The Sanctuary

November 2, 2009

By Angela Saich

During a painful season in my life, I came to the conclusion that God did not love me. I stopped going to church and stopped praying. I turned my back on God for the next 11 years.

In 1982, a crisis happened in my life. I wanted to pray, but I thought God would not hear me because I had rejected Him. But a few days later, as I was watching TV, I caught the last few minutes of a program with the message that God loved me. I began watching that program every day and listened as people shared how God had changed their lives for the better.

I wanted a change in my life. I prayed a simple prayer with the man on TV, asking Jesus to come into my life. I didn’t know you only need to pray the prayer once. Every day, I would pray the sinner’s prayer again.

I called the station that broadcast the program, and they sent me literature that explained I was born again. I began to read about who I am in Jesus Christ. I began to study my Bible.

One Sunday morning, I had this urgency to go to church. I quickly dressed and went to a nearby church. As I went inside, there was a cross just above the altar. I stared at the cross as tears filled my eyes.

I took a seat in the last pew, still crying. I kept whispering to myself, “I’m home. I’m home.”

Being born again, I now understood how Jesus sacrificed himself for me. He took the beatings, being spit upon, the thorns, the humiliation — all of this so that I can have eternal life with Him.

Since that day in 1982, the desire to know Jesus has only grown. I am so thankful the Lord is in my life. Knowing He is only a breath away gives me peace and comfort. Now, whenever difficulties come my way, He is there with me. I know everything is going to be all right.

If you want to know Jesus, I encourage you to pray. It’s a simple prayer, asking Him into your life to forgive you of your sins. If you sincerely pray that prayer, you will be saved (born again).

And, remember, you only need to pray it once.

— Angela Saich lives in Tampa, Fla.