The Power of Influence: the powerful influence of Abigail

In the political world, there is a headiness relating to the power of influence over other people. Even within the corporate world and within our working environments, there is not only the desire for power, but the many who wield great power often have the ability to powerfully influence other people to accept their ideas and plans. Unquestionably, influential power over others can be intoxicating for many people, which can lead to the desire for more and more influential power. But in God’s world of “loving our neighbors as ourselves”, there is no place for this sinful human desire to influence others for our own benefit or for the self-glory that comes from getting others to do what we want.

Politicians and congressmen are certainly not the only ones who can abuse their power, but many of them can get some of their highest highs from influencing other members of congress to accept their ideas for bills and regulations. Sadly, in the last few years with all the technological media available to us, we are daily inundated with statements by politicians who are trying to influence the people of this nation. Recently, with the presidential race in the forefront of their minds, so called powerful people, which includes some members of congress, are trying to influence people to vote a particular way by simply spinning the truth or by telling lies. Even the media or reporters who report the stories that the politicians want us to accept find that there is an intoxicating power that can be derived from influencing people with their words. In fact, words are extremely powerful for they can hurt another, help someone, or create environments of dissension as well as environments of peace. Furthermore, words can even start or stop a war. Is it any wonder, then, that the words used to influence people can be misused too? Certainly, the power derived from influential words can then become a drug for which some people cannot get enough.

Everyone has influence of some kind in this world, starting with the influence we have on our children in their emotional and cognitive growth. This also means that we can be a positive influence or a negative one on our children and on others whom we are around. It isn't just our children, though, whom we influence, because we are around many people who can be influenced by our personality, our beliefs, our likes and our dislikes, etc. However, when we choose to misuse our influence or when we choose to live without God as our Father and Christ as our Savior, then we can often be a negative influence. Obviously, as followers of Christ, we are to try to be a positive influence on others by following the Words of Christ and God, His Father. That way, with our positive influence we can shine the light of Christ out upon the world!

Most of the time when we are just normally interacting with other people, though, we do not think about the type of influence that we are having on them. However, as true “born-again” Christians who are continuing to mature spiritually, our daily actions, behaviors, and attitude should reflect our walk with the Lord, which then can lead to a positive influence on others. Unfortunately, there are times when we can suddenly allow our sinful nature to get the best of us, and then we project a negative influence upon those that we are around. But, if we are constantly thinking about God and how we are to live for Him, we have less chance of being that negative influence when we interact with others, especially if we think about the words we use before we say them.

God gave us His Word so that we could know more about Him, because He wants to have a relationship with us. But, God also gave us His Word so that we could know how to act morally, ethically, and truthfully. He tells us, too, what kind of language or words that we should use with others, and He teaches us how to show our Christian hearts to the world with attitudes of love that reflect the light of God’s Son upon the world. Within His Word, i.e. the biblical Scriptures, God has told us how we are to act and behave. In fact, the prophet, Micah gave us these words: “God has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? – (Micah 6: 8. NASB). So, God has told us that being obedient to God and in being a good follower of Christ’s that we have to do more than just go to church on Sunday. We have to allow Jesus Christ to live within us and through us so that our new “born-again” Christian life is reflected out upon the world. Indeed, God wants us to show the world what the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ is creating inside of us. But, in order to reflect that new person in Christ that we have become, we need to produce and show humility, mercy, and just actions through attitudes of loving kindness, which are the behaviors and characteristics that Christ would want us to exhibit.

The Shepherd and the King

David, who wrote many of the Psalms in the Bible and who God said “was a man after God’s own heart”, (see I Samuel 13: 14) trusted, loved, and relied on God. Remarkably, David loved God even when he was just a shepherd boy who at that time was just the youngest son in a long line of sons to a Jewish man named Jesse. Later, it was this love for God and God’s desire for David to become the next King of Israel that enabled young David, the shepherd, to slay Goliath, the Philistine giant, with just a stone and a slingshot. It was also David’s love for God and his constant trying to do what was right that kept David on the right path even after King Saul decided to pursue and try to kill him. Of course, David had done nothing wrong and had never tried to kill King Saul. But, once King Saul found out that David was chosen by God to become the next King of Israel, Saul had only one constant thought, which was the thought that he had to kill David. But, David’s trust, love, and reliance upon God, kept David safe from King Saul and from others who were influenced by King Saul to try to kill David.

