One summer Sunday morning, I walked into Sunday School class, and immediately something felt different. I am not sure how I remember all of this, but the lesson was on the Prodigal Son. I remember trying to focus really hard because I did not want to miss anything, and wanted to understand everything. Then walked into the preaching service. There was something about the music that morning, it was so much clearer, so much prettier. Bro. McDuffie, preached on salvation, I don't remember the exact verses, it was probably the Romans Road, as I do remember him starting at the beginning, reading verses, explaining them, then moving to the next verse until he reached the end. He gave the invitation, and I remember pulling on my Daddy's arm, begging and crying telling him how I wanted to be saved. At first he did not think I was old enough, but I finally convinced him. I remember praying, the exact words I lost years ago, but I can still feel leaning to far forward, and having to open my eyes, I can still see the pants, socks and shoes that Bro. McDuffie was wearing, I can almost smell the flowers on the communion table. The most important part, I remember the exact moment, my burden was lifted, and replaced with a peace I did not understand.
That's right even at six years old, there was an exact moment that I felt sadness, sorrow, hate, and despair, leave my body and soul. I remember how my smile felt, I had never smiled that hard before. If felt like my lower jaw was going to break off.
Then I got to be in my mid-teens, and was trying to be righteous through my actions. I knew what a Christian “should” do, and I did those things. I just did them through my will, and not trusting God to work through me. So when I was tormented of Satan, I had not developed the faith to withstand the fiery darts of the wicked. My life tumbled, I ran, as fast and as far as I could from God. I was determined to avoid my Savior at all cost. I blamed Him for not protecting me, for not taking away the pain I was suffering. I decided that I would find some other way to soothe the demons that were tormenting me. But even at my lowest, God proved Hebrews 13:5 to be true, He said “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Even though I had forsaken Him, and left His fold, He did not give up on me, or say “Forget You”. I was sitting at a party, drinking pretty heavy, the people in the back of the room were doing some kind of drugs. When all of a sudden, I hear this “Still Small Voice”, saying, “All of you are in danger, PRAY for protection”. Some how, as hard as I was running, I did hesistate, I immedietly started praying, “God, Father in heaven above, You have told me that we are in danger, please protect us. I don’t know what the danger is, and don’t need to know, because You do. LORD, even though I am not in your will, even though I have ran from our relationship, LORD God, please hear my prayer. Send your HOLY SPIRIT to this house, so that He may protect us.”
As I was praying three people “RAN” from the back room, into where we were, and shouted very angrily, “Who is praying? I am trying to call forth (a name I don’t remember), a demon from hell. He said he could not enter because someone was praying for God’s protection on the house. Not just themselves, but the whole physical structure, and everyone inside.” HALLAJIAUH! God is so good, “the demons believe and tremble”.
Unfortunately, this was not enough for God to convince me to return to His fold, to His will. He finally took me to the place that I had no choice, but to call on His precious, and perfect name. The name of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. I finally wanted to do His will for my life.
Once I started seeking His will, I was blessed beyond measure, He sent me my wife, and kids. However He decided to leave me a thorn in the flesh, and as painful as it is I praise Him for it, there are times that I would stray, and my health takes a turn for the worse. I take this as a reminder of His goodness, and mercy, and I become more determined to serve Him.
Although the last few years, things have came up, that have, and are, and will continue to become a wedge between me and Him. I pray daily, that He gives me the strength, and faith that I need to get through that day. Tomorrow, I will need something different, I will pray for it then.
If, reading this makes you realize that, you need His protection, His strength, and the joy you can only know if you know Him. If you realize that you are a sinner, and that if you died now, you would spend an eternity in hell. If you want the Almighty God on your side in ALL your battles, send me a message, and I will sit down with you, and show you how to have a personal relationship with LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. He said “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” He is waiting for you, He is seeking you, are you willing to let Him in your life? It is a decision that you will not regret. I am waiting for your message, God loves you, and so do I.
