Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Sanctification (02/19/26)
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TITLE: Simply Sanctified | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gloria Turowski
02/25/26 -
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Ever since I was little girl, in the seventies, I can remember my mom taking me to church and telling me about the love of Jesus. I watched her live a Christian life but was never interested in living the way she chose. It was not until 1996 that I made the decision to accept Jesus as my Savior. This made my mom so happy and we spent many evenings talking about God and studying His Word together.
However, my decision did not come easy. My sister had recently become a Christian, and I was curious about her newfound faith. She always accused me of being a copycat, and this time would be no different. I just couldn’t accept Christ without research, so I began reading the Bible. For whatever reason I chose Ecclesiastes. By the end of the book, I had asked Jesus into my life. I began going to a charismatic church with my mom and sister. I wanted everything God had to offer. I was baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. I loved my new life in Christ and felt complete joy.
I became a bold Christian and would talk about God to anyone who would listen. I went to church when the doors were open and attended tent revivals. At one revival the preacher prayed over me and said, “Something was going on in my head.” One month later, I was locked in a psychiatric ward believing the mob was following me. So, yes, something was going on in my head. I had inherited my mom’s bipolar disorder. Just as I watched my mom walk her Christian life, I also watched her suffer through bipolar illness. Now I would also suffer depression and the occasional manic episode.
I finally was able to come home, but at that point I doubted my salvation. My delight in being a Christian shattered as I couldn’t understand why God would allow His child to experience this horror. I wasn’t the same in my Christian walk then and honestly have not been since. My sister believed that it was an attack by the devil. I was the bold type, and the devil didn’t want me to damage his kingdom. I believed her to an extent, but really, I thought it was nothing devious, just my bipolar having another round at me.
Through the years I’ve run far from God, believing that I could not get back what I lost. God showed me that looking back was my problem. I only had to live in the present and trust Him. That is where I am today, learning daily to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, praising and honoring God through prayer, reading, studying His word, and being a part of the body of Christ. To me that is living the sanctified life, and it’s teaching me to become more Christlike.
Footnote: This is a true story
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