Wonderful

“On the glorious splendor of Thy majesty, and on Thy wonderful works, I will meditate.” Psalm 145:5, NAS.

It is wonderful when you know the Lord! People used to ask me, “Have you been saved?” I had no answer. As a young person no one had taught me much about Jesus. My past embarrasses me. It embarrasses my Lord. I am so grateful for His forgiveness.

As a thirteen year old my parents gave me a lot of freedom to do whatever I wanted. I used my freedom to start smoking and drinking hard liquor. I became sexually active in my late teens. My parents were what I called Christmas Christians – we’d go to church maybe once a year.

I went to Junior College, but it got hard and I quit. I returned to my parents’ house. My life had no direction. I liked making fun of Christians. But when a seminary student came to spend the summer in our village, I decided to go check him out. He spent time with me and explained what the Christian life was all about.

He challenged me by asking, “What purpose is there in smoking, drinking and having sex?” Then he said, “There is no purpose in any of that.” He offered to pray with me, and when we prayed together I felt a difference. It was like I had never really prayed before.

I continued to live as I had before. I remember one time the seminary student saw me smoking. He said, “Why don’t you just eat the cigarette? There is no power in it.” After spending time with this man I wanted to change my life. I thought about spiritual things a lot more. I wanted to go back to school again.

When I shared these things with him, he said, “It’s not what I do that attracts you. It is God at work in your life.” The student was so patient with me. By the end of the summer I was ready to commit myself to follow Jesus. After I prayed to receive Jesus, my life changed completely. I got the chance to go to a training center in the city and grow in my understanding of Christ. I teach a class in my village every Tuesday. Everyone sees a huge difference in my life, and it gives me the opportunity to tell them that the purpose in my life is Jesus! If anyone were to ask me if I am saved, I now have an answer for them!

Pray that:

This young man will continue to grow in grace and knowledge, and that he will have a long and fruitful ministry.

Many young people will come to faith in his village as he teaches every Tuesday.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.