Although, David was just a man with all the foibles that come with being a human, David still tried to be kind and do what he could to show others how God wanted people to act. David even showed humility, mercy, love, and kindness to King Saul who was constantly trying to kill him. In fact, there were at least two times when David showed mercy and did not kill King Saul when he had a golden opportunity to do so. One of those times was when King Saul and 3,000 of his best soldiers were pursuing David and his 600 men to kill all of them. This particular incident not only allowed David to show mercy and love toward King Saul, but it allowed David to be able to have great positive influence upon his men by showing them how God wanted people to act.

Pursuing David and his men through rugged terrain was not an easy task. Finally, after a long day of hunting for David and his men, King Saul and his men would make camp to rest and refresh themselves for the next long day. When they camped, King Saul would rest and sleep in his own tent, which was designated as the king’s, tent, always surrounded by his closest and most trusted men who were to watch over him. But, one night after Saul and his men went to sleep in their camp, David sneaked into Saul’s tent with one of his right hand men, Abishai. They stood over King Saul while he was sleeping when suddenly “… Abishai whispered to David, ‘Let me thrust that spear through him.’ … ‘No!’ David said. ‘Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one. … But, I tell you what – we’ll take his spear and his jug of water and then get out of here.’” – (I Samuel 26: 8, 9, 11. NLT).  David was able to show Abishai that he was trusting in and relying on God to take care of  King Saul and Saul’s desire to kill David. David's example was also one of showing mercy to King Saul.

During that particular incident, David set a perfect of example of doing the right thing and not murdering another human even if that human was trying to kill him. But, more than that, David was also influencing Abishai in his obedience and trust in God. This was positive and godly influence that would be passed down to his other men by Abishai as he spread the word that David would not let him kill King Saul. Moreover, David’s godly and positive influence on his men made them loyal followers who were learning more and more about God. But, David, being a flawed human like the rest of us, was not always the perfect example of doing what was right.

We can all be tempted to be a negative influence

One of the things that David and all of us have to deal with in this life is anger. Anger, of course, leads into bad behaviors, a negative attitude, pridefulness, and often a lack of mercy. But, as I mentioned above, God requires of us to show humility, mercy, and just actions through attitudes of loving kindness, which are the behaviors and characteristics that Christ our Savior wants us to acquire and exhibit. However, sometimes our anger becomes out of control and thus has a negative influence upon those around us. That is why Christians are to try to overcome any anger issues, even though, the anger may be instilled within strongholds in our mind from previous situations that we could not control. But, if we ask Christ for help and if we pray, we can learn to manage anger and root out its stronghold.

Children are especially prone to anger, because they haven’t yet learned how to control negative emotions. But, when children see their parents and other people angry and out of control, they may think that is okay to exhibit such behavior. Consequently, today we have a world of people who have grown up thinking that anger is their right, and that it can be justified by whatever has made them angry. Unfortunately, any of us can fall into the trap of anger, if we do not check our emotions and talk with God daily. Such was the case with David when he was cheated out of the wages that were owed to him and his men, and when he then allowed his anger to control his actions. But, he was going to have a very negative influence on many people, if he followed through with his actions based upon his anger.

What made David so angry? Well, this incident of anger occurred after David and his men had been running and hiding a long time from King Saul. Finally, David and his men found an area at the edge of the Israelite’s territory within the “wilderness of Maon” where they could easily hide from King Saul, yet be able to work at the same time to get food and other needed provisions in order to exist. 

Even though Maon was a rough area, it could accommodate sheep and goat farming, and along with the other farmers in the area Maon had also made one farmer by the name of Nabal very wealthy. Nabal’s wealth at that time included 3000 sheep and a 1000 goats that needed to be guarded from thieves and wild animals. But because these farmers lived and farmed in a fairly rugged wilderness area, they often used hired men to keep the robbers from stealing their animals and to keep wild animals from killing the sheep or the shepherds. Furthermore, it was especially important at sheep shearing time to have extra men guarding the sheep, because there was a lot of money in the wool they sheared. So, David and his men offered to guard the sheep and shepherds while the sheep were out in the wilderness grazing and while their coats of wool grew ever fuller. Later, they also guarded them as the sheep were brought in to be sheared.

Payment for this type of guarding work usually came when all the sheep were brought back to the ranch to be sheared. So, David expected to be paid at that time or certainly when the shearing was over. Unfortunately, David would find out just what kind of mean and dishonest man Nabal, his employer and owner of all the sheep and goats, really was when it came time to be paid.

