I just want you you to know that for me, these four words are more than just that, they're a call for help, a confession of weakness, a cry for love . Every time I get myself into a tempting situation, Christ will be there to make a way out. "The Spirit helps us in our weaknness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." -Romans 8:26. Think of Satan as an aggressive pitcher. He's gonna throw you nice juicy pitches for you to hit, certain dilemmas and troubles in life that you'll be tempted to handle alone. I remember I used to have a real struggle with lying to my parents.
Mom: "Jeffrey! Did you hit your brother!" (in the back ground brother's crying like a baby, well he was a baby back then)
Me: "Uh... no.."
Whiff. Strike one. What would end up happening is me building lie upon lie until it would end up me getting spanked, because my sneaky mind exhausted its efforts in conjuring up more tales. At other times, my brother and I would fight over the simplest things.
Andrew: "Jeff-wee, let me see the Nee-tendo now!"
Me: "I got it first."
Andrew: "Share."
Me: "No."
Andrew: "YES!"
Me: "NO!!" (Slapping sound heard, sound of little child squealing with pain)
Whiff. Strike two. Kinda selfish of me, huh? Well, life for 8 years or so was composed of this kinda stuff, a pain for me, my parents, and my poor little bro'. Luckily God doesn't send us to the showers after 3 strikes, otherwise I would have probably been out the day my brother was born. Instead, my parents have been praying, I know they have, for the day to come when I'll be able to grasp a certain principle. And finally that day came.
That day in Sunday School, we learned of God's love for us. Though this has been fed to me since I was old enough to comprehend words, it finally sank in. God... love me? Though I lie, fight, am selfish, God still has the capacity to love me? Well, sure! Thats why he decided, in all his glory, splendor and majesty, to send his son among the filth of the earth, and suffer a horrible death that we could never fathom. God, the Creator of the Universe, hung on a piece of wood, with a spike in the wrist of each hand, and one piercing his feet. And he did it out of love, so we wouldn't have to meet the fate we deserve. For me? Yeah, for that sad little 8 year old brat, named Jeff. This fact being known, I now was presented with a choice. I could accept or deny. Choose the mercy or reject it. And with that "Yes, Lord save me! I want your mercy!" a new life began.
I had the holy spirit with me. Life isn't always peaches, cuz their's still that wily Devil throwing stuff at me, but this time, I got a great first base coach, someone to tell me how to hit that crud out of the park, to be victorious in my daily struggles. I also know I have a great retirement plan as well, as I will be able to spend eternity with my loving father. And what's best of all, he didn't limit it to some people. Everyone has this opportunity to know him. You just gotta... accept. Trust me, it's worth it.
Epilogue: Since I have became a Christian, I was baptized at age 12, a specific command God gave to all his children. Church has become very important to me (cause all church is, is the body of Christ) , and I enjoy going to all its functions, whether its Friday fellowships, Sunday school, sermons, helping out with VBS, going to Youth Camp, Mission Trips, or whatever. All these events, as well as my daily quiet time, help me to grow in an ever stronger relationship with him. And that's what counts.
