Before I surrendered to Christ, my life was a total mess. I was full of pride and a lust for the things of this world. As a kid, I attended church on occasion with my family and friends. I knew who Christ was at the time and wanted to be saved, but I was unwilling to surrender my way of life to Him. When I was 19, I fell asleep driving down the highway on my way home from work; I was tired from being up late the night before. My truck was totaled, but I was left with only a small mark on my forearm from the airbag.
Looking back, that accident is one of the best things that ever happened to me. It was my wakeup call and caused me to realize that, if I kept trying to do things my way instead of God’s way and if I didn’t repent and surrender to Him, I was lost. Like Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-25, “if anyone wants to come after me, He must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
I was lucky enough to meet my wife early in my walk, and through our relationship and encouragement from her, I began to attend Church regularly and read scripture. It didn’t happen instantly,and there were many ups and downs. However, through the conviction and guidance of the Holy Spirit and encouragement from fellow believers, I am a new creation in Christ.
In 2013, my family, along with some neighbors, decided to start a life group at home. Being a part of a life group has been instrumental in continuing to grow in our faith. There is something to be said about the importance of an intentional group that really encourages and supports one another in our lives and in our walk with the Lord. Being a part of a life group, surrounded by like-minded families, has helped to keep us focused on what really matters and has created some great relationships.
Acts 4:32 says it best: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
– Josh Bolton
