When I was young, it was very important for me to please my teachers and parents. I thrived on people telling me they were proud of me. That was my motivation: to please those around me. One of the most devastating things to me was for my daddy to say he was disappointed in something I did wrong. Likewise, I found out at about nine years old that some things I did disappointed someone even greater to me-my Heavenly Father. At that tender age, I was aware that sin in my life was separating me from God. It did not please God for me to be on “the other side.” I sensed strongly the need to give my life to God.

I responded to the call to surrender control of my life to God at Roebuck Baptist Church in 1979. I recall that I was scared of the preacher and nervous about “going down” to the front to tell him I wanted to be saved. But I was determined to obey the urge I had within me. I asked my daddy to go with me. I was so relieved to make that decision and mend the separation I had between me and God.

From that moment, I knew that I was a precious child of God. Because Jesus paid the price for my sin, I could now draw closer to God, my Father. I started a sweet spiritual journey. I haven’t been a perfect Christian. I have slipped up as most of us do. But I have a real peace in my heart and mind because I know that as I let Christ control my life to enable me to live a holy life, I am pleasing God. Sometimes I imagine Him bragging about me to Moses or Paul. I enjoy him spoiling me with wonderful blessings on a daily basis. It gives me such tremendous joy to know I have a real relationship with a loving God who is pleased with me. Let me ask you…is your life pleasing to God?