Because this is a Christian site, I feel from the Holy Spirit to add in my Testimony as well as to educate people.
Are you saved? Some people think it has to be this big shindig. But it doesn’t. It’s what is in your heart. You don’t have to kneel, be at a church to be saved. When God knows in your heart you are ready to accept Christ, HE will lead you. Believe (in your heart) that Jesus Christ is Lord. Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, the resurrection as Jesus paid for our sins.
Ephesians 2:8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 10:9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Believe in Jesus Christ & ask Him to come into your heart. Repent of your sins. Commit your life to following Him.
& no, it’s not a done deal. We are still human & just ‘cos we are Saved, does not mean all sin will be gone from our lives & our minds. It’s a lifelong struggle & continual repentance. God knows the true heart & honestly knows if you are trying. You can’t hide it from Him like you can w/ man.
Commit your life to following Him. Don’t be all gung-ho & holier than thou like some get (I did!) It’s a baby step by step process. One of the first things to do is find like minded Christians to fellowship with. Don’t dwell too much & think of all you have to do & should do. Let Christ lead the way. If He leads, you won’t go wrong!! If YOU lead, oh boy!, you’ll end up on the wrong path THINKING you were on the right path. Being Saved is giving your life to Christ & letting Him heal your heart & your life.
Will you still struggle? Yes. Will you be happy? Not man’s version of happiness. Now I know I will get some weird responses from that one. I grew up CRC & they were very rigid. You had to be happy & if you weren’t, you weren’t a Christian. If you had a mental disorder, depression, fear, it’s ‘cos you didn’t pray enough.
Being a Christian is not liken to Barbie all w/ smiles that are fake. Being a Christian is filled w/ struggles, tribulations & triumphs. So why bother you may ask. ‘cos everybody in this world struggles & will continue to struggle w/ living. But when you are a Saved Christian, you are not alone. Christ is with you.
So what would you rather have? Struggle on your own or struggle w/ the One who knows what you are going thru?
I have a mental disorder. Depression, anxiety, DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), etc. I was told it was ‘cos I didn’t pray enough or have enough faith. I counter it w/, No, it was ‘cos I was abused!
I have tremendous faith but it took me YEARS to grasp that. I was Saved 6-8-94. It is 14 years later & I am finally grasping what it is like to BE a Saved Christian. I am finally feeling it in my heart. This is in God’s time, not man’s & certainly not in mine.
He wants us to have joy in our hearts. Not fake happiness. But a joy that is deep within. I’m still depressed, still anxious, my mind is still a mess, but… my soul is ALIVE w/ Joy.
That is the difference between man's happiness & the Lord's.
Prayer is wonderful. I do believe God can heal but I also believe He WON’T heal if it’s not in His will, in His plan.
Paul suffered & asked to be healed.
2Cor12:7-10 7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Now healing has a different meaning. Just ‘cos we pray doesn’t mean it will be given to us if it’s not God’s will. BUT God will give us the means. May not heal the illness but will heal the spirit & give us strength to cope.
I’m mentally ill w/ disorders. While I don’t believe God had me be abused (He can’t be in the presence of sin hence why the sky was darkened when Jesus died on the Cross), I DO believe He has given me the means to help myself. I am strong in my faith. He turned abuse & worked my heart & mind so I can help others. I have a gift of writing & a spirit of insight.
How to pray to ask God for forgiveness & to be Saved by Jesus Christ. This is not set in stone. It comes from the heart. When I was Saved, I fell on my hands & knees crying. I felt washed w/ the Holy Spirit. I felt renewed. My heart was alive.
I still was the ‘old’ me but yet I was a new creation.
2Corin 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
I still have my disorders. I still have bouts of severe depression especially in the winter time. I still have a hard time going out w/ anxiety. BUT… I know Jesus is there in my heart, in my mind, in my soul comforting me.
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