Sold out for God

Guest post by Paul Ristvedt

The first time I heard God really speak to me personally was when I was a junior in high school. At that time, I was part of a youth group which had just exploded with popularity as around 250 high school students were part of it. It was the first time in my life that I started to interact with God as a young adult in a personal way. I never missed a meeting, I was fairly involved with it, and it helped me make friends.

In the group, there were generally eight to 10 senior leaders. I decided that I should apply for leadership for my senior year and based on my involvement, I had a really good shot! The night came when they were announcing the leaders. During the announcements, I felt God impressed upon me that I wasn’t going to be a leader ... and what he told me happened. I wasn’t in the announcements. My name wasn’t called while other names were called. However, I was at peace during the announcements as I knew God was with me. That feeling would not survive for long.

I was distraught. I didn’t know what to do. My identity, and naturally my popularity, had been tied to the fact that I was going to be a leader (although no one else seemed to think what I thought). This church ... had ... abandoned me. I still was part of the youth group, but one of the best things happened to me after I left the church that had loved me and introduced me to God in a massive way to be open to finding a new place to worship God.

Senior year, a friend had invited me to a new church. I decided to go. I was BLOWN away. People were worshiping God, the music was emotional and the people were “sold out” for God. I decided to attend a small group and dive in despite the potential of getting hurt again. The men in the small group were awesome. The youth pastor, intense. I also was ready to surrender my life.

A funny thing happened when I first asked God if I could surrender my life to his will and be “sold out” for him. The funny thing that happened was, nothing happened. Nothing at all.

Here’s what took place.

I prayed in my small group with our passionate youth pastor and not one thing changed. The part that is a bit ridiculous but really interesting is that the youth pastor said, try again! I can’t imagine telling someone that. So I did. I went back to group the next week. I was ready. I’m not sure what changed or maybe God isn’t a cheap lover (not to be interpreted broadly by theologians), but the second time was very different. God’s presence was in and around me and I felt the presence of the uncreated, immutable, reckless, loving God and his host of angels. I’m not sure why it played out that way, but I was never the same. I had given my life to Jesus and asked him help me to live a “sold-out” life. It was the beginning of my journey. An incredible journey which can be summed up in a quote from C.S. Lewis’ The Last Battle, “in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Cancer changes perspective

Guest post by Jackie Eyberg

I hadn’t really heard the voice of God until I received my diagnosis of breast cancer. On Feb. 6, 2020, I was diagnosed. This day changed my perspective on life and my relationship with God.

Before my diagnosis I was busy. I am a mom to three young children and work full time as a teacher. I was trying to do it all and wasn’t doing it all very well. There were times when I was working that I would hear God tell me to slow down, but I didn’t know how. I would rush to get to work, rush to get home and make dinner and then try to spend time with my kids while trying to keep up with my teacher work and the work of keeping a house in order. I wasn’t spending quality time with God or getting filled up in the word. I was rushing through each day and not enjoying life.

After my diagnosis, I took a leave from my teaching job so I could focus on my chemotherapy treatment and getting better. This was hard for me because I love teaching. I feel teaching is my God-given purpose and what I was created to do. But I knew I had to do this to slow down. I was looking forward to spending my days at home reading and spending time with God. Then COVID-19 hit. My kids were home with me and I was their teacher now. 

I am finding ways to slow down and be with God. Every morning, I get up early before my kids wake up to spend time with God. My church has been having online devotions which get me into the word. I have also been reading a devotion and reading the Bible in a year. The more reading of the Bible that I do, the more God is speaking to me. In the stories of the Bible, I hear different people going through trials and putting their trust in Jesus more. God is teaching me to trust him more with my future. I am trying to give up the control in my life and let God control every area. I am putting my faith over my fears. Romans 12:12 has been my theme verse during my cancer journey: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

I am learning to take one day at a time and one chemo treatment at a time. I am trying to focus on each day and what is really important in life. Cancer is teaching me to slow down and let God take care of my worries and concerns. I am learning to listen to God more and what he wants for my life instead of what I want. I hope my story encourages you today!