I got to pray with my fellow campers and my leaders. Then I could hear God speaking to me as we prayed. Then in those moments, I knew that I wanted to seek after God. I realized that God is the most important thing in my life and should be my everything. In Romans 10:9-13, Paul says, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I have gone from just identifying as a Christian to actually following Jesus!
My Life After Jesus Saved Me
Now that I have changed, I realize how much God is a personal God. I know that He is right beside me, and I know He is my Father. I don't have to pray to him as if he is far away and unreachable, but as if he is right there beside me. When I find myself seeking after worldly things, I catch myself and turn to him, knowing that it is not a part of his plan. I don't have to fear what's to come, because God's got this. All the trials he puts me through are to put me down so that he can build me back up for him and his kingdom. I don't serve the things of this world but only Him. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5 17-21, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Now I know I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. My old self has passed away, and my new self has been born.