Born Again

To be honest, when I turned 29, something in me shifted.

The fact that I turn 30 next year, is certainly part of it, but that in and of itself is an allegory or is symbolic of what has occurred thus far.

The end result of that shift has been my rebirth in Christ, a conscious decision to welcome God and his way of doing and being into my life in the practical sense, meaning being OBEDIENT, or attempting to walk out AUTHENTIC Christianity.

No doubt-walking the walk is a process, but it's a process that can be successful because Jesus said so. He left us the ultimate teacher, comforter, and healer- the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the person to help us consecrate ourselves. I certainly welcome the consecration process now, because I realize two things, that: a) God offers everything that he does out of his LOVE for us. The world's way of doing and being is designed to kill us nice and early. Deuteronomy 30:19 says "I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live."b) Holiness, or having submitted to Christ is POWER unlocked. James 4: 7 says, "Submit to God. Resist the devil (stand firm against him) and he will flee you."

I spent my twenties hurting. My childhood and adolescence spat me out into adulthood at the age of 18, and I left my original environment bleeding emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

I was in so much pain, that rather than face it, I tried to hide it even from myself. I went looking for love from men, from people, when I had no clue what love was or how to give it to myself. I spent many a night crying out to God from the depths of my soul, in anger and desperation. No one had ever told me or prepared me for the life that was within me. If I could say one thing to parents, it would be you haven't done your job as a parent, if you have only taught your children to deal with the life that exists outside of them, i.e., job, education, etc. We have to teach our children how to deal with their inner man. Proverbs 4: 23 says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilence and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." People who don't know how to manage their hearts, grow up to be people who don't know how to manage the hearts of others. They grow up to be criminals, and all the things that you don't want your child to become.

So, I thought my inner life was something I just had to "handle," or "manage," but I couldn't. I spent my twenties, going through experiences that literally brought me to where I am now: my knees, and the welcomed birth of not only the new me, but the true me: child of light, daughter of the Most High God, disciple of Jesus Christ, overcomer, more than a conqueror, HEPZIBAH, the one in whom he delights!

Walking with the Lord means many things, but one thing that is most beautiful to me is the realization that walking with the Lord, means FREEDOM, not BONDAGE. Do I want to be free? YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES. YES.

Do you?