My Salvation Story

Since I can remember, I have attended church. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, revival, VBS, we went to church and loved it. I knew about God and Jesus and heard all the Sunday school stories. So naturally, at a young age, I started raising my hand wanting to be saved during alter calls. When I was 7, my parents asked me if I wanted to be saved and naturally, I said yes. My parents prayed for me that day and I professed that I had been saved. But during a youth revival, when I was 12, God singled me out. He showed me that I didn’t pray for myself that day 5 years earlier. I remember thinking about the embarrassment that my friends, whom I had fooled, would know that it had all been a show. But, thank God, the pull of Holy Spirit was so strong and encouraging that I couldn’t wait to jump and nearly run to the alter. I remember such a relief almost the moment I made the very first step. Satan had been trying to fill my head with the lies he’s so good at telling. Lies about embarrassment. Lies that my mother would be mad. Lies that all my friends would turn their back on me. But, I eventually had to tell him to shut up and make it about me and Jesus. No one else. Because no one else was worth going to hell for. Beauty of it all, those lies were exactly that, lies! When I finished praying, completely unaware of what was going on around me, I stood up to find, my best friend had just given her life to Christ and also 5 others from our youth group. Randy Rhye was the guest evangelist preaching that night. It was April 18^th.  I’ll never forget that day. Every time Satan tries to make me doubt, I remember the “jump and run” feeling I had. It was electrifying, refreshing, cool rain and walking on hot coals all in one!! But most of all, I remember the forgiveness and tender touch from my Heavenly Father. Welcoming me into the family. Nothing like it!