My Jesus Journey

I speak to you an eternal truth; if you embrace my message and believe in the One who sent me, you will never face condemnation. In me, you have already passed from the realm of death and into eternal life! —  John 5:24 TPT

Over the years, numerous people have shared stories of coming to Christ. The ones

that stick with me are the dramatic stories. They play out like an emotional scene from

a movie and leave me grateful. These testimonies are genuine and heartfelt. But justbecause our story doesn’t have the makings of a blockbuster film or best-selling book doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. Giving my life to Jesus and surrendering to Him is a

simple story. But remember this — every story of redemption is a miracle — and that matters.

My Jesus journey began while sitting alone on top of a hill. This sixteen-year-old girl

didn’t have a big, dramatic story of redemption, but it was genuine and meaningful—a precious moment when my life was changed forever.

Every story of redemption matters, and this is mine.

I grew up attending church, Sunday school, and youth groups. Yet, I never knew about

asking Jesus to live in my heart or surrendering my life to Him. Jesus knew what would

happen in my life before I was born. He knew my family would move from Texas to

Arizona before my sixteenth birthday. He had a plan for me.

Attending a new high school was scary, and by God’s grace, I quickly fell in with a

group of students from an evangelical church. These were Jesus’ kids! They knew Him

and talked with Him in a way that was utterly unfamiliar to me. My life was soon filled

with friends, church, a very active youth group, and a musical ministry that traveled

 throughout the country. God knew where this would take me and how I would respond.

Looking back, I can see that the Lord determined my path.

During my second summer in Arizona, the youth from my new church piled on the bus,

and we traveled back to my hometown in Dallas, Texas. At the time, I had no idea we

were headed for the largest youth training event in church history. This Christian youth

event was called Explo ‘72.

According to Christianity Today, approximately 35,000 high schoolers flooded into the

Dallas Cowboys Stadium for the five-day event. In addition to the biblical training, there

were featured speakers, musicians, and delegates. Each day was filled with God’s

word from Edward Hill and Billy Graham. Andrae Crouch and the Disciples, Love Song,

and Johnny Cash filled the stadium with worshipful music. The word of God was

spoken every evening, and at each hotel, a small prayer-praise service was held to

end the day.

After spending a year with my new high school friends, it was at this event that I

accepted Christ as my personal Savior and asked Him to live in and through me. Amid

this huge gathering, I found my way to the top of a nearby hill, alone with my thoughts

and Bible. This is where I met Jesus and knew my life would be changed for good and

forever. My story was not necessarily awe-inspiring, but it’s my story of redemption. As

ready as any 16-year-old girl could be, I was off to follow Jesus, praise Him, and bring

glory to His Kingdom.

When I think of my days at Explo ‘72 and time spent with my Christian friends, I truly

see the fingerprints of God. He’s been my expert tour guide throughout my life. One

day at a time, He skillfully directs my path. He comforts me in sadness, holds me when

I feel alone, and gives me strength when I have nothing to offer. He celebrates every

 small victory and scatters tiny treasures throughout my journey. What a sweet Savior

we serve.

When I reflect on the powerful words of John 5:24, John is telling us that we’ve already

stepped from the world of the dead into the world of the living. The word already is

essential to this sentence. We’re no longer waiting for God to save us. We’ve already

been rescued, redeemed, reclaimed, and renewed.

We should never feel our stories don’t matter. It matters to the God who saved us, the angels who rejoice, and those who encourage us along the way. May we be bold

enough to share our Jesus journey.

Points to Ponder

●     Think of a specific person in your life who’s lonely or having a hard time. How can you be a source of comfort?

●     What would it take to share your faith with a friend, stranger, or loved one?

Resource: Christianity Today

https://www.christianitytoday.com/1972/07/explo-72-godstock-in-big-d/