At age nine, one Sunday morning after being baptized, I sat on the edge of my bed with the idea of painting my fingernails bright red while wearing my white dress. That went about as well as you can imagine.
Upon reflection, I now realize this was a superb foreshadowing of my sin-stained purity and innocence. It followed me from my teenage years into adulthood—stains only God could restore, at age 47, through the blood-stained lamb of Jesus.
That’s a long time to carry the weight of sins, shame, and guilt without knowing Jesus as I do now. Still, God had plans for me—plans I had no way of seeing at the time. He rescued me from an abusive relationship, spared my life in a tragic accident that took my sister’s life, and showed me a new way to live. For the first time, kneeling, I asked God what He wanted—and the weight lifted immediately. It is never too late to make a U-turn.
Looking back, I see how the grace of God covered me even before those fiery trials. He kept me protected, though I was unaware and naïve to the enemy’s tactics on a path destined for disaster, pain, and heartbreak.
Nevertheless, I was restored to purity, like a water lily—a bloom that emerges from the mud. Only God, in His infinite wisdom, grace, and love, could redeem me and use my testimony for good to fulfill His purpose and bless me by helping others see a different path—a path I didn’t know existed during my hiatus from God—a path shrouded in lies, doubt, and deceit.
The enemy turns up the heat, twisting the truth and convincing us it’s okay to pursue happiness by following our hearts and to seek momentary pleasure by making sinful acts appear pleasant and desirable. At the same time, God wants a better life for us, one marked by joy, peace, freedom, and love, regardless of our circumstances. He desires an intimate relationship with us that makes all our other relationships better. The path to freedom, paved with stones of grace, provides a solid foundation for navigating this life and its many stumbling blocks.
Jesus is our guide through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Him, we have mighty weapons to destroy strongholds, restore peace, and make the devil take a hike, shooting him in the foot before he can get it through the door. With a whisper of Jesus’ name, we can thwart his plans (Eph. 6:12-18).
Friend, if you’ve experienced baptism and called upon Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and to proclaim Him the Son of God, you have the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and spiritual weapons —use them to fight for your freedom and do not turn back to your old path. I encourage you to pursue a relationship with God that draws you closer and makes Him your first love.
If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Freedom, peace, and forgiveness await you. You don’t have to face this world and its many vices alone. Confess Jesus as Lord, repent of your sins, and let the waters of baptism refresh your soul and wash away the dirt of your past. Believe me, no bar of soap is big enough to do that on our own… Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6, ESV).
The grace of God is big enough to cover all our sins, no matter what they are. If God saved someone as broken as me—He can save you too.
Grace, be with you.
Love God. Love People.
Let God sort out the rest.
“Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).
Faith Walk Ministries, Inc. 