Finally, the shearing season was at hand and the animals were back in their pens, while people awaited the excitement of the shearing celebration. For, there was a celebration with food, music and dance, such as a harvest type festival, with all the workers, servants, and household staff as well as family members celebrating this accomplishment together. So it was at this time that David decided to send ten of his young men to Nabal’s home property at Carmel with a message that David and his men had fulfilled their agreement to guard the sheep. He told his young men to tell Nabal: “… While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them. As your servants, and they will tell you this is true. So would you please be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please give us any provisions you might have on hand.” – (I Samuel 25: 7, 8. NLT).

Although this message may have sounded strange to us, David, was actually sending a message of peace while at the same time telling Nabal that he and his men had done their job honestly and with integrity. Although, he used the word “provisions”, for payment, he did so knowing that the employer could give them money, but the word “provisions” at this time in history meant that payment could include food, clothing, and some money; money which Nabal had gained from shearing the sheep. Furthermore, David also knew that God had asked every employer to pay fair wages to their employees. In fact, early on and among the commands that God gave the Jews at Mount Sinai, is God’s command: “You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.” – (Leviticus 19:13. NASB). In other words, God was telling the people that as soon as the person has fulfilled their agreed upon job, that their wages should be paid, and their wages were not to be held over until the next day either. Obviously, most Jews, including both David and Nabal, would know the laws regarding wages. But evidently Nabal chose to ignore them and to pretend that the message that David sent with his men to him was ludicrous.

To show David just what Nabal thought of his request, Nabal then sent back a blistering message to David, which inflamed the heart of David. For, Nabal said, “‘Who is this fellow David?’ Nabal sneered. ‘Who does this son of Jesse think he is?... Should I take my bread and water and the meat I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?” – (I Samuel 25: 10, 11. NLT). What an insult! Obviously, Nabal knew who David was, because he referenced him as being the son of Jesse. Furthermore, Nabal had to know that they were not a band of outlaws, because Jesse was a respected man and David had been the military leader of the Israelites under King Saul for several years. In fact, David got that position, because he had killed the Philistine giant, Goliath and saved the Israelite nation. So, with David’s reputation being renowned, it is doubtful that anyone in Israel did not know who David was. Nevertheless, in his message to David, Nabal insulted his father, Jesse, by linking Jesse’s son to a band of outlaws, then he insulted David and his men by calling them outlaws, and finally he further disparaged David by acting like he did not know who he was and that he had never heard of him. Last, but not least, Nabal refused to pay the agreed upon wages; wages that God had specifically told all Jewish people to pay fairly when they were due. Nabal had also insulted God, when he refused to honor God’s command. With all these insults, David’s inflamed heart, burst into an uncontrollable fire of anger. Enter Abigail, a woman of influence.

Abigail

Abigail was the wife of Nabal. She was a godly woman who had the intelligence to understand the great danger or jeopardy that her mean and dishonest husband had put the entire family and all the people in. So, in using her brain, and having empathy for those who have been treated unfairly, Abigail quickly knew that something had to be done to influence David not to kill everyone. Obviously, besides having empathy, there was her own self-preservation and the knowledge that everyone she knew would be killed if she did nothing. So, this godly woman decided to override her husband’s refusal decree and try to get everyone out of the danger of death.

Nabal’s influence on his family, friends, and servants was negative and hurtful. Obviously, Abigail couldn’t talk to her husband, because he thought only his ideas and desires were right. She had also probably been subjected to a great deal of Nabal’s meanness herself, which meant that there was no reason to try to dissuade him from what he had said, because he wouldn’t listen to her either. Instead, “Abigail lost no time. She quickly gathered two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, nearly a bushel of roasted grain, one hundred raisin cakes, and two hundred fig cakes. She packed them on a donkeys … But she didn’t tell her husband what she was doing.” – (I Samuel 25: 18, 19. NLT). Then, this godly woman, the wife of Nabal, got on her donkey to find David before something dire happened.

It just so happened that David’s anger had truly gotten the best of him, and he and his men were riding directly toward Nabal’s and Abigail’s home to kill everyone except the women and children. David had gotten terribly angry about his men working so hard, and now were not even being given any food as recompense for their work. So, in his anger, David was now determined to take what they needed after they first killed Nabal and all his people.

As Abigail traveled to find to David’s encampment, she saw David and his men coming toward her. When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before David. Then Abigail said something that most of us would not think of saying. While at David’s feet and in complete submission, Abigail said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord.” Can you imagine someone who is truly not to blame actually accepting all the blame? Well, Abigail did. But, then she asked David to please listen to what she had to say. 

