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Dennis’ Testimony
This is a story of a father and a child. The child was separated from his father
from birth. The child didn’t really know his father personally, even though he
knew of his father. But his father loved him, and longed to speak to him and
spend time with him. So the father asked his son to meet with him every day to
build a relationship with him and to council him. It came time for the first
meeting, but the child decided he was too busy, and he left his father there
alone. The next day came, and it was time for the second meeting, but the child
completely forgot about the meeting, and he left his father there alone. The
following day came and it was time for the meeting, but the child decided his
day didn’t need the meeting with his father, and he left his father there alone.
I grew up in a loving family in western Nebraska. Our home was a Christian home;
both my parents believed Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for
their sins. I too came to believe in the saving power of Jesus when I was a
child. I grew up going to church, attending youth group and Bible study.
Throughout high school and college, a frequent thought at each of these events
was “Wow, this is really convicting stuff, I need to change my life.” But the
next day, often the next hour after thinking this, I went back to focusing on my
pride, my frustrations and pleasing people. I was convicted on Sunday of my sin
(disobeying God), and Monday I was back in the middle of all my garbage and
struggles. I often chose to ignore my convictions from God; I wasn’t allowing
him to transform my heart and change my life.
The introductory story was my one-on-one relationship with God through High
School and College. God desired me to get to know him as my father, to speak to
me and minister to me every day, to encourage me, and to give me power over the
struggles of sin that day, but I believed the lie that I was too busy, that God
couldn’t change and transform my heart and life. Don’t fall into believing the
lie I believed.
Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s
will is -his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Psalm 18: 1-3 says:
“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my
deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the
horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of
praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Some days I miss my meeting time with Him, and those days are ‘downers’ compared
to the others. God is giving me power to overcome sins that I have struggled
with for a long time. He is transforming my heart and my life through spending
more time with him in his Word (the Bible). Please seek a Bible believing church
where the Word is read and taught – God is powerful to save, change and
transform lives. He will give you the abundant life he promises those who trust
in Christ.
Romans 5:17:
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how
much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the
gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
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