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My name is Chris. I really have to think about what to say about my life because I hate to discuss my past. I had “the world” at my finger tips so many times; so many opportunities to succeed. It wasn’t that I made mistakes—everyone goes through this journey making mistakes in life; I made “blunders.”

I was blessed to live in a Christian home with Godly parents and an entire network of people who loved me and prayed for me. But as the younger generation often thinks—they don’t need Christianity, they don’t need help, they can do it all by themselves—I was like that. I rejected advice, I went my own way with the wrong crowd, and went on a downward spiral that has affected a lot of people. I should have heeded Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

That being said, to review my “old” life, it was just darkness upon me and loneliness, until Jesus Christ shined His grace on me and I received Jesus by confessing Him as my Lord and Savior, by repenting and asking forgiveness from my sins, and believing in my heart that God raised Jesus up from the dead. Jesus was always shining His grace on me—I was just too proud to realize it and I didn’t want people to think I wasn’t “cool.” I didn’t want to appear “soft.” But there came a time when I understood that it is God’s grace that shines on the humble. I had to come to the place in my life where I humbled myself. I was actually knocked down, humbled.

God’s grace shone into my life, and I know now that it takes so much more of being a man to live the Christian life than to be an unbelieving non-Christian. I know that Jesus loves me, and I love Him with all my heart. Going back over all of the “would have’s” and “could have’s” and “should have’s” is not helping me or anyone else. I forget that past because God has buried it and forgotten it.

Even though I have to pay my debt to society for what I did, God’s grace has forgiven me, so I am free in Him, free from my sins and Satan’s bondage. I press on to the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus, our Risen Lord! (Philippians 3:13-14).

In 2010 I was introduced to Purpose Ministry. They have sent me literature, they have mentored me, prayed for me, and have been a great source of encouragement during my walk with the Lord while I am incarcerated. I thank God for Purpose Ministry and the Godly support they give to incarcerated men. They have made a positive influence in my life to keep me motivated and focused on Jesus.

If you know that this is the time when you should turn to God and trust Jesus as your savior, pray a prayer like this to Jesus: “JESUS, I thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I repent of my sins, and I ask You to forgive my sins and make me part of Your family, and make you Lord of my life. I believe in you, I want to live for you and I believe God raised you up from the dead. Thank you suffering for me, forgiving me, saving me, and giving me eternal life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

NOTE: Read your Bible every day, study your Bible, talk (pray) to Jesus every day for spiritual growth and guidance, and be sure to tell someone that you have accepted Christ and are now a Christian. For more guidance, read John 3:16, John 6:37, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Matthew 11:28, Ephesians 3:14-21, Romans 8:35-39, and Psalm 23.

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