Can it really be 50 years ago today that the Lord saved me? I will always remember that morning of June 10, 1971—the beautiful day God chose to draw me to Himself through His Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
I was 10 years old and my parents had separated. My mom, two brothers and I had moved into my grandfather’s house. It was our 3rd time moving that year. His house was right next door to a church.
I started going to the church with my younger brother and cousin sometimes—but that particular morning, I had gone to church alone. I remember sitting there on the left side of the church about 4 rows back, watching and listening to the preacher.
I wish I could remember the sermon but all I remember is how I felt. I felt convicted of being a sinner in need of a Savior!! I learned how Jesus was God’s Son and how He came to earth because He loved me even though I was a sinner. He shed His blood for me to take my place so I could be saved. He paid for my sin. I needed to ask Him to be MY Savior and to be MY Lord. I needed to thank Him and ask Him to forgive me.
When the invitation time came—as we sang “Just As I Am”— I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit drawing me to the altar. I took the first step and walked the aisle to where I kneeled down and prayed. I don’t remember the exact words I prayed but I asked Jesus to save me.
I will never never never forget how BRAND NEW I felt when I stood back up. I know beyond a doubt God saved me and the Holy Spirit came to live inside me that day!!!
I had never felt anything like that before. Can it be—it’s been 50 years??? : )
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His spirit, washed in His blood
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior, am happy and blessed
Watching and waiting, looking above
Filled with His goodness,
lost in His love,
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long.”
Truly—it doesn’t seem like it but the beautiful thing is—I’m still His. Although I wasted many years of my life in sin, He never left me. God has been so merciful and longsuffering!!
I wish after that day He saved me, I had stayed in church and been discipled. But my life was very traumatic during those years after my parents divorced. It was several years before I began riding a church bus and was around preaching again.
I understand now why it’s so important after a person gets saved to continue in God’s Word. It’s how we have a personal relationship with Him and get to know Him more and more.
Mostly through the years, I only prayed when I was in trouble and needed God’s help. Or while in my addiction I would pray and ask His forgiveness after drinking. I prayed many, many times for deliverance.
I knew I was saved yet I was living wrong, but couldn’t stop. I felt so much chastisement and my heart condemned me to the point I wanted to die rather than go on living that way.
As I share this it’s hard to imagine that life now. God so gloriously delivered me from that sinful stronghold that I am FREE INDEED!!! I praise and thank Him every day. I share the story of how God delivered me HERE.
But now, on this 50th anniversary of the day God saved me, my heart is sad for the many years I wasted not following and serving Him—but I’m thankful He has made it possible for me to have this blog where I can share my story for His glory!!
My prayer is my story will give hope to those who are struggling with sinful strongholds, that God’s power is REAL and there is nothing too hard for Him!!! Never give up.
Here’s the lyrics to a song that’s very special to me. When God brought me to RU Recovery Ministry in Rockford, Illinois 14 years ago, we sang this and it ministered to my heart so much!! After defiling myself in addiction for so many years—this was the truth my heart needed to understand—that it was possible for me to be delivered and completely cleansed from addiction—that it’s through the Blood that we are cleansed and made whole. God’s redeeming love is EVERLASTING!!!
“It’s Through The Blood”
“When I think of Heaven and all the sights I'll see
The walls of jasper, gates of pearl
The clear and golden street
Why should I be present?
Why should I enter in?
After all the sinful living
and the wicked one I've been
In the Presence of Jehovah
As I stand before the throne
The accuser of the brethren
Starts to read the things I've done
As I hear the awful charges
The question fills my mind
Why should I not be put in hell
To suffer for all time?
It's through the blood
That's all I have to plea
It's through the blood
That Jesus shed for me
Not by works of my own righteousness
For filthy rags are they
But because of that old rugged tree
Hanging on dark Calvary
That is my only plea
It's through the blood
When I'm walking through a valley
And I feel there's no way out
The wind of sorrow threaten me
And they turn my world around
That's when I look to Jesus
And the price He paid for me
I can lift my hands in praise to Him
And shout the victory.”
