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In my 20s, I decided to explore Christianity, doing everything a good Christian would do: I attended a church, signed up for Alpha, I participated in a church retreat, attended faith-filled events, and joined a bible study. All the boxes were checked, except for one: I never believed Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I wasn't ready to embrace Christ and I certainly didn't understand what that meant. During that time, I also studied New Age practices. The sparkly phrase of manifesting captured my attention. This pursuit of answers lead to the craving of travel, art, clothes, experiences, events, and false spirituality - all earthly things to fill a void. One night while searching YouTube, I clicked on a video testimonial of a woman's transition from New Age belief to finding Jesus Christ. I watched as she explained her void - just as I had been feeling for years. She explained that although her life was abundant and successful, there was still an everlasting emptiness in her heart. Her acceptance of Christ began when a friend told her, "Jesus is at the doorstep to your heart, waiting like a perfect gentleman for you to let him in."

I knew what I had to do. I closed my eyes and pictured myself opening a door to Jesus Christ and letting him into my heart. I tearfully prayed, "Come in! Come in, Jesus! I believe in you. You are my Lord and Savior. Come in and fill my heart!" And there he was, waiting like a perfect gentleman. At that moment, the scales fell from my eyes and my life was transformed: my heart was FULL. I didn't wake up with emptiness, but with COMPLETION. Life was brighter and more loving, I was more loving. I finally understood what the songs in church were about! God baptized me in the Holy Spirit and Jesus became my Lord and Savior, and my best friend. I knew with all my heart that life had a purpose: to love God, to love his Son, and to love others. I was made new in Christ, breathing the fresh air of a believer. With the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I easily cut ties with the New Age practices and threw out books, cards, crystals, anything related to deceiving practices. I am now liberated from a life of falsehood, and fulfilled with the loving truth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

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