July 2014
It is my heart's prayer that you receive Jesus as your personal Savior while visiting this site, and for those who have, to "...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 1
The Pride of Life
My pride kept me from receiving Christ into my life until I was twenty-nine years old. As a result, I was filled with worry, anxiety and fear. The spirit of fear caused me to act out in anger and to medicate the pain with alcohol, sex and drugs. Listen to the apostle Paul,
"For God has not given me a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2
After I received Christ, my fear did not just cease, but I had received the Holy Spirit to help me overcome fear. He comforted me in my anxiety and strengthened me in my time of trouble. I began to experience His presence and peace as I turned to Him on a daily basis.
The Power of God
I was ignorant of spiritual things when Christ came into my heart. I didn't know that being born-again made me the temple of the Holy Spirit until I read about it in the New Testament or someone told me. Like Paul taught the Corinthians, saying:
"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body." 3
After hearing that, I saw myself differently. This was the beginning of putting on my new identity in Christ.
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun." 4
The Spirit of Love
The most wonderful revelation that I have received isn't only that God loves me, but that His love lives in me, because of the Holy Spirit living in me.
This may not mean much to you, but here is the truth:
"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he first loved us." 5
We don't love others because we love ourselves, rather because God loves us and all fear is gone. "And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters." 6
The Power of Self-Discipline
Do you want your life and behavior to change? Get to know the power and love of the Holy Spirit. He is a person that you can talk to just like you talk to God and to Jesus. Say, "Thank You Holy Spirit for living in me, and empowering me to love and be self-disciplined. I want to get to know You better." In time, He'll be talking back to you, giving creativity, peace and joy.
"For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy on the Holy Spirit." 7
This is the life I live on a daily basis -- it works. But remember the Holy Spirit is not an "it" but a "He" who desires for you to know his presence in your life. Lastly, I'll leave you with this,
"...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" 8
A Prayer for You
Father God, I love You. I come to You today in faith asking You to forgive my sins. Jesus, I believe in You, I believe You died on the cross for me, You shed Your innocent blood for me, You took my place and all the punishment that I deserved. I believe You died and were buried and on the third day, You rose from the dead. Death could not hold You. You have conquered Satan and taken the keys of hell and death away from him. I believe You did all this for me because You love me. I want to be a Christian. I want to serve You all the days of my life. I want to learn how to live the new life that You have promised me. I receive You now, Jesus, and I give myself to You. Take me just the way I am, and make me the way You want me to be.
Thank You, Jesus, for saving me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and teach me everything I need to know. Now, I believe that I am saved, I have been born again, and I will go to heaven when I die. Father God, I am going to enjoy my journey and live for Your glory.
Scripture References
1) 2 Pet. 3:18
2) 2 Tim. 1:7
3) 1 Cor. 6:19, 20
4) 2 Cor. 5:17
5) 1 Jn. 4:18, 19
6) 1 Jn. 4:21
7) Rom. 14:7
8) Gal. 5:22, 23