All my life, I desired popularity and perfection. No matter what I achieved, I never reached my own expectations. I excelled in track and field and softball, but I hated to lose or come in second. I was voted class princess twice-but never queen.
My high school years were kept busy with tanning, exercising and partying. And I derived my self-worth from these things. At graduation, I received an athletic scholarship for softball. This should have fulfilled me in some way, but it didn't. Something was still missing in my life but I couldn't pinpoint what it was.
The summer before college, I recall vacationing with some friends in Arizona. I found myself alone in a hotel room so I turned on the television and there was Billy Graham. I sure identified with his description of a person bottoming out. A few months later, my brother and sister-in-law invited me to a play. The main character's search for something to fill her emptiness mirrored mine. She found only Jesus could satisfy her and I realized I needed Jesus too. At the end of the play, the emcee prayed a prayer for all who wanted to receive Jesus into their lives. I prayed silently with him and a huge weight was lifted from me.
That week, I began a new adventure. I started attending church on a regular basis and reading my Bible. I discovered God loves me for who I am and not what I achieve. This changed my self-worth dramatically because I now live for God and not myself. My relationships with people have increased tremendously and are much deeper because I try to serve them and they appreciate that.
The verse I would use to describe my life now is, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (II Corinthians 5:17).
When I first became a Christian, it was lonely to leave my friends and embark on a new life. At times, I wondered if I should go back. But I remember the emptiness of that life and I'm glad I've stayed with God. I can honestly say I am happier now than I've ever been before.
Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here's a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?
If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you'll experience life to the fullest.
