I vividly remember the day it all began. It was in the year 2001, either in October or November. The day was bright, and it was around 5 or 6 in the evening. I was just 18 years old and preparing to receive my confirmation.
At that time, I had a group of friends who were leading me in the wrong direction. I used foul language frequently, full of harsh words and insults. I was stepping into my youth, but I wasn’t walking the right path. As part of the confirmation batch, I spent a lot of time hanging out with friends at church, mostly playing table tennis and wasting time.
One evening, there was a mission being held in our parish, conducted by the Jesus the Real Vine prayer group, and the preacher was Sister Hazel. I was sitting with my confirmation classmates on the last bench of the church, laughing, giggling, and making noise. We weren’t there to listen; we were just having fun.
That evening, Sister Hazel preached about the blood of Jesus—how He died for us on the cross, shedding His blood for our sins, and taking all our unrighteousness upon Himself. She explained why Jesus endured the scourging and the pain, and she spoke about the power and infilling of the Holy Spirit.
After the preaching, she led a prayer of forgiveness and invited us to forgive anyone who had hurt us. It was a time of inner healing. That evening, I forgave my dad, who had often disciplined me harshly. At the time, I harbored so much resentment toward him for the pain he caused, but now I understand he was a good father.
As the prayer continued, I lifted my hand and surrendered my life to Christ. I did this quietly, without my friends noticing. In that moment, I forgave everyone who had hurt me. I felt an overwhelming peace and joy in my heart, and tears began flowing uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop crying.
(Growing up, I regularly attended Mass, but I never truly understood the meaning of the Eucharist. It was merely a ritual to me—stand, sit, kneel—without any spiritual connection to the events at the altar or the sacrifice made 2,000 years ago.)
Now, I understand it was the moment I was born again, a moment of transformation. Back then, I didn’t know why I was crying or what was happening to me. Embarrassed, I left the church building, but the tears didn’t stop. These weren’t tears of sadness; they were tears of freedom and healing. I cried for about 30 minutes, and my heart was beating faster than ever—something I’ve only experienced a couple of times in the last 20 years.
After gathering myself, I headed home. As I walked, I couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened. Everything around me seemed different—the air smelled fresher, the sky looked bluer, the grass seemed greener.
In the days that followed, I realized I no longer had the desire to use foul language. My hunger for God deepened, and I began reading the Bible. I joined a local prayer group in my parish, and my journey with Christ began in earnest.
Since then, I’ve experienced many miracles and the undeniable power of God’s love in my life. Words cannot fully express how transformative God’s love is.
If you want to experience this same transforming love, I invite you to humble yourself before Almighty God. Kneel down and pray this heartfelt prayer:
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A Prayer of Surrender
Father God, I am sorry for my sins. I have sinned against heaven and earth and am not worthy, O Father.
Lord Jesus, You alone are worthy. You came down as a man and died for me on the cross. You shed Your blood for me. You were stripped naked for me. You were insulted, beaten, and scourged. Your hands and feet were nailed to the wood of the cross. Every drop of Your blood was poured out for my sins and my healing.
Father, I am sorry for my sins. I now welcome You into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Savior. I no longer live, but it is You who lives in me. Cleanse me, heal me, and make me a new creation in You.
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Cry out to the Lord sincerely. Personalize this prayer and make it your own.
God bless you,
Nello
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