Happy birthday to me!

I was born again on December 3, 2003. I was raised in an atheist family in a Godless part of the country. I had no spiritual upbringing and no religious education. Yet Romans 1:20 lived in my heart:

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

In a back recess of my mind and in a small corner of my heart, I understood that there had to be God. God must exist. Nothing made sense without His presence. I understood this because He plants eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Romans 2:14-15 reminds us that we have the law written on our hearts and that our consciences as His moral barometer prick us. (2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:11). From birth, we all know He exists. How we respond to what is in us determines our destiny.

I remember being completely astounded by something that happened to me when I was in my twenties. I came across a bookmark that had the "Footprints" poem on it. Amazingly, I picked it up and actually read it. Usually I just skipped over anything that had Jesus name on it.

Footprints in the Sand
Mary Stevenson, 1936
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

When I got to the last line I burst out crying. I was amazed first because I was even reading something that Had Jesus' name on it, and secondly because I was so overcome by the beauty of the sentiment. Though I was not saved at that time, and I had no knowledge of who Jesus is, my spirit was responding to the simple truth written in my heart. The bible says "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." (1 Corinthians 2:14). Though my sinful mind could not accept Jesus, the law written on my heart cried out for Him. And in His power and omniscience, He heard they cry of my heart. In His timing, twenty years later, I was saved. I called out to Him, fully believing, and I was born again.

Thank you Lord Jesus, for
pursuing me
delivering me
forgiving me
saving me
loving me
growing me

It took 43 years, but I got there. If you have family and friends who are not saved, just keep trusting the verses that tell us He is implanted in us. Keep praying for an activation of the seed of truth that we all have deep in our souls, that Jesus is real, He loves us, and we can be reconciled to Him through His forgiveness of our sins.

Comments

  1. Happy birthday, you young whippersnapper! You seem to be pretty savvy for an 8-year-old! :oD

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  2. Thank you Glenn. LOL! The Holy Spirit brings me along pretty well :) It's nice to have such a perfect teacher!

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  3. Happy Birthday Elizabeth! What a wonderful testimony you have.

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  4. Happy belated birthday Elizabeth. Your story is so great, I have cried to at reading things like that. This post is very meaningful to me. My parents aren't believers, and the other day I asked my father if he will ever stop being angry at God. He said no, and that God wasn't real. I pray that this will change.

    Marrell

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  5. Happy Birthday Elizabeth! Thank you for your encouraging words, as I continue to pray for my family. God Bless you!

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  6. Happy Birthday (belated), sister!!! So happy you are part of my Family!

    Emily, www.extendingeagerhands.blogspot.com

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