You know that saying, “knowledge is power”? Well, my lack of knowledge produced a powerlessness in my life. I had no idea what I didn’t know.

Growing up, I didn’t understand God at all. I knew a few things about Him but didn’t truly know Him. When I was 9, my family moved to a new neighbourhood. I followed my neighbours to their church to befriend our new neighbours. Part of me felt that I should go simply because that’s what everyone was expected to do on Sundays—attend church. 

I attended church for several weeks and continued to hear the gospel preached. Then, I gave my life to Christ and became born again. I am grateful for coming into the kingdom at that age. Still, I did not have much of a discipleship process during this time. I continued to go to church. In hindsight, I needed someone more spiritually mature to help me understand what the new birth meant and how to live this new life.

I struggled in my relationship with God for many years after being born again. To make matters worse, I developed a religious mindset toward God over time. I attended church almost daily, mainly out of duty, but I felt far from God. I was doing everything I thought I should as a good Christian. I remember waking up at 5 a.m. to pray and study the Word, but I couldn’t. I would sit there for hours, unable to talk with God. 

I felt like I wasn’t enjoying the benefits of being a Christian. I didn’t have the joy and peace that I knew belonged to every believer. Sometimes, I was even depressed. In African culture, you typically do not talk about things like this. You just suck it up and get on with life.  

I didn’t get along with my family and had only a few friends. I was in debt and making little progress in my career. There were other challenges, but I won’t bore you with them now. 

Thankfully, God helps us and doesn’t leave us to figure it out for ourselves. He had probably been trying to get my attention all these years, but I hadn’t noticed. 

A few years ago, things began to change for me when I started to receive revelation in three specific areas about myself and God: 

God’s Unconditional Love

God used various people to minister the Word to me. He began to show me that His love for me was unconditional. It didn’t depend on what I could do for Him. In Deuteronomy 7:7, I saw that the LORD did not set His love on me because of my greatness. He did not choose me because I was great or small. He chose me because of who He is—loving and faithful. 

In John 17:23, Jesus prayed to the Father. During His prayer, He declared that the Father loved me as much as He loved Jesus Christ. 

In Galatians 2:20, I saw that Jesus gave Himself for me because He loved me. Because of His unconditional love and sacrifice, I can now live like Jesus.

Through these scriptures, I saw that God would still love me even if I never went to church or served Him again for the rest of my life. Although, I would be missing out big time if I didn’t. 

Once I discovered God’s love for me, I became even more devoted to Him than ever. Now, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Him because I know how deeply He loves me. 

The more I know Him, the more I realise just how great His love for me is. As a result, my faith in Him has grown exceedingly over the years. Trust flourishes where love is truly unconditional. I trust God more as I get a deeper revelation of His love for me. 

The Gift of Righteousness

Around the same time, I realised I was made righteous with God’s righteousness at my new birth. I didn’t have to make myself righteous to be accepted by God; I was created righteous and holy when I was born again at nine.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Ephesians 4:24, Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for my sake to make me righteous and holy – a perfect new creation just like Jesus Christ. 

It was a gift, not something I had to attain by avoiding wrongdoing or doing the right things. It was a free gift according to Romans 5:17 (NKJV), which says, “for if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

The True Nature of God

Until then, I saw God as critical and judgmental, barely tolerating me. However, Hebrews 1:3 and Colossians 1:15 showed that Jesus accurately represented God the Father. Jesus was compassionate towards everyone He encountered. The scripture says He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.” (Acts 10:38). 

He ministered to everyone who believed in Him. God is a good God.

A Life Transformed

I have received these impactful revelations. Since then, I have found it easy to fellowship with God. I can hear His voice clearer than ever before. If you didn’t know this about me, I was a Pastor for about six years. People often ask me how it all came about. It’s simply because I could now discern God’s voice for myself. I became confident about hearing God’s voice because I knew I was loved and accepted by Him. 

Pastoring a new church plant was among the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done. It all happened because I realised how deeply God loved me. I risk sounding prideful, but the boldness and courage I now possess to pursue God’s calling on my life are incredible. 

I have personally been healed and seen others being healed through my ministry. During the pandemic in 2020, I started to lose my hair, but I received my healing through the transforming love of God. I didn’t have to earn my healing; I just received it by faith. Today, you wouldn’t know I had ever lost my hair unless I told you. 

I lacked joy and peace and was even depressed for several months, but that completely changed. God healed me of depression. The scripture says, “Perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). If it can cast out fear, it can also cast out depression. The love of God dispelled depression from my life. How can I be depressed when God loves me and has blessed me so much?! 

I am not saying everything in my life is perfect, but I experienced a powerful transformation once I saw who I was in Christ and who He was to me. God’s love and acceptance continue to transform my life today.  

If you’re struggling in you are fellowship with God, pray like this:

Father, I pray for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit. Please help me to know and lay hold of all that belongs to me as Your child. 

I pray that I will be rooted in Your love so that I can experience the greatest measure of Your Divine presence and come to know all the dimensions of Your love for me. 

I ask this in Jesus’ name, and I thank You because I know this is Your will, so it is done. Amen. 

You should also pray this for your loved ones struggling in their relationship with God. 

If you want to be born again, say this prayer with all your heart

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). 

I am calling on You now. I ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life, according to Romans 10:9-10: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” I confess that Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. 

I am now reborn—I am a Christian, a child of the Almighty God! I am saved!