Meeting
Jesus for the First Time... Again
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What would
happen if we could meet Jesus, for the first time... all over
again?
Jim Polizzi
Did you ever notice a really
amazing thing that happens when someone first becomes a believer
in Christ? I have! Very soon after this happens, they start
to see all kinds of changes in there lives... Old habits that
troubled them for years
simply have no more power over
them... Old limiting beliefs that kept them from the happiness
that they sought, no longer seemed to be true for them, and
in their place new, enriching beliefs seemed to pop up in
their lives. What's going on here? What causes this change?
If you could ask them what had changed, they might say: "I
don't feel guilty about my old beliefs and behaviors... They
no longer have a "hold" on me. I don't need to "defend"
what I did then, because that was "before" I became
a Christian... that is no longer true for me... I can live
differently now, because I now have the power of God to help
me... I no longer need to be chained to the old ways that
kept me from having the Love, Joy, and Peace of God that I
desire."
Wouldn't it be great if we could go back and do that again...
What would happen to me if
I could, one more time, go through that experience, to come
to a fresh awakening of the Love and Grace of God? Imagine
the power that that would bring into my life to change the
problems that I'm facing... The freedom that it would bring
me to overcome the nagging habits that I just don't seem to
be able to get over. Wow, it
would change everything! Wouldn't it be great to be really
FREE!!! To be able to really FEEL the Love and Favor of God!!!
I wonder if God only meant for us to really experience his
Love and Grace when we first became Christians? Sometimes
it feels like that... because I forget that He has made that
available to me all of the time.
What would happen if
how would I feel if I realized,
that God has made his Love and acceptance available to me
ALWAYS... in all situations...
Well, I wanted to find out
for myself
this just sounded too powerful to just wonder
about. So, I closed my eyes, and just relaxed for a minute
taking a few deep breaths, and then, I imagined myself coming
into the presence of Jesus, for the first time. I saw him
standing there, with open arms, ready to receive me. As I
walked up to Him, I could feel compassion and understanding
from Him. My fear, and confusion, and guilt
melted away.
They had no place in His presence. I guess I didnt know
what to expect from meeting Him, because it wasnt anything
like I thought it would be. He was kind, gentle, peaceful
yea, really peaceful
like Ive never imagined before.
And the way He looked at me, those eyes
. they looked
right through me
but they never turned away. He saw
all the way through me, yet I could see in His eyes, that
He knew what was there all along. And he Loved Me.
And then, I opened my eyes.
Wow, what an awesome experience.
I wonder what this means. My mind was racing, leaping, from
thought to thought. I had previously struggled with feeling
unloved, and unlovable
what should I think now? I had
been in a constant struggle to measure up, to be good enough.
I had been trying to get to the top of the mountain of achievement,
thinking that only by reaching the top, could I gain his kind
look of acceptance from Him
but now, Ive already
seen that look in His eyes
I can still see it now. That
look that says, I know who you are, I know what youve
done, I know where youve been
and I LOVE You.
You are my child. I will always love you.
As I see Him now, and feel
the peace, I realize that it was never meant for me to climb
the mountain. Instead, he showed me a fruit orchard. He said,
this is for you.
I have filled you with my Holy
Spirit, and you will bear much fruit. Ive planted many
different kinds of fruit in this orchard: Love, Joy, Peace,
Gentleness, Goodness, Patience and Faith. For these to grow,
they need water, lots of water
That is my Word. And
Plenty of Sunshine
My Spirit, which lives inside of
you, will cause this orchard to grow
thats His
job.
Go ye therefore, into all the
world, and bear much fruit.
Taken
from www.neurosemantics.com
(c)1998
James T. Polizzi. All rights reserved.
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