Bennett
From: Duncan, Canada
God has accompanied me every step of the way, and He has healed, forgiven, and blessed me multiple times.
I grew up in a family that went to church every Sunday morning, prayed every night, and I even attended a private Christian school. Both of my parents were Spirit-filled, so I was always aware of the gift of the Holy Spirit. I never doubted my faith in the Lord, and I was constantly surrounded by people who shared my beliefs. It wasn’t until I was in middle school when I experienced true hardship and the realization of God’s promises.
In the years leading up to middle school, my family and I began focusing on worldly aspects instead of God, and although I was still attending Christian school, I lost sight of my desire to be born again. I put most of my attention towards school, sports, and my friends, and I was more concerned with living my life than trusting in the Lord. My family started struggling financially and it took a toll on everyone.
During spring break of 2015, my dad took my sister and me to Vancouver Island to visit family. Some of our old church friends had us over for dinner, and as we got talking, they offered to pray for my sister and me to receive the Holy Spirit, as my dad was already Spirit-filled. Up until that point, I didn’t understand what having the Holy Spirit meant, and I didn’t realize its importance for salvation.
Over the span of a few nights, we returned to our friends’ house and continued seeking the Holy Spirit. My sister received about ten minutes before me, and began speaking in tongues, and I followed. Immediately, I felt the presence of God living in me. I clearly remember picturing Jesus sitting on the tombstone after being resurrected, and I was overwhelmed with emotions. My whole life, I considered myself a Christian, but I never felt anything comparable to the moment I received the Holy Spirit. The next day, I wanted to fully commit my life to Christ, and I got baptized in a bathtub at the same house.
Of course, since that spring break, I have dealt with hardship and trials of many kinds. God has accompanied me every step of the way, and He has healed, forgiven, and blessed me multiple times. Having the Holy Spirit does not mean that God makes my life easy or perfect. What it does do, though, is it comforts me. Having God living inside of me means that I don’t have to fear. I can use the judgment God gives me through the Holy Spirit to guide my every step. I pray in a language unknown to man, so I communicate with God intimately, which further builds my trust in Him. Nothing is comparable to the love and comfort of Christ.