Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: HISTORY (03/10/22)
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TITLE: No Redo All New | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
03/16/22 -
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Desperation and chaos crept into my life. My finances went to pieces and my wife was divorcing me. I thought this was part of life. It felt people were against me and I found I was always defending myself. I was laying in a hole and couldn’t get out. I found myself repeating wrongs and blowing it off. I carried a weight on my shoulders and I couldn’t break loose.
My friend, Frank, had suggested a change of playgrounds and playmates and to try prayer. I hadn’t prayed for years except for the fox hole prayers help me God or lets make a deal. The next day I decided to get out of town and head up to the mountains for a couple of days. Something had to change.
I examined myself and didn’t like the story I was writing for my life. I wanted to find out why I was submitting to these thoughts and actions that were dragging me down. It seemed I had no defense against them. I was battling something much stronger than me. I leaned up against a tree. I closed my eyes and dozed off. A voice woke me. I looked around and no one was there.
I believe in God. I remember I prayed when I was a kid. It was mostly The Lord’s Prayer. Why would God listen to me now? I turned from Him years ago and never looked back. I stumbled through the Lord’s Prayer. After about the fourth try I made it all the way through.
I journaled the events that I thought were life changing. Looking at these what was I thinking? Was I forced into any of these situations? The deeper I looked at myself; it was my own choice. Making the decisions to say and do what I did makes me responsible for my actions. I realize what my friend Frank said to me the other day, “that I was a slave to the world and its way of thinking and acting.” I felt as if I was being herded around.
I returned to my cabin and attempted to call him. No reception. I went down to the lounge to relax and have a bite to eat. I wrote down some of the points Frank talked to me about the other day.
He told me that Jesus set him free. It wasn’t that he wasn’t going to go sinless the rest of his life. He was more aware of his thoughts, speech and actions. He surrendered all to Jesus. He said something that stayed with me since our talk. “Every moment we are writing our history. What are you writing Bob?” He mentioned that we are capable of change but we could not do it alone. “I have a guide, a counselor,” he said, “I can go to for help.” I called Frank. This time he picked up “Hey Bob. What’s going on?”
“I’m up at Mount Lee. Tell me about this counselor you have?”
“When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I received the Holy Spirit. He’s my counselor”
“You mentioned something about surrendering?”
“Yes surrendering my entire life to Jesus. He is the only Authority in my life.”
“I’m not sure He would want me.” I responded.
Frank laughed. “Jesus wants you. He died for your sins.”
“How do I give up my life?”
“By surrendering everything to the Lord. Put your trust in Him, be obedient to Him and seek His will. He wants you is to be like His Son Jesus. Let me tell you right up front that is challenging, but the rewards are unbelievable”
“Frank lets talk when I get back in town.”
Frank refused to get off the phone. I accepted Jesus that night. Since then I have been writing new chapters in my book of life. Chapters I can be proud of and pass on to my children and grandchildren. Chapters about Jesus and how He has made my life so much better.
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Actually, if I may be so bold to suggest it, you are not writing new chapters in your life. The Holy Spirit is. He is the author of our faith, and He keeps authoring until the day we die. It's our task to heed what He writes.