MY FIRST LOVE
Updated: Jul 6, 2020
By Cali
First, I would like to apologize to you if you have encountered religion. A relationship with Jesus Christ is not a set of rules and regulations, it is the opportunity to have a relationship with God himself -a real relationship where you can speak to Him and he speaks back to you. I know that your view of God may be skewed because you have experienced some hurt and disappointments. Life hurts, but imagine going through life with someone who would never leave you!
Imagine a crumpled $100 dollar bill... would you still want it? What if it had mud on it? What if it was torn in half? Some of your responses may differ, but the reality is that all of us are like this crumpled up $100 dollar bill and God accepts us dirty, torn and broken. There are no special requirements to join God's family. He loves us just the way we are and wants us.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
Our love story started way before our parents met. We have been on the mind of God since the beginning of time. He mapped out where and who we would be born to. He knew if you would be thin or tall. He knew. He even knew that you would mess up; and that you would fail Him. But guess what?! He still loves you.
My love story started when I had lost me in a quest to find out what life was about. I encountered a lot of pain because I tried to figure it out on my own and kept hitting a brick wall. The moment I got tired with failed relationships and feeling empty after romances with men who would never love me like Christ loved me is when I encountered God. God never moved away from me I moved away from him. Love found me.
I invite you at the beginning of 2016 to invite God into your heart. Most of us would agree that we hate having our rooms and offices entered by someone we didn't give permission to. We all hold near and dear to us the things that we value and you have to be a very special person to have us share that with you. Similarly, we do God like this. You know?! We treat him like a person we are beginning to date. We only allow Him so far into our hearts and then we pull back when things so to speak get too "real". WE create walls and barriers that block out God from permeating(invading) our dark hearts(mind, will). My goal in writing to you today is to help you realize the benefits of allowing God to infiltrate (invade)the dirty places of your heart. Ask God to come into your heart today by saying this simple prayer:
Dear God,
I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I admit that I am not right with You, and I want to be right with You. I ask You to forgive me of all my sins. The Bible says if I confess with my mouth that "Jesus is Lord, "and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved (Rom. 10:9). I believe with my heart and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for saving me!
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
No tricks and gimmicks just that simple. Below are a few tips that further help you understand what this means for your life going forward.
HOW DO I COMMIT MYSELF TO JESUS?
Have you been born again? Call it conversion, call it commitment, call it repentance, call it being saved, but has it happened to you? Does Christ live in your heart? Do you know it? Many people have thought a long time about religion and Christianity and yet have never made a commitment. Are you committed to Jesus Christ?
STEPS TO A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST
1. Admit that you are a sinner.
2. Know that God has already provided a solution and all for your Salvation through the Cross.
3. Know that only Jesus can save you and Restore your Relationship with God.
4. Repent your sins and commit yourself to Jesus.
5. Ask Jesus to save you. And wash your sin's with His Holy Blood.
6. Proclaim that God is your Father. Jesus is your Saviour. Holy Spirit is your Comforter.
7. Proclaim Jesus before others.
I pray you to have a great year and remember that you have made one of the best decisions of your life.
Peace and Blessings