Wandering and Restoration The Enemy's Trap I grew up knowing God and receiving Jesus was my Savior, and knowing that I was born again and I loved God. However, God's Word warns us that "bad company corrupts good character". During my later teenage years and then going on to college, temptation began to slowly seep into my life. I grew up in a Christian church of several thousand members and yet I was not taught from the word of God on how to live for God. I was not taught how to avoid temptations and be filled by God's power or how to hear his voice and be led by His word and Spirit. Without knowledge, understanding, wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit, I fell right into the enemy's trap. The Media says it is ok, your friends say it is ok, the university says it is ok, even some relatives say it is okay, your own desires say it is okay, so what do you do? Fall! Once the enemy had a foothold in my life, I was pulled further and further into the trap, with no way out except for God. Wandering For the next several years I would try to give up this worldly life style and serve God as my heart desired, but I could not. With all the repeated repenting and with all the desire I had to serve God, I could not seem to be free from the sin which had entrapped me. In my attempt to be free, I would occasionally go to church hear the word, yet it did not help me, I remained trapped not knowing how to escape. But God had not left me nor forsaken me, He would use my wandering to bring me to a place where he could shape me and mold me. I thank God for His faithfulness, His Grace and His mercy. Like the prodigal son, I finally came to place where I came to my senses. Tired of living separate from God. I, with all my heart, admitted my weakness to God and my inability to change my life and live for Him. Restoration God, in His patience and mercy, had watched over me until I came to place where I would totally and completely yield to Him. I prayed from a place of surrender and humility admitting I could not change in my own strength. I prayed asking God to forgive me and shared my heart's desire of wanting to serve Him all the days of my life! I prayed admitting that in my own strength I had failed to live for him, and with total sincerity, surrendered, admitting that I needed His help, if my desire to live for Him would succeed. The Good News! God is faithful and He supernaturally and immediately changed my life. The power and desire for sin was broken from my life! And I knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had answered my prayer and was calling me into full time ministry. If you know God and yet have wandered from him I invite you to pray this prayer. Dear God, I admit that I have sinned and forsaken you. I have opened the door to the enemy, and in my own strength I cannot be free. I admit my weakness even to live for you. Forgive me of my Sins. Father, I give my life totally and completely over to you. Use my life Lord as you will. I make a commitment to follow you and live for you all the days of my Life. Thank you for forgiving me and setting me free of the power of the enemy. In Jesus name I Pray! Amen! What to do Now! Tell at least 3 people you know, that you have re-dedicated your life to God and have made a commitment to live for God, receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You need to be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit! Read your Bible, start in the New Testament in the Gospel of Mark or John. Go to church as soon as you can, do not let anyone or anything stop you, find a church that will teach you how to live for God, a church that uses the Bible as God's only Word. If you can, come to the Life church and sign up for Life 101.