back but DIFFERENT...

“Where do I begin?” This is the question I have asked myself so many times in reference to how I will write and share (to whoever will be interested) the details of my life as a new bornagain Christian without being labelled a religion lobbyist.

As it is quite difficult for me to discuss my newfound faith without touching on religion, allow me now to apologize in advance to those who will be offended of the narration that follows.

The history of my faith began way back when I was attending Sabbath school with my nanny who was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It was thru those Saturday church services that I became acquainted with God. I learned what idolatry meant and remembered by heart the rest of God's Ten Commandments thru my Sabbath school teacher. I even practiced excluding pork and shellfish on my diet as it was prohibited by the church. When I turned eight though, my nanny left to take care of smaller children so I just continued to build my relationship with the Lord via the Roman Catholic teachings every Sunday, as this is the religion of my parents.

Years passed, I grew up and, with obedience, went thru the complete routine of having my First Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation as expected of any typical Roman Catholic individual. In fact, even my wedding ceremony was officiated by a relative who was a Roman Catholic priest. However, despite this obedience to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic faith, I continued to be haunted by questions about God and faith which Sunday homilies failed to satisfactorily address or answer. Until time came that I just stopped going to church in absence of any motivation and definite learning.

My husband could not also act as my source of encouragement as he was, himself, uninspired to attend Sunday masses. Our weekends were then spent malling and restaurant-hopping. We were always out indulging in our capacity to quench material thirst but we were not happy. Indeed, there was satisfaction brought about by material acquisition but it was fleeting. Shallow. Our weekends then became totally routinary and boring.

When we had our child, all the more did this longing for spiritual fullness became prominent. I did not want my child to grow up without a strong knowledge of who God is. As parents, my husband and I were also incapable then of providing this to our child with ourselves being “out-of-track” faithwise, so to say.

Indeed, on the one hand, my husband, having been exposed to Christian teachings by way of the Alliance Church, was a lot fortunate to have already gained the basic idea of what “faith” means. However, I, on the other hand, was entirely clueless. I was always “worry and panic” personified when trials came my way. Whenever my husband would tell me to have faith in God, I could not grasp at all what he meant. It was an intellectual ordeal for me.

But he prayed and I prayed. Until time came when the Prayer of Salvation was spoken in one of my work-related meetings and I decided, in tears, to receive Christ and made Him my personal savior. After that remarkable step, the Lord then began to aggressively move not only in my life but also in my family.

It then did not take long for God to bring me and my husband to the Church where He wants us to worship Him in. Since then, I am proud to declare that I am finally “living in fullness everyday” through God's words.

To those of you out there who may be experiencing spiritual discontentment, I urge you to be attentive to your feelings as God is probably trying to tell you something. Pray to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit who dwells in all of us for guidance so you will be led to the path and life that the Almighty Father has already prepared for you.

I am also posting here a copy of the Prayer of Salvation. As this has ushered me towards God, I am confident that such will also be its role in your life if you just open your heart and mind to the Lord.



PRAYER OF SALVATION

"Dear Heavenly Father, You have called me to Yourself in the name of Your dear Son Jesus (Yeshua). I realize that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life; and is the only Mediator between You and man.

I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner. I believe that Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross, died for my sins, and rose again on the third day. I am truly sorry for the deeds which I have committed against You, and therefore, I am willing to repent (turn away from my sins). Have mercy on me, a sinner. Cleanse me, and forgive me of my sins as I forgive anyone who has ever sinned against me.

I truly desire to serve You, Lord Jesus. Starting from now, I pray that You would help me to hear Your still small voice. Lord, I desire to be led by Your Holy Spirit so I can faithfully follow You and obey all of Your commandments. I ask You for the strength to love You more than anything else so I won't fall back into my old ways. I also ask You to bring genuine believers into my life who will encourage me to live for You and help me stay accountable.

Jesus, I am truly grateful for Your grace which has led me to repentance and has saved me from my sins. By the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit, I now have the power to overcome all sin which before so easily entangled me. Lord Jesus, please transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to You alone and not to myself.

Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my life. With my heart, I believe that God the Father raised His Son Jesus from the dead. This very moment I acknowledge that Jesus Christ (Messiah Yeshua) is my Savior and according to His Word, right now I am born again. Thank You, Jesus, for coming into my life and hearing my prayer.
I ask all of this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."