It is truly surprising that in his anger David was actually willing to listen, but he did. It could have been Abigail’s beauty that gave David pause, or it could have been that her godly humility was quickly seen by David. For, there was definitely no pridefulness at all in her behavior or attitude. On the other hand, maybe God intervened and David felt God's presence in the situation. Whatever the reason, David suddenly found that he was actually willing to listen to what Abigail said. Perhaps now Abigail had a chance to persuade David not kill everyone after all.

As Abigail continued to speak to David she was hoping for mercy from David. Perhaps Abigail remembered that God requires us “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” – (Micah 6: 8. NLT). The King James Bible says it this way: “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Showing mercy to others means that we love being kind to others and in our kindness we do not give them what we think that they deserve. Obviously, Abigail knew that Nabal deserved punishment for his actions, but she had come to ask for mercy from David. First, though, Abigail needed to acknowledge David’s right to be angry by telling David, “I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests (Nabal’s name actually means “fool”).” Then Abigail indicated that had she personally received the message from David about the provisions owed to him that she would have given David what he and his men deserved as payment for their work for Nabal. Unfortunately, Abigail had not received the message before it was given to Nabal. But, she had come to plead with him for mercy.

Abigail’s positive godly influence

Abigail did not stop at just asking for forgiveness from David, though, because she saw that David needed to pull back from his anger. He needed to start thinking not only about the ramifications that his action would produce, but he needed to start thinking, too, about what God expected from David. So, to remind him, Abigail went on to gently tell David what God expected of Him, and she told him that anger and murder were not a part of that expectation.

We too, need to think before we act. Moreover, if we can influence others to stop and think or calm down when angry before doing something rash, we will have done what God has asked us to do in being a positive influence on others. Certainly, we need all the positive influence that we can get, because we have both positive and negative emotions that are at times fighting for control. Furthermore, negative emotions combined with certain situations can sometimes put us in positions where we truly need to stop and think before we proceed. For, as Christians we should not choose to allow the negative emotions to control our actions. Although Christ had not yet come to give the Israelites Salvation most knew God. Moreover, David had a close relationship with God. He knew what God expected from His people. But, David just needed to be reminded of the Truth of God’s Word and how those negative emotions, if played out, could lead David down a very dark path.

Had David followed through on his plan to murder Nabal and his people, David would have been guilty of taking vengeance into his own hands, which God had specifically told the Israelites not to do. For while bringing the Jewish people out of Egypt and through many dangers, God continually spoke to Israelite people through Moses and taught them how to soar as His people. But, vengeance was not a way for them to grow in love nor was it a way to become closer to God. So, God told His people that “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution. In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, and impending things are hastening upon them.” – (Deuteronomy 32: 35. NASB).  In other words, those who knowingly do wrong, will reap their own destruction at the time when God sees that it is appropriate.

Without specifically saying it, Abigail was telling David that he needed to calm down and think clearly about his decision to kill Nabal and all the people on his property. In reality, God was using Abigail to help David see the truth of the situation. Then as David actually calmed down, Abigail said, “… since the LORD has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies be as cursed as Nabal is. And here is a present that I have brought to you and your young men. Please forgive me if I have offended in any way. The LORD will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the LORD’s battles. …”  -- (I Samuel 25: 26-28. NLT).

We can just imagine David now looking up from Abigail’s face to see the donkeys she has brought with her, which were laden with all kinds of food and other things as well. Obviously, David must have been astonished at the strength and courage of this young woman to go against her husband’s wishes to save her people. But, just as importantly was Abigail’s willingness to ask not only for someone else’s forgiveness, but to ask for forgiveness of herself as well. Even though she had already given David the food and other items needed for payment to David and his men, Abigail still asked forgiveness, if she had in any way offended David.

How many of us would ask forgiveness for ourselves when the facts did not show that we have done anything wrong? Certainly, our society today, doesn’t put much emphasis on asking forgiveness. In fact, many people have a hard time saying that they are sorry for the something they have done or for the words they have said, so why would they ask forgiveness for something that they may not have done? For, most people think that asking for forgiveness implies that the person has done something that needed to be forgiven. Of course, through our eyes it does not look like Abigail did anything wrong. But, Abigail did not know the type of person that David was or what he was thinking, and his perception of her could have been skewed by his perception of Nabal. So, Abigail wanted David to know that she had in no way intended to say or do anything that might have hurt him. In other words, Abigail was accepting the responsibility of David’s perception of her and her words. 

