I’ve been blessed to grow up in a loving, Christian home. I grew up going to church and knowing all the Bible stories, but it wasn’t until I was 5 years old that the stories became personal to me.

I remember sitting in my room at age 5, thinking. I’d grown up hearing the stories and singing the songs about how Jesus loved us and died on the cross for our sins so that we could have eternal life. At that moment, however, I realized that I was definitely a sinner. I had tried very hard to be a good kid, but always seemed to find myself getting in trouble – being mean to my siblings, disobeying my parents, thinking bad thoughts about others, etc. No matter how hard I tried to be a good person, I just couldn’t do it. In this moment I realized that I couldn’t be a good person no matter how hard I tried – I was a sinner, and I needed help. I knew that Jesus had died on the cross to save us from our sins, but no longer was it “to save us” – I realized it was to save me.

I remember being nervous about asking Jesus into my heart, but I did it anyways because I knew that I needed a Savior to save me from my sins. So, on that day in my little room I gave my heart to Jesus.

I have been so blessed to have accepted Jesus into my heart at a young age. I’ve been through a lot of changes in my life, had good days, crazy days, and some really hard times too. It has been wonderful to have the assurance of salvation, to have the Holy Spirit to guide me and help me become the person God created me to be, to be able to talk to God about anything and everything, and to have a Friend who understands everything I’ve been through (see Hebrews 4:14-16). God has been by my side every step of the way. He has been faithful, and He continues to be faithful in my life. I cannot imagine going through life without God, because in Him I find hope, joy, peace, and true fulfillment. I have the promise of eternal life when Jesus returns, and I know that promise is true, because God is faithful and He doesn’t lie (see Titus 1:1-2).

I don’t have a crazy testimony that shows a dramatic 180 change, and that’s okay. My testimony really isn’t about me at all – it’s about God and His beautiful faithfulness in my life. I am so humbled and awed to know that the God of the universe loved me enough to give up His perfect Son to save someone like me, someone who disobeyed Him and was deserving of death. God gave us Jesus to die in our place, pay for our sins, and offer us a clean start. My debt was paid through Jesus Christ, and now I am freed from sin and alive in God! Praise God!

If you’re reading this and you’ve never accepted Jesus into your heart, I want to encourage you to do so. This promise of eternal life is for each of us individually. God is calling your name at this very moment, offering to pay the debt of your sins through Jesus’ death on the cross. There is no sin too big or too small to be paid through Jesus’ gift. God is offering you not only forgiveness for your sins, but eternal life for the future, and a fulfilled life for today. In Him we find joy, peace, hope, and meaning. God is calling to you – will you answer?

If you want to accept Jesus into your heart but aren’t sure where to start, that’s okay, because the Bible tells us just how to do so.

First, you need to recognize who God is – our Creator.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. Isaiah 40:28

God is all-powerful and all-knowing. He is our creator, and He created each of us for a purpose, and that purpose is to have a relationship with Him.

Second, you need to recognize what separates us from God – our sin.

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2

as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” Romans 3:10-12

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

To sin means to miss the mark, to disobey God. Every person who’s ever lived (besides Jesus Christ) has sinned. Any sin separates us from God – lying, hatred, envy, adultery, murder, etc. Our sins, no matter how big or small they seem, separate us from God. But God still loved us despite our failures. He didn’t want us to be separated from Him for all eternity, so He made a way for us to return.

Third, realize that God has given us Jesus Christ, who died in our place to pay the debt of our sins and conquer death by rising from the grave!

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 1 Peter 3:18

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7

Jesus died in our place, paying our debt so that we can be justified by His grace. This means that we can have eternal life!

Finally, if you believe these things, then it’s time for you to act.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:38-39

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19

Talk to God and tell Him that you believe these things – you believe He is our Creator, you believe that you are a sinner and need a Savior, and you believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins. Ask God to make you a new creation in Christ, and allow Him to be the King of your life. Then thank Him, because the moment you pray that prayer God answers with a triumphant “yes!”

If you just made the decision to follow Christ, then praise the Lord! God is rejoicing over you, and the angels are singing! Please, contact a trusted Christian friend and tell them about your decision to follow Christ. They can rejoice with you, and also guide you into your new walk with Christ.

If you read all this, but still aren’t sure about giving your heart to Christ, know that I am praying for you, and that God is waiting for you with open arms. I encourage you, if you have questions or doubts about Christianity, to find a pastor and ask your questions. It’s good to ask questions and seek answers. But don’t wait until it’s too late. There isn’t a second chance after you die, so please seriously consider giving your heart to Jesus.

To those of you reading this who have been Christians for a while, I encourage you to share your story! How did you come to know Christ? Share your story on social media, over email or text, or in person. We have the greatest gift and news of all – eternal life is available to anyone who will receive it! Don’t keep that message to yourself. Share it! You have a message that can save someone’s life for eternity, so do something about it!

With love,

Kelsey