Ways To Give

Celeste's Thoughts on Spirituality

Written by calvin

my faith | how I changed

My spiritual journey:

>I used to be mainly interested in boys and relationships with boys. I also liked school, volunteering, and sports. Because I was so interested in boys and their approval of me, I made a lot of bad relationship decisions. I got involved sexually at an early age.

>Growing up going to church, I have always believed in God and Jesus, but I didn’t know much about them. I was mostly religious.

I relied on myself. I had a great family. I did well in school. I was relatively popular. I tried to be a ‘good’ person. That gave me confidence.

>In my first year of university, I got involved in a Bible study group with some Christians on campus. People kept talking about accepting Christ. I realized that I had never done this

, and could not think of any reason not to, so as I lay in bed one night, I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and to come into my life and change me.

>There were no outward changes in my life until about a year later. That’s when Jesus became real to me. Suddenly, there was a definite heart change, from within that came from God. I certainly didn’t cause the change.

I was always singing, and I was just so delighted with God. I had a huge desire to study the Bible, and I learned to look at Him and his words (the Bible) for answers, rather than myself. He has a much better plan than I do.

My priorities changed. And I focused more time getting to know God.

>I struggled a lot initially with my faith. It wasn’t so much a struggle of believing in God, but it was more of a struggle of living a life that would please Him. There are some things I wanted to change in my life that I know weren’t good for me, but I didn’t know how.

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Overcoming hurtful relationships:

>I wanted to change my bad habits in relating to guys and getting involved sexually. God’s greatest way of helping me was to bring a strong man into my life – a man with great integrity – who would not initiate any sexual activity with me. I married that fine man.

I stopped caring what guys thought of me. In fact, I started avoiding guys altogether. I had enough!! That was the biggest change in my life.

>Now I have something good to offer people. I’ve become excited to share my faith with other people. As He’s changed me, He has used me to influence other women and help them know Him and grow in Him.

>God has helped me find purpose through His Word, and His still, soft voice. I love God. He is exceedingly kind to me. My purpose is to know Him and to help others know Him.

>Every student needs God. We think we are so smart, but we really know very little. Only Jesus brings the satisfaction and direction we are all looking for.

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More about Celeste

Related reading:

• Questions about spirituality? Read our spirituality articles
• What’s your Spiritual Interest Quotient? Take our SIQ quiz and find out
• How you can know God personally
• Back to Student Profiles

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