Shopping for Peace
As recently as one and a half years ago, I felt I needed a substantial change in my life. I was living in darkness and I needed light.
I faithfully attended Sunday School when I was young. I also went to church services – sometimes even by myself. Then I became a teenager and all my sensibilities went out the window.
As I got older, my life became very materialistic. I loved to shop. I lived to shop. I won’t bore you with my spending habits, but who needs 30 tablecloths, with matching placemats? Not even my husband’s objections could stop me.
When my son Jamie was critically hurt, our family doctor prepared us for the worst. As we rushed to Sick Kids’ Hospital, I felt a warm feeling come over me. I didn’t pay attention. When I think about that now, I think, “Wow! I should have responded to God then.” But I kept on doing it my own way.
Finally I knew I wanted to turn back to God, but I didn’t know how to go about it.
That’s when my son Jamie answered an ad for a drummer at a local church. I felt I should go hear him play, but it took awhile. Trevor, the church’s music director, and Jamie kept asking me to attend a service. I made excuses at first, but finally I gave in.
I’ll never forget entering that church and being greeted by a warm and friendly person. The sermons inspired me to keep coming back.
On October 23, 1995, sitting at my kitchen table with Trevor and Jamie, I prayed and accepted Christ into my life.
You know, life is like driving your car down a road. Suddenly Christ confronts you and you realize you are going the wrong way. So you move over, let Him take the steering wheel and together, you make a u-turn.
Although it didn’t happen overnight, I can now say the thought of going to the mall doesn’t excite me like it once did. I still have problems, but now I confront them knowing I have Christ’s strength behind me. I feel much calmer about life and more at peace with myself.
Are you secure in God’s love for you? God wants to be our leverage in living, empowering us to feel better about ourselves, more excited about our future, more grateful for those we love and more enthusiastic about our faith.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has given you His Holy Spirit to help you live life according to His perfect plan. Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite Him to fill you with His Spirit:
Dear Father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
