Joy: 37-Day DevotionalSample

I was saved at the age of seven, with knees knocking, after revival one night. I was baptized at the age of twelve, in a small country church. In the south, church is a part of life. Even though church had been a way of life for me, there was something missing. I did all the necessary “get out of hell free things”. Jesus speaks to us in John 10:27–28 and tells us that no one can snatch us from Him. Yet, so many times I have questioned my salvation. 

The missing element, I later discovered in my latter 20’s, was an intimate relationship with Christ. So many times, we feel like getting saved is the end of our journey as a Christian, when in all reality, it is just the beginning. I did not begin this relationship with Christ until my whole world came crashing down in 2015. My marriage had hit rock bottom and the only way back up was the hem of Jesus’ robe. 

Life is chaotic, and for many years prior to 2015, I tried to make my own way in this world. Psalms 46:10 tells us when we are still and listen to our Father, He will direct our paths. Let’s be honest here: I’m not the best listener. But, when my life crumbled to shambles, being still and listening to my Creator was the only way to get my marriage and my life back on track. He knew what would bring me to my knees and make me depend not on myself, but solely on Him.

I will forever be grateful for those trials God allowed me to go through. He brought me to my knees and made me realize I needed Him. I needed to be more than “saved”. I needed to know Him personally. 

Father, thank You for the lows. Thank You for showing me that I cannot direct my path. Help me and others reading this to share our testimony in a way to bring others to the kingdom of heaven. Amen.