The Spirit Lives Ministries Newsletter: James- No 'blinding light', just history of God's kept promises

February 16, 2003
James- No 'blinding light', just history of God's kept promises
My name is James. I was born into a Christian family... my mother was a Baptist and my father was a Methodist. We went to church most of the time, but as my sister and I got older, we weren’t really into it. We complained and drug our feet until we stopped going as often until we practically stopped going at all.

As I entered college, I drifted farther and farther from Christ. A good friend of mine was agnostic and I let him influence me. By the time I was half way through college I had decided I wasn’t so sure there was a God. But whenever I was really in trouble or really hurting, I would always sheepishly call on God to help me. He usually didn’t help me the way I was expecting Him to (or the way I wanted Him to). But things always worked out and I really led a blessed life.

Soon after school I got married and started a family. My wife is a wonderful woman who has more faith than me and started pulling me back into the fold. We moved out-of-state and started going to church. Our children were baptized and I noticed that practically every sermon the preacher gave was talking to me somehow. I began reading the Bible and felt my faith return.

God started calling on us to move back to our hometown of Atlanta, that our work for the kingdom was there. I didn’t listen well, but He kept nudging. I was too stubborn and afraid to leave the security of my job. Finally God had to give me a kick - I was informed that my job would cease to exist in about 6 months. We put our house on the market with faith that everything would work out according to His grace. Of course it did - as we were driving to the successful (and profitable) closing of the house I received a call with a job offer in Atlanta. I knew this was God’s working - I’m simply not that good. We finished moving to Atlanta and are now active members of our church.

I have found through experience that God has always been so good to me, even when I drifted from him. Every time I have had a big problem in the last few years, I always end up praying and turning the problem over to God, knowing that he is the only one who can really solve it (at least I call on Him after I stubbornly think I can do it on my own for a while). I have found that EVERY time he takes care of me and brings me peace. As I have become more mature in my faith I can see his imprint on my life and all the places he has cared for me when I needed him.

I’m not a Christian who has had a ’blinding light’ kind of experience to signify that I am saved. I know that I am saved when I look into my heart and find Jesus there, patiently guiding me away from sin and into His light. And each time He keeps his promise to care for me I try and work for Him more and for myself less. I know I will never be perfect, but I also know that Jesus is my savior and it’s his love that has saved me and will guide me the rest of this life.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]

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