A Living SacrificeSample

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." (Romans 12:2a ESV)

Once we give our lives to Christ, and we die to our old self, things don’t change instantly. Now begins a new journey of discovery and perspective shifting. In my own story, I was 13 when I made a heartfelt profession of faith. With tears rolling down my cheek and with words hardly intelligible, I prayed the “sinner’s prayer” - Lord I confess I’m a sinner. I turn from my sin and place my faith and trust in You. I followed that prayer with baptism, and felt clean for about a day.

Unfortunately, no one discipled me, meaning that no one helped me understand God’s Word or the daily disciplines of being a Christian. So, my life mostly looked like every other unbeliever in the world for the next 17 years. I do believe something happened when I was 13 and prayed that prayer, for God was always on my mind and I had conviction when I would sin. I considered myself a believer, but I now see that I was not a follower. Then, at 30 years old, as a new father and a new business owner, I finally realized my life plan and perspective needed to change, especially if I was going to be a good father to my precious baby girl.

God prompted me to sign up for a "Promise Keepers" conference for men in Texas Stadium, where 65,000 men gathered to hear about being the spiritual leaders of their families. Jesus touched my heart in a powerful way, and I was determined to figure this Christian thing out. I liken my story to Mark 8:22-25 (NIV), where Jesus met a man blind since birth. He touched his eyes and asked him what he saw. He said “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Jesus touched him a second time, and it says, “His sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”

Jesus touched me at 13, but things were fuzzy. When he touched me a second time at age 30, I saw clearly that things needed to change. I was ready for a new way of thinking and living.