Forever Changed

I got baptized on Sunday. It was something that I have been praying about for months, but I had turned it over to God. I gave it to him and trusted that he would let me know when it was time. Well, Saturday afternoon, he let me know it was time.

I was working at the hospital and reading up on my patients before I went to see them. One of them had vertigo and was unable to do anything but lay on her right side. God spoke to me and told me that I was her hope and he told me I knew what I needed to do. Which was to perform a maneuver that can be frightening to people in the first place, let alone having to perform it in the hospital in less than ideal conditions. I explained the procedure to the patient and she was in. We tried it out, and it was scary. Her body was convulsing, she felt so dizzy, and she at times felt like she was going to pass out. I walked her through it, calmed her down, and got her to stay with me. We did the procedure a few more times and by the time I was done, she already felt a lot better and was able to lay on her back and her other side. I got a call shortly after lunch from her nurse wanting me to come back and perform the procedure one more time because the patient was doing so much better that she was going to get to go home. I went to do the procedure again and this time she was able to tolerate walking and sitting on the side of the bed. Praise God! She was so thankful and she thanked God for sending me and using me to help her. It was in that moment that he spoke to me and said “child it’s time.”

Even though he told me it was time, I still was a little anxious so I asked my husband about it when I got home from work. He said if I was ready to go ahead and do it. So I ended up messaging my pastors wife around 7 pm asking if it was too late to be baptized the very next day. See this Sunday was my church’s 8th birthday and my pastor had posted all week about how they would be baptizing. However I know from previous experiences that if no one signs up that they don’t typically set up the baptistry. My pastors wife said yes!! You know what else? She and my pastor had been praying that God had someone for them to baptize because in fact, no one had signed up, but her brother in law had set up the baptistry anyway. I was the person, that God had sent. I asked her if they both would do it because I can’t tell you how much the two of them as well as my church family have meant to me.

I didn’t hardly sleep Saturday night. I was giddy, anxious, you name it. Then came Sunday morning as I sat around waiting to get ready. I chose not to wear any make up, left my hair down, and was just my natural self. It was if I was presenting my bare self to the Lord. I arrived at church and the anxiety continued to build. I met with my pastor briefly before the start of the service and he told me how everything was going to go down. I was anxious during the service until I left to change clothes. After I changed, I felt a sense of peace, I was ready. The final thing I did was I laced my crosses around my hands (I decided I was going to take my old cross necklace and the cross necklace my husband gave me 5 years ago with me to be baptized because I have always had them hanging in my car and it would serve as a reminder of the day I publicly professed my faith) and stood there next to my pastor.

My pastor and his wife shared some of my story to the congregation and then it was time. I was dipped under the water and then I emerged. When I came back up, I felt forever changed.

I had already given my life to Christ and accepted him as my savior, but I can’t explain it…something changed in that moment when I sank beneath the water and then emerged. It is almost like it washed away everything I had been holding onto and wiped my slate clean. I just felt and continue to feel moved…So much so that I have been quiet and introspective today. But it has been so good. I feel so thankful and so overcome with joy that I have almost been tearful at times as it is literally overwhelming. He has really been so good and so faithful to me. I am so thankful for the grace, love, and unending pursuit of my heart that he has showed me.

#foreverchanged #madenew #found