What was life like before you met Jesus?
For the first parts of my adult life I would have considered myself lost, blind and a self destructive mess. I was going through life without purpose and doing things without justification. I was raised properly but still found a way to wander down the wrong path. I thought there was no return from the path I wandered down. I was addicted to the streets and everything that came with it. When I say I was addicted, I mean I was addicted to anything I could get my hands on (drugs). I was in and out of jail, which eventually led to me having to go to prison. I did some unspeakable things. I was so out of control that I was stealing from the people I loved, and anyone I thought was against me. I got involved with some horrible people which eventually led to me losing a lot of my friends and experiencing loss and trauma that I thought I could never come back from. My life of addiction and loss left a void in my heart and in my soul. I tried filling that void with anything possible and nothing was working. It led to me being further astray from my family and I kept further down the wrong path.
How did you meet Jesus?
The first time I met Jesus or even considered listening to anyone who talked about Jesus was when I was incarcerated at Linn County Jail. There were Bible studies twice a week where we could go listen to jail ministers. That was the first time I met Nick and his Father, Don. I was completely intrigued because the things they were saying were completely making sense to me. It sounded like something I could look into a little deeper. I always told myself I would go to church when I got out but time and time again that wasn't enough. I didn't have the self control to make that step and actually go to church but every time I went to jail I would pick up a Bible. Anytime someone asked about having a bible study, I was there. I suppose it felt like God was talking to me through these Bible studies. I started praying while in prison that God would take my addictions away. I would speak with him and ask him to make me the version of myself that he wanted me to be. I realized that it was out of my control because I had tried to stop using and stop hustling, but nothing ever worked. This made me realize I had to rely on someone greater than myself. So why not trust the creator of everything himself? I had to ask Jesus for forgiveness because I know he is the only person that could forgive me for everything I’ve done. At that moment I realized I had to trust God with everything in my life because everything I do is for God.
After being saved by Jesus what is your life like now?
God has become the pillar/foundation of my life. I literally give thanks to him for everything. He has put people in my life that are an absolute blessing. He does things for me everyday that I cannot even explain. The spiritual family I have now is so good to me and that is all thanks to God. My family is slowly becoming a part of my life again. He has taken all of my addictions away and has blessed me with people I love that help fill the void in my heart. God does that most of all. As long as I put him first in everything and do everything for him, in my mind and in my heart, I feel like I have absolutely nothing to worry about because it’s all a part of his plan for me and my life. The fact that Jesus died for me so that I am forgiven for the things I’ve done is absolutely astonishing. It feels like the greatest weight has been lifted off my shoulders and it's all thanks to Jesus dying on the cross and being raised from the dead. He will forever be my Savior. I feel blessed to know I will forever be with Christ. “Because if you declare with your mouth Jesus Is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9. God bless you, Jesus is Lord.