As we were sitting in our small group debrief session Thursday afternoon, the Lord reminded me of a vision I had the day before.
In the vision, I jumped out of my hammock, walked down to the river, and submerged myself in the water as it washed me clean.
When I had the vision, I immediately thought No, Lord. I don’t want to get in the water. It is too cold. What would people think of me if they saw me? I know you have transformed me, but I don’t want to do that.
I thought about the vision the whole meeting, but something was holding me back, yet again.
Then a guy in my group said he wanted to get baptized… This was my chance to be washed clean in the water.
But I said nothing. The lies came in again, and I sat paralyzed with fear.
As we walked to the river, my spirit stirred inside of me.
This is your chance. You can physically seal everything I have been doing in your heart.
We watched as two of the leaders baptized my friend. It was such a beautiful sight to see. The sun was shining through the clouds, rain was hitting the water in the distance, and the presence of the Lord was thick in the air.
My spirit continued to stir.
Before everyone could gather their things to head back to camp, I yelled “STOP! I have to get baptized too!” I couldn’t get my shoes off quick enough to get in the water.
I ran into the water. With tears in my eyes, I declared who I was:
I am a NEW CREATION!
I am His daughter
I am His bride
I am His beloved
Then, two incredible men of God baptized me. When I rose from the water, I felt a new sense of peace and freedom.
I heard the Lord say, “Now that you are a new creation, you also need new name.”
(Just like in John 1:42- Simon to Peter “…Jesus looked at him and said ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Peter.” )
I thought back to a few months earlier when I looked up what my real name meant.
Kristin= follower of Christ.
Rene’= reborn.
That’s it. I want to walk in who he has called me—Kristin Rene’, a reborn follower of Christ.
I feel more freedom than ever before. I no longer have to strive to please people, because I understand more of who I am in Christ. The “book knowledge” I always had has taken an 18-inch journey and is now sealed on my heart.
I know this journey with him is never over, but I’m excited for what’s ahead, and for the new freedom to go to deeper places with him.
*I want to say a special thanks to my leaders for seeing freedom at fingertips length and helping me get there, to my friends and family that have put up with my “old self” the last 25 years, and to all my supporters and prayer warriors that help me get to higher places!*
