Do you know that most hotel rooms have a Bible in the bed stand drawer? Of course you do. I had seen them countless times in my travels to the point that they had become as insignificant as the furniture . . . until the summer of 2020. That year, my family moved back to the United States. Before leaving, I checked all the hotel room drawers to ensure I didn’t forget anything. That time, however, I looked at the Bible and heard the words, “Take it, take it.” So, I took it.
That same evening, we moved into our new, unfurnished home, and I had no bedtime story to read to my children. For the first time, I opened the Bible and read to them from the Book of Genesis. When my children fell asleep, I closed my eyes and felt a beautiful warmth vibrate through my body and soul, and I say “soul” because it was more than just physical. I felt as if an invisible blanket had been draped over me, filling me with joy and peace. I felt immensely loved and safe.
I kept reading the Bible and, honestly, it was a bit challenging. At one point, I simply prayed to God to please enlighten me and open my eyes so I could understand His Word, and after a while, the fog cleared. It all began to make sense. In this, I learned the power of prayer, and I haven’t stopped speaking with God ever since. From then, I made the conscious choice and declaration to willingly surrender my body, mind, and soul to God.
“I felt renewed without reason, and I couldn’t stop talking about it to my family and everyone I encountered. All those years, I had unknowingly been bearing the weight of my sins. Repenting lifted the weight of my sins, worries, fears, and past sufferings…”
Soon after, every other sin and wrongdoing that I had not yet repented of rushed to the forefront of my mind like a cascade in such an overwhelming way that it dropped me to my knees begging for mercy. I saw myself through the eyes of God, and it was terrifying. I believe in retrospect that this was God showing me that before I could continue my journey, I had to repent of all my sins explicitly, and I did. I chose to turn away from my way of life and turn to Christ.
I felt renewed without reason, and I couldn’t stop talking about it to my family and everyone I encountered. All those years, I had unknowingly been bearing the weight of my sins. Repenting lifted the weight of my sins, worries, fears, and past sufferings so that every day now I live purposefully with gratitude and strive to be better in every way.
As I continued reading the Word of God, I found more proof that the experiences I was having were God’s promises fulfilled in Christ. He promised to restore our spirits. In Ezekiel 36, God says,
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations.” (Ezekiel 36:25–27, 31)
Those are strong words. After I wholeheartedly repented, I felt this urge to find water, to be baptized and wash away the person I was before. God opened my eyes and showed me that sin is sin even if it’s socially acceptable or I’m ignorant to it. God indeed has graced me with His Spirit and has given me a new heart just as He promises He can do for anyone. There’s been an effect in every part of my life.
A few months later, I started going to church and was baptized at a lake. The moment I came out of the water, I felt the heavens rejoicing with me. This was a memorable milestone in my walk with Christ. I know it will not always be easy to resist temptation, but I am committed to following Jesus.
Interesting things keep happening to me that I know are no coincidences. Last year, I was sharing God’s Word with my mother, and it led her to want to read the Bible for herself. I was thrilled, so I told her I’d buy one for her. She only speaks Spanish. One day, I took my children to the library where there’s a basement with a section of books that are free to take, and I found a Testament in Spanish!
This is one of many non-coincidences, events, dreams, and encounters I’ve had since I received the Holy Spirit. I will never be the same, praise God! I thank our loving and merciful Lord Jesus Christ for redeeming me and giving me a new heart. I’d also like to thank all of you and encourage you to continue your noble work. All glory to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.