Then one Sunday night, when I was 6 years old, I walked down the aisle to accept Jesus into my heart. But that night, I did it for the wrong reasons. A girl a little younger than me had been baptized that night and when I saw her go through the waters, I didnt understand why I hadn’t done that. I knew that it was because you had to go down and accept Christ, so that night that was exactly what I did. I knew in my head that He died for me and that I was a sinner, but it was my heart that hadn’t yet truly grasped that knowledge. So I went along for a few more years, thinking I was saved JUST BECAUSE I walked down the aisle that night. Then, at an Impact Weekend in the 7th grade, we had a special speaker that Friday night. I remember I was up in the balcony because there were no more seats on the main floor. The speaker was talking about all God did for us and how He had DIED because He LOVED ME that much. He wanted me to love Him back and and to bring glory to Him. He had taken on ALL my sins and forgiven me! It was then that I truly realized how worthless I was without Him truly in my heart and changing me. That was my moment of brokenness. That night I truly accepted Him and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was in me and changing my heart and I then TRULY appreciated what He had done for me.

Life with Christ is not easy but we were never promised that it would be. However, along with the trials come blessings beyond what we could imagine. When sorrow knocks at our door, joy is there to turn it away. Christ has been my hope in times of need, my joy in times of sorrow, my peace in times of distress, my comfort in lonliness. Christ died for ME. Christ died for YOU. He is our Father. He is our Savior. And He cares about you more than you can ever fathom. HE is the true meaning of LOVE.