#testifytuesday
I was raised in a fairly traditional Lutheran church. I went through the motions of youth group, church, and other “religious” activities. Going through school (high school especially) I was very much living for myself. Despite my involvement in youth group, I think the only thing I knew about Christianity was that it was my religion.
It wasn’t until college, when I met authentic Christians who truly loved Jesus that I began to understand what Christianity really was. I made some amazing friends who encouraged me biblically and with prayer. Seeing the joy that they had made me question a lot of things about my faith. I started praying and depending more on God as I went through a challenging freshman year.
As soon as I went back home for the summer, I started reading my Bible. Looking back, I am confident in saying that the desire I had to read the Bible was given totally by the Holy Spirit. For the first time in my life I read through the four Gospels, and most of the New Testament. It was one summer night, in the quiet of my room, after reading 1 Peter that I declared Jesus as the Lord of my life. I believe God interceded in that moment and His presence had never felt more real to me. I’ve been chasing God ever since. A life with total faith in Jesus has given me an abundance of joy, peace, and incredible love. The world looks totally different to me now that I can see God in the beauty of creation. I am doing the best I can to be the hands and feet of Jesus with my time here on earth.
