I accepted Christ lying on my bed

John 14: 27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

After I graduated and started working, I was invited by one of my best friend’s girl friend to join him and his girlfriend then to visit His Harvest Church. My friend was not a Christian but his girl friend was. We were on good terms and I agreed to their invitation out of boredom.

It has been a long time since I attended a church service. That time Pastor Amos was preaching. I had my reservations on what he was talking about and he sounded very aggressive. However I was drawn to the things he said in church and hence I tried to attend the service on and off for a few months. One of the main reasons was also to avoid letting my parents know that I am attending church services on Sunday mornings. Christianity is a taboo subject in my family. I was severely warned by my mum when I was younger never to become a Christian as long as she is alive. I was very close to my mid twenties then but the same fear was still in me. However I do not feel good about being so shady attending church services. After leaving my contact with the church during my first visit, there was once Pastor called and wanted to invite me for coffee, I told him it was not necessary and turned down his offer. First I had enough of Christians hounding me in the past and it was the last thing on my mind to have a pastor calling me. To me, they were like “pests”, with the only intention to get me “saved”.

However there was one particular night during those months that I was not able to sleep due to a great deal of stress from problems and issues arising from my relationship with my parents, my girl friend (now wife), career and myself attending church services shadily. I also believe I was very convicted by the Holy Spirit that night regarding accepting Christ. It was around close to 2.30am. I was lying on my bed and struggling to sleep. It had never got so bad in my life that it prompted me to challenge God. While I was still lying on my bed, I raised my hand up pointing at the ceiling saying,” God, Jesus, if You are real, You give me the peace I need now and I will tell my parents I want to be a Christian, I will dedicate my life to You and I will tell them I want to attend church conscience free.” I think I said it twice and immediately I felt a thick layer of tangible peace slowly flowing inside me, from the top of my head down to the bottom of my sole. It was as if someone was pouring oil into me and inside of me. Slow, thick and viscous. I tried to act frustrated physically to test the reality of this peace but I just cannot do it, the muscles just relaxed.

The next morning when I woke up, I did not have a good sleep due to the short hours of it but I said to myself.” This is bad, I cannot deny that experience last night and I had better do what I promised.” That evening after work, I want to break the news to them. It was not easy and I had to overcome the fear that they would be infuriated. I was pacing around in my room, thinking of what to say and how to tell them. Doubts came to my mind and I kept procrastinating each time I wanted to go out of my room and do it. Eventually I still brought myself to tell them over dinner. The news was shared and I could feel a sense of resignation in their voice. “You are old already, we cannot control you anymore,” was their response. Their reaction was not as antagonistic as I thought it would be. Deep down inside me, I could feel a sense of release and elation. It was as if I won a battle. However following the next few days, the atmosphere was tense at home and I could feel a sense of animosity in the air.

Nevertheless life had never been the same since then. Gradually, God molded me to become a better person from inside out. It was hard to obey God’s guidance at times though particularly in the area of character adjustment. However today, I know that my parents knew that something changed in me. I was never the same person as before. The animosity slowly faded and my relationship with them got better. Praise God and all glory must be given to Him.

John 14: 27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” This verse came to life that night and I finally understood the meaning of the supernatural peace that God can offer in times of need. That is why Christians call the bible, the Living Word of God.

Steve