My mum and dad were Methodists when I was born. I was Christened as a baby. We used to go to church every week when I was little. When I was about seven or eight we stopped going because my older sister thought it was boring and would throw tantrums. That’s when I started hanging around with older kids on street corners. I started smoking cigarettes when I was eight years old.
I was a Grammar School kid who didn’t fit in and became the class clown to be good at something. I was told to change or leave. So I found where I fit, hanging around street corners with a group of kids, smoking, drinking cider, graduating at 15 to weed every day, onto speed, setting the scene for my life.
Leaving school, working hard, I got my wages on Thursday, not sleeping ‘til Sunday evening. I was living a cycle of highs with big come downs and using other drugs to deal with this. I never injected heroin, glad, because my friends who did are mostly dead now. I was working 12 hour days, doing drugs and hitting burn out. There were points where I couldn’t do this anymore. I tried to quit but nothing happened and started to think suicide was the only way out.
So it went on ‘til I was 40. Realising I’d wasted 20 odd years, I looked for deeper meanings to life. I read all the Eastern religions seeking answers but they didn’t do it for me. I always believed there was a ‘higher something’ but I wasn’t interested in God, ‘til this night, desperate, I fell to my knees and asked, “If there’s a God out there, please help me, I need your help.”
I know this sounds crazy, but the next day all my addictions were gone. I’d no desire for them and haven’t used since. And I had this overwhelming urge to find Jesus. I tried the Mormons but something didn’t fit, so I got myself a Bible and the words touched my heart deeply. I’m now a born again Christian, asked Jesus into my life and got to know Him. I’ve been baptised, belong to a Church, have met with the Holy Spirit and feel clean. I just love God. Knowing He loves me so intensely, I can’t describe it. He’s my best friend and I chat with Him constantly. I’m happy all the time because He fills me with a joy that’s bigger than any drugs. It’s all about loving, forgiving and kindness to everyone. God shows this to us and I try and reflect it. I’m not ashamed of my past, it’s my past, but now I have a future in him, alive and free.
If I had carried on going to church I think I would have turned out different but I ended up turning my back on Jesus. Which is not a good idea. I am truly sorry for that. Through his mercy, grace and Love I know I am forgiven. He waited patiently for me. The shepherd left the 99 other sheep to come and find me. And when I was on my knees and I called out in desperation. He was there waiting to wrap me in his cloak and to put a ring on my finger and sandals on my feet. And said “welcome home son”.
My redeemer lives. Thank you Jesus for everything ❤️🙏 All glory be to God.
I was a prodigal son and I pray for all the prodigal sons and daughters to come back home to Father God.
David