I have always loved Jesus. From my earliest memories He was very real to me. I was so young that I can't remember the first time that I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and to come into my heart. I do remember asking Him into my heart repeatedly whenever I felt that I had done something wrong or when there was an "altar call" at church or a question of "who wants to give their heart to Jesus?" in Sunday School class. My sensitive spirit, tender conscience, and the lack of teaching on assurance of salvation in the churches we attended contributed to this. I also didn't fully understand salvation by grace. When I failed at being good enough, I'd just go back to square one and get saved again!
In spite of my lack of full understanding, Jesus and I had a strong friendship. You've heard of children having invisible friends? When my best friend moved across town and no longer walked to school with me, I used to imagine Jesus walking to school with me instead. I guess you could say that Jesus was my invisible friend. He was also my confidant. Things between Mama and Daddy weren't good, and while I sensed it more than understood it, I would lay in bed at night and talk to Jesus about all my worries and fears.
When I was in fourth grade Daddy left Mama and us kids. Shortly afterward, we began to attend a a little church in the next town over. That church became our support system. They loved our little broken family into wholeness. I could go on and on about various milestones in my relationship with Christ that happened in the following years, but perhaps the most significant one happened when I was about sixteen years old.(Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, May 12th, at Woman to Woman Ministries, where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
Elizabeth, it is amazing to look back and see God's grace in every day of our journey with Him. Grateful to read your testimony! May you have a blessed Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteI've really enjoyed reading everyone's testimonies this week! Happy Mother's Day to you, too!
DeleteI've never heard of that, Jesus as our invisible friend, but I love it! Would you mind if I share that with my grandbabies? How creative to put it that way! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are nurturing your grandchildren in their walk with God! I think grandparents can be such a huge influence for good.
Deletemy great grandmother & then my aunt :: shared Jesus with me at a young age. i'm ever so grateful God used them to eventually usher in salvation to my heart. . .
ReplyDeleteI often wondered if there's always someone somewhere that has prayed for those who come to know Jesus.
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