December 12, 2010 will now serve as the day that I was baptized through faith.
I was first baptized when I was 15, but it didn't feel like I really meant it. It was more about doing what everyone else was doing in my youth group and the church. It was more about the work of baptism opposed to doing it by faith.
God has put the desire to get baptized in my heart for a while, but I was embarrassed to do it because I was afraid that other people would think that it was just for show. That wasn't the case at all. I think being 21 didn't help that struggle either because I felt to "old" to get baptized. Well all those fears were wiped away a few Sundays ago at church. Mr. Bob, an 80 year man at church, gave his testimony and told the church that he wanted to get baptized. Sitting in my pew, I was amazed that his man, at 80, wanted to get baptized. That's awesome!! From that, I was inspired and decided that if Mr. Bob could do it at 80, then I definitely could.
Baptism is an outward expression on an interior feeling. It says to the Lord that you want to be washed clean of who you were and embrace that change that's to come. Through this submission to Him, you are saying, "Change me, I'm ready!" This is exactly what I want. I've gone through so much change over my time in college, but now it's time for some spiritual change. It's time that I take responsibility for my actions. I'm ready to mature in my faith and get closer to my full potential as a Christian.
This move forward was step one in my journey toward a closer relationship with the Lord. I'm ready to see what He puts before me and watch the plan play out that He's set before me.
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you,
Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
(John 3:5)
