This article is not about Liverpool Football Club. They are my favourite football club, but I am not in the mood to write about them. If you are laughing at me, continue o. It is just for a while. We will be back. Form is temporary, but class is permanent. At least, that’s what they say.
This article is about my journey with Christ.
A few years ago, I listened to a sermon. It was titled The Holy Spirit: My Closest Friend by Pastor E.A. Adeboye. He spoke about the Holy Spirit with a fondness and closeness that I admired and desired. The Holy Spirit was not a distant lord waiting for his subjects to err so he can punish them. The sermon had a different feel. The Holy Spirit was a friend who was willing to point out not just the direction but to walk with his friends. And help them navigate the path to fulfilling their potential. I wanted that.
Around that season, we were studying the Benediction at Voluntary Bible Study in school. We were considering the concluding part, “…the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”. In line with the message and some other things, I started to talk to God more. Some examples of my conversations were: I remember a particular time when I needed to fetch water in school. I had said this within me: “God, I want to fetch water. Please help me not spend a lot of time there.” Upon getting to the main taps, there was a queue, but I felt God nudging me to check another one. As I approached the tap beside another hostel, I didn’t see anyone. I thought to myself, “There is no way there would be water here, and other people would be rushing at that other one.” Alas, I got to the tap, I opened and guess what? There was water!
Another time, God had led me to give the last money I had as an offering. I wrote about it on my Facebook wall here. That night, I had resigned to taking garri (cassava granules). However, I got a call from my friend and brother, Joshua. Let’s say I ended up eating big that night. Hehehe.
There are other experiences that I have had in my walk with God as my friend. My best friend. In the times when I have erred, He has corrected. When I have been hurt, He has comforted me. And when I need someone to talk to, He is always there to commune with me. I wrote about the 5Cs of the Holy Spirit here.
So, today, I want to encourage you to seek a closer walk with God. He wants to be a father AND a friend. Someone you can gist with, cry to and lean on. And if you have not accepted Him as Lord and Saviour, all you have to do is say a prayer. Ask Him to forgive your sins and invite Him in as Lord of your life. That’s all. Welcome to the family!
By Iremide Akinsola for Perspectives.