one decision & then every day

{a precursor to my upcoming posts}

As I continue on my journey of being transparent, I am preparing to share my "all in" moment with God, the day where it hit me in the face: Jesus is bigger than my circumstances. Now, as I have begun writing my testimony, I have run into a dilemma. Some things that confused me very much as a budding Christian. 

How do you not fall away after being "saved"? My mind changes so often. I find myself loving God one minute and putting myself before Him the next. Does that mean my streak of faith is over and I have to start again? In those moments of selfishness, do I put myself back into the hands of the devil? But I'm baptized, so what does that mean?? How, exactly, am I saved?

These were real questions I struggled with growing up/ still do struggle with. However, I have come to some sort of a conclusion...

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." [Mark 16:16]

Faith is a gift. If it was up to my sinful heart, I would choose sin every time. Yes, you can have your one big moment where you "Come to Jesus" but it's that one decision AND then every day after that! Every morning after my big moment, I have had to invite Jesus into my heart and let Him take control. If not, I eventually fail. 

Friends, there is freedom in giving up control. Surrendering my life to God's will was the best thing I have ever done. I no longer have to live up to a standard of perfection. Jesus did that for me. I simply live in His grace. 

AND - I never ever have to worry about "unsaving" myself, because I have been baptized and I believe. Sin once separated me, but it is there no longer. Jesus has taken that sin as far as the east is from the west. I will find my home in heaven. 

I pray that as you follow my blog, you would see the difference between HOW I came to Christ and WHY I am came to Christ. Everyone will have a different HOW, but WHY?

Jesus. Always, Jesus. 

Nothing.

For a long time, faith was a hard concept for me to grasp.

There are periods of feeling super close to God: praying, reading the Bible, talking with friends about what I'm learning about the person of Jesus, going to church, volunteering, "feeling" good about my own faith and where I stand with God

Then there are times where we can feel distant or feel like God is distant from us: maybe we feel a huge shame for a sin we keep running back to again and again...and again. or maybe something has happened in our lives that makes us wonder "where are you, O Mighty God?" or maybe we are going through a selfish phase where we are only seeking to please ourselves and satisfy our sinful desires.

There are many situations and things and people that can make us feel like God is no where to be found. All of those situations and things and people have a common root - sin. Sin separates us from God.

By now, you're maybe feeling even  w o r s e  by reading this post... well, friend, here comes the best part:

JESUS!

Jesus bridged the gap that tore us apart from God.

Romans 8 says:

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, friends, it's not about what you feel. Our emotions come and they go, just as the sun rises and the sun sets. Stand on his promise for you and me. Absolutely NOTHING can separate us from that life-giving love that Jesus gave to us, when He took all of our guilt, shame, selfishness, and sin upon Himself on that cross at Calvary. Praise be to the One who saved us! 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-lvu54wBOU