It was not until the latter part of my high school years that I began to wonder what was the true meaning of my existence. Growing up in a non-christian home for most of my childhood years, I only had the foundational knowledge of God and seemingly what it took to be a Christian. My seeking and searching became reality when I received the Lord into my heart during my freshman year in college. After transferring to UNT, I decided that in order to seek more truth and growth in the Lord, I needed to find a Christian group to meet with during the week. However, I became dismayed and dissatisfied because I still didn’t sense life nor growth in my Christian life. Due to my disappointment, I decided to seek other “social groups” to try to fulfill my desire. Needless to say, I put God on hold. However, I knew that I still felt emptiness inside of me because I tried to put other things first in place of God. It was not until my second semester at UNT that I began to meet with Christian Students. I began to meet on campus for bible studies. This was where my Christian walk began to take place. Being a new believer at the time, I never knew that I could experience the Lord in a deeper fuller way until I met other believers in Christian Students. I sensed life and growth within these believers. This was what my heart was longing for all my life. I was immediately invited to the families’ homes, and I felt really nourished and cherished by them. Not only did they provide their open homes and delicious meals, there was a real genuine fellowship and prayer with one another. I felt at peace and knew that I had found my home.
Having since graduated
from UNT, I can look back to what I was at the beginning of my college
years until now. I can honestly say that the Lord has become so near and
dear to me. Christ has made His home in my heart. Ephesians 3:17 says
“That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you,
being rooted and grounded in love.” Here is the first stanza and chorus
to a hymn that describes my experience:
All my life long I had panted
For a draught from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.
Chorus: Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings;
Through His life I now am saved.
