Before Jesus Changed My Life

I was raised in a Christian household and have always gone to church, and my spiritual journey, before I believed in Jesus, was more my parents than my own. Since my Faith was not my own and just something I was raised in, I lived a sinful life and was not obeying God’s commandments.

How Jesus Changed My Life

I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus as my savior when I was in eighth grade. I was on a youth retreat, and we had just listened to a sermon on the gospel and how the only way to Heaven is through Jesus and Jesus alone. We were also told that the decision to repent and follow Christ was ours alone. This really spoke to me because I knew I was living a sinful life, and I felt the weight of that sin. I also knew that there was nothing in this world or anything that I could do to pay for my sin and free me of it. I decided then to accept Jesus as my savior and repent of my sin. I prayed for forgiveness of my sins and that I believed in the death and resurrection of Jesus and that through him, I would be saved from sin and death. After doing this, I felt relieved of my sin and started to take responsibility for my own walk with God (Romans 10:9 and John 14:6).

My Life After Jesus Saved Me

Today, my hope is found in Jesus. I feel the Holy Spirit working in me as I go throughout my day. For example, my eyes are more open to sin and how easily it can ensnare us and creep into our lives (Hebrews 12:1, Matthew 13:3-9, 1 Peter 5:8-9). Today, I also know my faith is my own and that I have accepted God into my heart. I am reassured by this in times of need that my faith cannot be taken and that God knows my heart (1 Corinthians 13:11-13, Romans 8:38-39, John 10:27-30). I know I have eternal life through Christ because I have wholeheartedly trusted him as my savior and believe in him (Romans 10:13, John 3:16).