December, 1996
Like many college students, it was common for me to stay up late. This particular night, I wrote a letter and listened to music in my living room. It was 2:50 a.m.; I know for certain because I stepped into the kitchen to glance at the mauve wall clock that hung against the floral-patterned wallpaper.
When I turned slightly away from the clock, I heard a voice. The booming voice said to me, “God is real, and the Bible is truth.” My body warmed and tingled. I stood there in shock. When I finally regained my composure, I returned to my living room to consider the strange event that had just occurred.
I did not believe in the Bible, nor did I believe in God. I was acquainted with the gospel, but I considered it too unrealistic to ever be true. Yet here I sat, confronted with an experience ill-fitted for my atheistic belief system. And so I became a Christian overnight. The experience was real—real enough for me to change my beliefs and way of life.
I modeled my habits after the activities that seemed inconsistent with Christianity and began attending church regularly. With my new Christian ways, I was eager to resume life as usual. God, however, had other plans. While I believe he appreciated my token sacrifices, He had so many other changes planned for my life. As I prayed, strange requests rose from my lips. Instead of asking for increasing beauty, I asked for increasing humility. Rather than praying to win lottery money, I prayed to forgive the people in my life. Additionally, the desire to be married and have children began to blossom in my heart.
These challenges are not as easily accomplished as a decision to go to church. In my case, they happened as a consequence of a transformation in the course of my life. And life did not hesitate to change considerably for me.
I am now married with two beautiful children and a strong faith in Christ. Over the years, the Lord has given me the opportunity to share my story of salvation with hundreds of people including the good people of Perm, Russia. Every year, I am amazed by the work God continues to do in my life.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,
and I will raise them up at the last day.” —John 6:44
*This testimony is part of a published collection called Never Forsaken. Read it free here: www.neverforsaken.webs.com.
Like many college students, it was common for me to stay up late. This particular night, I wrote a letter and listened to music in my living room. It was 2:50 a.m.; I know for certain because I stepped into the kitchen to glance at the mauve wall clock that hung against the floral-patterned wallpaper.
When I turned slightly away from the clock, I heard a voice. The booming voice said to me, “God is real, and the Bible is truth.” My body warmed and tingled. I stood there in shock. When I finally regained my composure, I returned to my living room to consider the strange event that had just occurred.
I did not believe in the Bible, nor did I believe in God. I was acquainted with the gospel, but I considered it too unrealistic to ever be true. Yet here I sat, confronted with an experience ill-fitted for my atheistic belief system. And so I became a Christian overnight. The experience was real—real enough for me to change my beliefs and way of life.
I modeled my habits after the activities that seemed inconsistent with Christianity and began attending church regularly. With my new Christian ways, I was eager to resume life as usual. God, however, had other plans. While I believe he appreciated my token sacrifices, He had so many other changes planned for my life. As I prayed, strange requests rose from my lips. Instead of asking for increasing beauty, I asked for increasing humility. Rather than praying to win lottery money, I prayed to forgive the people in my life. Additionally, the desire to be married and have children began to blossom in my heart.
These challenges are not as easily accomplished as a decision to go to church. In my case, they happened as a consequence of a transformation in the course of my life. And life did not hesitate to change considerably for me.
I am now married with two beautiful children and a strong faith in Christ. Over the years, the Lord has given me the opportunity to share my story of salvation with hundreds of people including the good people of Perm, Russia. Every year, I am amazed by the work God continues to do in my life.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,
and I will raise them up at the last day.” —John 6:44
*This testimony is part of a published collection called Never Forsaken. Read it free here: www.neverforsaken.webs.com.
