Peace
with God
You
may feel that no one really understands you
or cares what happens to you. But God cares.
He knows everything about you - your hopes,
dreams, fears, regrets, and failures - and He
is just waiting for an invitation to become
intimately involved in your life.
No
matter what has happened to you, no matter what
choices you have made, God loves you. God says,
"I have loved you with an everlasting love."1
He knows everything about you. He understands
your frustrations, your loneliness, your heartaches,
your regrets, your hopes, and your dreams.
You
can experience the reality of God's presence.
You can find lasting peace. You can pray, and
know that God hears your prayers. And you can
find true meaning and purpose for your life.
The
Problem - Our Separation
God
created us for relationship with Him. Apart
from that relationship, we are disconnected
from our spiritual source.
Life
without God will leave you empty. Living for
yourself will leave you frustrated. Independence
from God and the determination to be a "self-made"
woman or man will never bring peace or lasting
contentment.
Sin
separates us from God. The Bible says, "All
have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God."2 Selfishness and independence
separate us from God. Sin is a barrier that
prevents us from experiencing God's presence
and peace in our lives. It hinders us from finding
and fulfilling our purpose.
The greatest sin of all is rejecting the gift
of salvation through Jesus Christ - whether
we reject Him through active rebellion, or passive
indifference.
The
Solution - the Cross
God
has made a way for us to be forgiven of sin
and liberated from sin and selfishness. The
Bible says, "But God has shown us how much
He loves us-it was while we were still sinners
that Christ died for us!"3
Jesus
Christ, God's Son, died on the cross to pay
the penalty for your sin. He was resurrected
from the grave and is alive today. He will come
to dwell in you by His Spirit and give you a
brand new start, if you will turn the control
of your life to Him.
Jesus
said, "You must be born again."4
He was referring to spiritual birth. When we
receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,
our spirits are awakened to the knowledge of
God. His Spirit fills us; from that moment forward,
we can experience intimate communion with God.
Rather than just knowing about God, or believing
in the existence of God, we truly know him in
our newly born spirits. As the Bible says, "The
Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that
we are God's children."5
When
we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,
we become children of God.
The
Bible says, "As many as received him, to
them he gave the right to become children of
God, even to those who believe in his name."6
A
New Beginning
God
promises a new beginning to everyone who becomes
His child. The Bible says, "…Anyone
united with the Messiah gets a fresh start,
is created new. The old life is gone; a new
life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from
the God who settled the relationship between
us and Him."7
This
scripture promises the gift of salvation through
Jesus Christ, the opportunity for a new beginning
as a child of God. Through Jesus Christ, you
can experience peace that endures, grace that
empowers, love that heals, and faith that spurs
you forward.
We
must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior
and Lord. When you take this step, the spiritual
barrier that separates you from God is removed.
God will fill you with His Spirit and empower
you to become the woman or man you were created
to be.
Jesus Christ promises that all those who come
to Him will experience "rivers of living
water" in their innermost being. The living
water of God's Spirit washes away disappointments,
sin, painful memories, bitterness, and guilt.
It quenches our thirst for intimacy with God.
Most exciting of all, it nourishes our God-given
potential, releasing us to discover and fulfill
our divine purpose.
Prayer
for a New Beginning
Salvation
is a free gift to be received. Jesus Christ
is waiting for an invitation to come in to your
life. In fact, He says, "Behold, I stand
at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice
and opens the door, I will come in."8
If
you sense Christ knocking at the door of your
heart, all you need to do is invite Him in by
faith. Acknowledge your sin, admit your need
for Him, and ask Him to come you're your heart.
It doesn't matter exactly what words you use
- following is a suggested prayer.
Dear
Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and I need your
forgiveness. I believe that You are the Son
of God and that you died on the cross to pay
the penalty for my sin. I believe that you
rose from the dead and that you are alive
today. I ask You to forgive me of my sins,
of going my own way, of trying to do life
without you. I ask You to come into my life
and make me a new person. I turn from going
my own way, and I commit my life to You as
my Savior and my Lord. Please help me to grow
in my relationship with you, and thank you
for your grace and power to follow you. Thank
you for the gift of eternal life, and thank
you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, who
has now come to live in me. In Jesus name,
Amen.
Growing
in Your Faith
If
you prayed this prayer sincerely from your heart,
you are now a child of God. He accepts you just
the way you are. You have trusted in what Jesus
Christ did for you when He died on the cross,
rose from the grave and ascended to heaven.
He paid the price for your sins. You are forgiven,
cleansed and given a fresh start. The barrier
separating you from God's love and presence
has been removed. Jesus has reconciled you to
your heavenly Father. You are His child, and
part of the family of God.
God
wants you to pray and get to know Him. How do
you do that? Just talk to Him as though you
were talking to your closest friend. Tell Him
your fears, concerns, hopes, and needs. As you
do this, you will become increasingly aware
of his presence in your life. Peace will fill
your heart, for the Bible promises, "Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."9
One of the best ways to get to know God is by
reading His word - the Bible. Start with the
gospels, and read through the New Testament.
Don't read it like a textbook-read it like a
love letter from God to you, for that it is
exactly what it is.
If
you have just made a commitment to Christ, please
let us know.
We would love
to send you a free booklet to help you grow
in your faith. Click
here.
The
following references are from the Holy Bible:
1. Jeremiah 31:3b
2. Romans 3:23
3. Romans 5:8
4. John 3:7
5. Romans 8:16
6. John 1:12 2
7. Corinthians 5:17, The Message Translation
8. Revelation 3:20
9. Philippians 4:6,7
