Many people think that being religious is the key to finding spiritual power and contentment. In my case, even though I thought I was very religious, I was not experiencing these things, until, through some life-changing events, I found the answers. 

When I was a child, my mother took me to church every week, where I prayed and heard spiritual teaching.  I was given a Bible, which I enjoyed reading.  These religious activities were good things, but I needed a deeper reality of God in my life. 

As a young person, I was selfish. I would tell lies and say unkind words to others.  I had lustful thoughts and actions, and improper relationships.  Sometimes I would drink alcohol to excess, which would lead to more bad behavior. I understood that God expected obedience and devotion from a pure heart, but I knew that my heart was not pure. Even though I wanted to follow God's commandments, I found that I did not have the spiritual power to do so. 

One day when I was in college I was bitten by a poisonous snake.  I was paralyzed with fear!  Then I woke up; it was only a dream.  But because of that dream, I began thinking seriously about my life and about God.  I realized that I was guilty before God because of my disobedience, and that I would spend eternity separated from Him.

I already believed that Jesus Christ lived a perfect, holy life and died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all people.  I believed that three days later he came back to life in the same body, proving that he is the Son of God and the true Lord.  Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."  I believed all the right things about God and Jesus, and now it was time to do something with that knowledge.

At that moment I cried out to God for His mercy.  I asked Jesus in a sincere prayer to be my Savior and my Lord, and to forgive me.  I wanted to please God and to follow His ways, and Jesus was the right path to make that happen.    

From that point onward my life began to change.  I began living a more obedient life.  I greatly enjoyed friendships with spiritually-minded people at my university who were also following Jesus.  As time went on, I began developing a genuine concern for others.  The words I spoke were now filled with kindness and truth.  I was able to give up improper relationships and drinking alcohol. 

Following Jesus is a lot more than simply being religious.  It involves a growing and deeply satisfying relationship with God, which is based on faith in Him and in His promises.  Through following Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I am experiencing the contentment which I did not find in religion alone. And now I know what it means to experience spiritual power from God, power that has freed me from living a life of disobedience. 

I look forward to spending eternity with God in heaven.