Abigail was doing exactly what God wants all of us to do in regard to asking for forgiveness of others. For, God wants all of us to accept responsibility for our actions and our words, which means that if we “love others as we love ourselves’ then surely we need to ask forgiveness at certain times to show we are sorry and to show our love of and respect for the other person. In fact, asking forgiveness or saying we are sorry doesn’t make us less than, nor does it take away our power. Rather saying we are sorry or asking forgiveness makes us look better. Actually, we look like a responsible person who knows when she has done something wrong or when someone else perceives that she has done something wrong; a responsible person who is now willing to make peace by admitting she was wrong. Certainly, there is great power in making peace. But more importantly, there is a spiritual peace comes to our souls when we are willing to ask for forgiveness. 

Abigail’s willingness to accept responsibility for her husband’s actions as well as for anything that she might personally have said or done, enabled her to have a positive influence upon David. As a result, David was willing to listen to Abigail as she further explained to him how God was on his side. Abigail said, “Even when you are chased by those who seek your life, you are safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in His treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! When the LORD has done all He promised and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then you won’t have to carry on your conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the LORD has done these great things for you, please remember me!”  -- (I Samuel 25: 29, 30. NLT). 

David was extremely thankful for Abigail’s words of wisdom and her willingness to try and stop him from doing something that he would later regret. In fact, David said: “Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! … Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carrying out vengeance with my own hands. … if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would be alive tomorrow morning.” – (I Samuel 25: 32- 34. NLT). Then David accepted her gifts and Abigail returned home to her husband.

What a wonderful positive and powerful influence Abigail had on David in many ways. Obviously, her influence included using the words of God to remind David that God is the One who takes care of vengeance. For, it is not our responsibility to attempt to make things right or to make ourselves feel better by hurting another person, no matter how awful they are or what they have done. God is the only One who is to take vengeance, which is exactly what occurred in Nabal’s case.

God’s vengeance on Nabal

When Abigail arrived back home she found that Nabal had celebrated the sheep shearing and his extra wealth like a king with no thought of tomorrow, but he was so drunk that Abigail couldn’t talk to him. So she waited until the next morning to tell him what she had done. However, when Nabal heard what she had done, he suddenly had a very bad stroke that left him completely paralyzed. Then ten days later, God struck him again, and Nabal died. Notice that God first took away Nabal’s ability to speak and walk, then God gave Nabal ten days to think about what he had done. Certainly, we can see that God had his vengeance upon Nabal for his meanness and dishonesty to David and those around him. In this case, God took Nabal’s life. Now, all those years that Abigail had been emotionally and perhaps physically abused by her husband were over. Abigail, too, was vindicated by God.

When David heard that Nabal was dead, He thanked the Lord that he had not taken vengeance into his own hands. But, David understood, too, that had God not sent Abigail to influence him and get him to stop and think about what he was planning to do, that he would have become the murderer of many innocent people just to get back at Nabal. In other words, David would have committed a great sin had he taken vengeance upon Nabal by killing him and all the people who worked for him. Admittedly, David realized that he kept thinking about this beautiful strong woman who had the courage and strength to face him and tell him the truth. Finally, David sent a message to Abigail and in this message, he asked her to marry him. Abigail said yes, and she married David.

Are you a woman of influence?

Are you a woman that can stand up for the truth? Can you say that you have a positive influence upon those around you? I hope that no matter what situation that you are in, that you will always rely on God for the strength and courage to do what is right and to be a positive influence on those around you.

Remember, that your positive influence comes from knowing Christ as your Savior. Christ is the One who gives you the heart to love God, the heart to show kindness or mercy, the heart to do that which is right, and to walk humbly with God. Obviously, you can be a woman who empowers other women through your positive influence and your love of Christ. First, though, you need to know Christ as your Savior. Then, you need to read the Word of God daily or as often as you can in order to learn what God wants you to do in your life of living for Him. Next, you need to reach out in Christian servanthood to do what Christ has asked you to do, which is to share the Gospel message, to help others, to comfort others, to support others during their trials, and to love others with the love of Christ.

In the process of living for God and in servanthood for the Kingdom of God, you can be an Active Relational Christian Mentor who can help, support, comfort, and empower others through your positive influence, knowledge, skills, information and godly gifts. You can do it! You can become an Active Relational Christian mentor!

So, what is Salvation and what is knowing Christ?

If you do not know Christ as your Savior, but you desire to know Him and live for Him, it is very easy to do. Since we are all born sinners and God tells us that the “wages of sin is death”, we have to first understand that we will need to repent of those sins, while asking Christ to forgive us. Remember, how Abigail asked forgiveness from David? Well, David could forgive her for her statements to him and her actions toward him, but David could not forgive her of her sins. Only Christ can do that!

