Christian Evolution

My life in Christ has been characterized by a series of choices most of which have proved to be advantageous to spiritual growth. The evolutionary process began with accepting the call to salvation. This choice which began with great joy evolved into one of great hardship and trial. That choice most of us know means abandoning the world for Christ. So instead of getting victory over all my diseases I became very sick. Yet in the midst of the trial I spent countless hours in the word, would pray in tongues often, went to church when available and regardless of the setbacks I persisted in my pursuit of God. The next choice after stabilizing in my mental disability was getting married to a Catholic and entering the Catholic faith. I became a facilitator in Christian Initiation in two churches and this went on for ten years. When a choir member had a vision of me on the alter I made the choice to enter the Deaconate. I worked full time, began my ministry in the nursing home and pursued the deaconate studies. Though all of these choices brought about growth I still got colds, sinus headaches, was subject to inner spirits like fear, anxiety, and lust and was not nearly very successful in my prayers for the sick. The deaconate studies went on for four years but instead of it coming to fruition, I had a mental setback and withdrew from the program. After my mom died my father lived alone and when he no longer could care for himself I made the choice to put him in assisted living and took over his expenses, medical needs, and selling his condo. I was in debt pretty badly but through prayer and the grace of God, when my father passed away everything had fallen into place. After my father's death my wife decided she wanted to go it alone so we separated, I joined a Caribbean Pentecostal Assembly of God church and became active there as well as in a Wednesday meeting that I had been attending for a number of years. Due to differences of perspective I was led to leave both those assemblies and I continued my ministry at the nursing home. It was after these last two choices that I was finally where God wanted me to be. I haven't had any sickness in years only a rare day of some discomfort and enjoy my peace and solitude greatly. While living alone I accepted the choice not to do any reading but simply spend time listening and for almost every week for at least three years God has given me an inspired message. I truly can say that I hear from God and that God is blessing me abundantly.

Many of the choices God asks us to make do not bring about immediate happiness. Yet if we do not make those choices we will remain stuck in a life less than victorious. If the devil can not get to us directly he will attack our loved ones. But if we make the hard choices, in the end, we will come to a place of victory: power over sickness, poverty, and lack; power over all the works of the devil; simply great power. St. Paul in nearly all of his letters mentions power. It is part of Christian Evolution. It is a sign of a resurrected Christ and a life of victory. Do not be afraid to make hard choices. It is the way we grow. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power (2Tm1:7) Be at it for God!

Amen.