Victory

I was thinking about the day I finally received an offer of literary representation.  It was truly a “mountaintop” moment!  (See past post “Mountaintops.”)  My hands were shaking, my knees were knocking, and I thought I was literally going to faint!  Said agent and I had connected in pleasant email exchanges prior, and we’d agreed upon a specific date and time to chat by phone.  Without going into specifics at present,  let me just say, it was indeed one of those surreal moments that is forever ingrained within my memory. 

There have been other instances in my life that I can recall with  vivid clarity:  my wedding day, the births of our children, the passing of a beloved grandmother…

Other thoughts surface, too, as I reflect back on even earlier years:  the listening ears and loving arms of wonderful parents, playtime with my sister, the day of my salvation…

It’s amazing how I can remember the minor details of those particular times.  Like, for example, the day at age nine, I came to know Jesus as my personal Savior. 

I was skipping back and forth between the pews at the small church where my father pastored at the time.  (Daddy was in his office, studying his sermon, and I was whiling away the hours out in the empty sanctuary.)  As a “PK”, I was exposed to God’s word early in my childhood, and I’d heard the message of salvation preached from the pulpit countless times.  For whatever reason though, on that specific day, I knew it was time for me to ask Jesus into my heart.  I stepped tentatively into my father’s office and told him what I wanted to do. 

Even as a young child, I recognized the need to admit that I was not perfect.  I had done many things wrong.  I had sinned.  I also believed with my childlike faith that Jesus died on the cruel cross at Calvary to save me from my sin.  And I wanted to commit my life to Him from that point on. 

Did accepting Jesus as my Savior make my life easier?  Were things a piece of cake after that?  Hardly.  In fact, it was just the opposite because Satan likes to work harder to throw us off track when we’ve chosen Jesus over him.  Accepting Jesus as our Savior doesn’t mean life will be a bed of roses.  What it does guarantee is that He has promised that He will never leave us, never forsake us, and we will get to spend an eternity with our Heavenly Father!

If you’d like to experience the same VICTORY today that I did many long years ago, this is what you need to know:  Admit you have sinned…Romans 3:23 (Turn away from that sin.  Make a conscious effort to choose a brighter path, asking for forgiveness when you stumble, like I still so often do at times.)  Believe that Jesus is God’s son and died to save us from our sin…John 3:16.  Confess Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior…Romans 10:9, and commit your life to him.  You’ll never be sorry. 

I pray I’ve not sounded too “preachy” today.  This is what was on my heart.  Blessings to you ALL!

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A question for you to ponder…Do you think we are missing the mark today when sharing the message of salvation?