"For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." --Psalms 84:10
By God’s amazing grace I was born into a family that loves Jesus Christ and raised me in the fear and admonition of the Lord. I was brought up in the church, so I learned about Jesus Christ from the time I was little. I also attended private school for most of my education, so I was constantly surrounded by and immersed in the influence of believers. At a young age, I “accepted Jesus into my heart,” understanding as much as a six-year-old possibly could.
As I grew up, I continued going to church each Sunday, but I was basically living for myself. Practically, I lived as though I was saved because I was a “good person.” I had mastered the art of compartmentalizing my life. I was a Pharisee (Matthew 5:20). I would attend church on Sunday and Wednesday night and neglect to acknowledge God for the rest of the week. I was constantly disrespectful, disobedient, and dishonoring to my parents. I sought the approval of man rather than God, which manifested itself in my pursuits and goals. I was intensely involved in gymnastics and planned to train for the Olympics. Gymnastics was an idol in my heart, consuming all of my time and energy. It was my strongest passion, not God. I didn’t count the cost of following Christ (Matthew 10:38).
It wasn’t until I was at a winter camp with the junior high group at Grace Community Church that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and showed me I was living hypocritically. It was then I realized I couldn’t rely on my parents’ faith to save me. I had to believe and obey the truths in God’s Word (Luke 13:24-30). I learned that true, genuine, saving faith is a relationship with Christ who died as the ultimate sacrifice and payment for my sins. (Romans 10:9). In a response of thanks for what Christ did for me, I am called to give Him every part of my life—not just Sunday (Romans 12:1). I believe it was then that I truly committed my life to the Lord.
Right away the Lord put trials in my life to prune me and shape me into His image. My mom was diagnosed with cancer. This made me evaluate my priorities and put things into perspective. I began to focus more on significant, eternal matters (Colossians 3:1-2). And for me, giving up myself meant giving up gymnastics. I quit the sport that had once consumed my entire life. Now I had a desire to read Scripture and to spend time with the Lord in His Word. My motives for attending church changed radically. I went because I loved God’s Word and His people (1 John 4:7-8).
I knew once I made the decision to follow the Lord, I should be baptized in obedience to His command, but pride held me back. (Acts 2:38). I thought to have an effective testimony you had to be saved from a life of drugs or outward sin. A leader in the youth group helped me understand the error of my thinking. Salvation is God raising someone from the dead (spiritually speaking). It is a miracle only God can perform (Ephesians 2:1). I was just as dead in my sins and praise God he pulled me from the pit of self-deception. I share my testimony to proclaim what a great and powerful God I serve—no salvation story can possibly be “boring.”
Today I am blessed to be a member of Redemption Church of Northridge where I am able to use the spiritual gifts the Lord has given me to serve the body wherever I am needed (teaching Sunday school, women’s ministry, food team, etc.) The Lord has radically changed my goals and pursuits, and has given me a burden for the lost and a desire for a life of ministry. The Lord has used trials in my life, like the death of my mother, to remind me of my constant dependence on Him. Now, as a new wife, I look forward to growing even more in my walk with the Lord as I spend time in His Word daily and seek to honor Him by loving, serving, and helping my husband.
