A new life in Christ

An outer profession of an inner conversion
Adult Baptism is an awesome experience, as you with confidence experience and share with Christ His cross, as you die to the flesh as the water pours in or on you or over you. You are sharing with Christ the death of the flesh… and as your head rises – it rises in a new hope, you are sharing with him the promises of of God through Christ; your new life and growth to come by the Holy Spirit. Your old man washed away in the waters of baptism!
This is the most awesome experience ever….
Your decision to seek after Christ to learn and grow in his love...to leave who you are behind in hopes of seeking to be more like Christ through his truths and love is a big turning point in life as you know it…
I remember how I felt after my baptism I even prayer “Jesus, take me now---While I am washed clean of the ways of the world”…..So little did I know then …
I remember that time in my life like it was yesterday, I returned to life, the everyday emotions but something was different. Something inside had changed a barely noticeable change at first then I began to take notice….
Every time I would pray the Lords prayer when I got to that word “”as”” we forgive those who trespass against us….I would get stuck right there! Like I had no knowledge of the next line…This really started to work on my mind, I had a lot to be forgiven for – but, I knew through my confession Jesus had forgiven me and washed them all away. Why then every time I pray I get stuck right there and why was I always thinking about:
Who had hurt me…
Who had betrayed me…
Who had angered me…
Who had done unspeakables to me…
Who had never loved me….
Who had abandoned me…
Who had shamed me…
Who had lied about me…
Who had shamed me…
And that is a list that could go on forever, for anyone. However in the beginning my mind would focus on that one person that I knew I could not forgive…. Every time I prayed I thought of them. And I literally argued with God~~~ “God I cannot forgive them”~~~~ they hurt me beyond repair, then I would be able to put it away for a time, then it would start over. Only there was a difference…I began to pray Lord I do not know how to forgive them, please teach me your ways Lord that I might be forgiving….
And God took me on a journey I will never forget for the next several years…As he taught me, that every un-forgiveness was like a piece of stone in my heart, hardening it, and that he loved me, and he writes on the softened flesh of a heart and that soften flesh was found in the heart of those who forgive. And there where a few on my list that literally took years to forgive. You see I was forgiven! but I carrried unforgiveness in my heart towards others.
Over time the flesh of my heart still finds a few stony patches, but I look to Jesus with this prayer “Jesus, I can not find it in my heart to forgive this person, please show me your mercy and guide me to forgive ______ and those I find unforgivable.”
And in time I find myself re-evaluating, finding out something I never knew about the situation, my perception about my feelings seemed to change….Jesus working is what I have always called it! And with every new forgiveness came spiritual growth that was above and beyond measure.
Is forgiveness an important part of Christian walk….It has been for me! It is the event that draws me close to God.   If you do not know what your spiritual state is, look in your heart, see how many pebbles, rocks or boulders of unforgivness are blocking a writing on your heart, or your next spiritual growth experience.
Was it a smooth journey? No! Am I still on it, Yes!
The road to forgiveness began with Baptism for me and has embarked me on a journey above and beyond any boundaries the world can give, into a supernatural love from a supernatural God that creates a super natural inner peace that His only begotten Son gave for those who call on his name. The beauty of it all….. Is the great mercy and love we learn from Christ on our journey. The peace and healing that we find in seeking the truth in the word of God; is amazing, and ours for eternity for when we seek, God is faithful to see to it we find.