My Spiritual Journey

 When I think back on my spiritual journey, I can't help but laugh at times.  Being someone who grew up in the church, I know that I spent many times going to the altar to give my life to Jesus.  Sometimes, it was because there was gift for those who converted.  Other times, it was the emotional response to the message where I was so scared of going to hell that I would do anything to avoid such a punishment.  But there was one time in which it was more real than any other.  I was nine maybe ten when there was a message that really spoke to me about giving my heart to God.  I wish I could remember the passage, but I remember the message,  You don't have to keep praying for Jesus to come into your heart.  You can have that peace and assurance everyday.  It really helped me move beyond initial conversion towards a deeper spiritual life beyond the fear of hell and into the love of God.

After that conversion, I began to listen more to what sanctification meant.  This "Second Blessing" is what every Christian needs in their lives.  I heard countless messages on the matter.  Some shared it as absolute freedom from sin.  Others spoke about it being another trip to the altar.  Each time I heard about sanctification, I became confused.  No one really gave a full concrete explanation to me.  It was abstract and mysterious but so simple to others.  It was until I began to look outside my Wesleyan tradition that I started to see it more as the deeper life which God wants for each of us.  Its the rest of our journey through this life until God calls us home, and even then we will entering a whole new type of relationship with Him.  So for me now, sanctification means continuing to grow in my relationship with God throughout this life and to look back on that journey knowing I am walking deeper with God today than I was five years ago.

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