All of the sins that you commit or have ever committed make you unclean, and you cannot come before Holy God with your uncleanness. Even the white lies that you commit in order not to hurt another’s feelings are considered to be a sin as well as your negative or hateful thoughts about others. This means that no one except Jesus Christ is without sin. But, what is repenting or what does it mean to repent of your sins. Well, it means that you are truly sorry for all the sins you have committed or for all the things that you have done that are against God’s Word and His Truth. Then if you are truly sorry, you will desire to be washed of all your sins, and then within your heart, you will desire to live as pure a life for Christ as you possibly can. To repent also means that you desire to and then will give up any blatant sinfulness that God has laid upon your heart to quit doing. In other words, you will be willing to make an 180 degree life turn and now live for Christ.

In order to understand why you need to repent and ask Christ for forgiveness, you have to truly understand that God is holy and that we cannot come into his presence having unforgiven sins. So, we first have to be made righteous before we can come into God’s presence in the Eternity of Heaven. However, if you do not want to ask Christ for forgiveness for your sins, you also have to understand that you will someday spend Eternity in Hell when you die. For, there are only two places that you can go when you die. One is to everlasting Hell and the other is to everlasting Eternity in Heaven with God and His So, Jesus Christ.

But, God gave you and me a way to be made righteous and have our sins cleansed by the blood of His Son. In fact, the Bible says specifically: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.” – (John 3: 16. NLT).  When the Scripture says that God gave his only Son, it means that God sent Christ to earth to die for your sins so that you would not have to die eternally for them, i.e. go to Hell. In other words, you can have Eternal life in Heaven through Jesus Christ whose blood cleanses you of all your sins. All you have to do is tell Christ that you are sorry for what you have done against God and others and that you want Christ to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart. Then Christ will forgive you and send the Holy Spirit to you to live in your heart. The Holy Spirit will then help you know how to live for God, if you will study God’s Word and listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice within you.

The best earthly part of your Salvation starts the minute you ask Christ into your heart. That is because you do not have to wait for death for your eternal life to start. For when Christ forgives you and comes into your heart along with the Holy Spirit, you will receive a joy, peace, and love that is explained only through knowing Christ as your Savior. All this starts the moment that you repent of your sins and ask Christ to come into your heart. For, Christ gives you a new life of internal peace, hope, faith, and joy even while living in a fallen world. Your internal thirst for something that you couldn’t quite put your finger on will be quenched. You will have living water that transcends this world and puts you in the spiritual world of God giving you soul peace and Eternity. Then, when your life is over and you vacate your body, you will go home to be with the Lord in the Eternity of Heaven. Truly it is great to know Christ as your Savior and to have His joy, peace and love everyday!

The Prayer of Salvation.

There is not a specific or precise prayer that everyone is supposed to say. That is because your prayer for Salvation must come from your heart, using your very own words. However, whatever words that you choose to express your repentance and your love for God, must be words that come from your heart. Below is just an example of a prayer for Salvation. If you want to be “Saved”, i.e. you truly want Christ to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart, you need to tell Christ in your own words that you believe the statements that I have listed in this example prayer.

“Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I am unworthy to come before you. But, I also know that you came to earth to die for my sins. I believe that you were born of a virgin and that when you died on the cross that you arose again on the third day. I believe that you conquered eternal death for me through your resurrection and that you are now sitting at the right hand of your Father, God. I am so sorry for all the things that I have done wrong as a sinner. I believe that you can cleanse me of my sins. Jesus, please forgive me and come into my heart. Thank you so much for the blood that you shed on the cross for me, and please cleanse me with your blood.”

Once you have said your own prayer and have received Christ into your heart, then you need to tell someone that you have been forgiven and that Christ is now your Savior. If you go to church, tell your pastor or fellow church member. But if you don’t go to church, tell someone close to you. Then you need to find a church that fits your needs, for it is important that Christ’s church, i.e. those who have given their life to Him, fellowship together. For, fellow Christians can be there to support you and each other when trials and tribulations in this fallen world occur. Just remember, there is no perfect church group of people, because there is no perfect person. We do not go to church because those inside a particular building are supposed to kind, caring, loving, etc. We go to church to learn more about Christ, to Worship God, and to be there for others who may need us. I pray that you will be able to find a loving, caring, church body to support you and your needs. God Bless you!