My Encounter with my Lord and Savior Jesus!

I grew up in a catholic faith. My grandmother was so active in the church activities and I was with her most of the time. I also attended Catholic school when I was in high school. My faith was already starting to grow about God at that time. I love to pray and attending the church.

I grew up in a poor family, my father was a fisherman and my mother was a nipa maker. We can’t afford to buy even stuff that we need at home. We are already exposed on this kind of life and in fact our tagline was “we work to survive for a day”. We were working to help our parents so we can survive in our daily living.

But growing up I encountered God’s goodness and favors in my life. I attended catholic school because of scholarship (program for the poor family). I attended college because of my aunt Julie’s help and as a working student. To cut the story short, I finished my study and got the degree, work and married. One day when I was in Marikina plaza (Philippines), there were two ladies approached me and shared about Jesus. They articulately speak about the bible verses. When they were gone I became so curious and asked myself why I don’t know even one bible verse. I realized that even I attended catholic school I wasn’t reading the Bible. At that encountered, I started to seek God and prayed to use someone in my life.

When we worked in Dubai I didn’t stop seeking and praying that I will know Him intimately. One day in the shuttle bus going to work, my then busmate Arnie was sitting with me and as our conversation goes she shared with me her faith and testimony about Jesus. I became so excited because I was seeking at that time. She offered me to visit our house to share more about Jesus. To cut the story short again, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior and begins my journey.

My then busmate Arnie became my best friend and mentor. She disciples me until I fully grasp my newly found faith. When I fully understand the love of Jesus, why He died for my sins I became passionate sharing my faith with others too. Romans 5:8 says; “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Loving and knowing Jesus intimately is the best thing happened in my life. My encountered with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changing me from glory to glory. My journey is not finish yet and in fact I’m still working in progress in some area of my life. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, ” Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.”

The Bible tells us that we have all sinned and need a Savior. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” 1 John 1:8 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” All sin is ultimately an act of rebellion against God (Psalm 51:4). As a result, we desperately need a Savior who will forgive our sins. If our sins are not forgiven, we will spend the consequences of our sins in hell forever.

Jesus Christ came to earth and died in our place. His death was an infinite payment for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “Christ didn’t have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” His resurrection from the dead proved that His death was sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 6:8-11).When we believed in Jesus Christ, He identified us as His own by giving the Holy Spirit, whom He promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him forever (Ephesians 1:3-14).

True Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Accepting Jesus as our personal Savior means placing our own personal faith and trust in Him. No one is saved by being good. Ephesians 2:8-9 says,”God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” The only way to be saved is to personally accept Jesus as our Savior, trusting in His death as the payment for our sins and His resurrection as our guarantee of eternal life (John 3:16).

If you understand that you are a sinner and in need of salvation through Jesus Christ, pray this sincerely in your heart,”Father God, I admit that I am a sinner that need a Savior. I am asking for the forgiveness of all my sins. I am trusting You Jesus Christ as my Savior from now on. I believe that Your death and resurrection provided for the forgiveness of my sins. I trust You Jesus alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for saving me and forgiving me! In Your Name I pray, amen!”

Congratulations! The heaven is rejoicing with you! Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents!” As you have made a life-changing decision continue to trust, seek and obey the Lord Jesus. Don’t walk alone! Find a church where you can grow your faith and set a side a moment with Him through reading the Bible and prayer everyday. Loving Jesus is the most beautiful thing in life. God bless!

Here are some of the resources that you can go as you start your new journey of faith with Jesus.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/old-new-testament/next

https://www.gotquestions.org/who-is-Jesus.html

https://joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers

https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions

https://www.davidjeremiah.org/magazine/daily-devotional

https://www.desiringgod.org/topics/devotional-life