 |
|
 |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
     
|
|
Christ's Gentle and Patient Love has Finally Won me over after Many YearsI have been a Christian most of my life, but I did not have much joy for many years, until the past year. Previously, I sought the enjoyment of the world. Although I did have a lot of fun what I had was only temporary at best; and when the fun ran out, I had to look for more. It was especially during the night time that I would sometimes feel a deep sense of loneliness and emptiness, even if I'd had a really good day at school. In the beginning of this year, God led me to read a book written by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale that gave me an initial turn in my life. Dr. Peale's book helped to soften and open my heart to God, and allowed me to find a new sense of joy and happiness in the Word of God. Although I felt so much more happier and felt that my depression was cured, I still could, not and did not want to, give up my worldly enjoyment. It was not until a fall Christian college retreat that I had a major turn in my life. The speaker gave a really strong and powerful message that really touched me. He said that we all need to contact the Lord on a regular basis, both on our own and with companions. If we do not do this, whatever enjoyment and enlightenment we received from retreats and conferences will just leak out. Because I was, and still am, so touched by Christ, I have been contacting God on a consistent basis. I now just naturally have a desire to read the Bible and ministry books. I have struggled for many years to become a “devoted Christian” by my natural self-effort to no avail because deep within that was not what I really wanted to do. I think I did eventually just give up, either consciously or unconsciously. It was finally when I ceased my self-efforts that God had a way to gradually work His way into my heart to finally touch me at that retreat. Now I can truly testify that I really appreciate Christ's sweetness, gentleness, and patience. He is not a God that will force anything on us. When the time is right, He will touch us in our spirit and soul to the point that we will just spontaneously, without any self-effort, pursue after Him, and have the desire to let go of worldly things. Now I am really enjoying the local church, especially the college meetings. The full-time Christian workers who serve on the campus have been especially helpful in shepherding me (John 21:16) to help me grow in my spiritual life. And I am very thankful that God has given me companions to run after Him together. For I know that running the race to seek after the reward cannot only be an individual pursuit but must also be a corporate one as well (Hebrews 12:1; Philippians 3:14). Flora Chen | Back to List |
|
|
Home
|
|
