15 years ago today, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I was 18 years old and I was searching for meaning in life. I had just moved away from Connecticut and had one semester under my belt at the College of Charleston. All through high school I had been searching for answers, but had come up empty. I was convinced there was something or someone out there, but I didn’t know who or what it was. I had gotten to the point of discouragement and had basically prayed,“If there is anybody up there that can hear me, please show up.”

On the night of December 12, 2000, I had a dream that would forever change the trajectory of my life. I was a dark soul, descending into a dark chasm and before me were huge faces ascending into a magnificent expanse of light. I saw my soul as it truly was at the time: dark, deformed and lost. 

I woke up from the dream and knew I didn’t want to go to that dark place. Something needed to change. My roommate at the time was a guy by the name of Ashwin Patel. Ashwin is a Christian, and I had seen something in him that I wanted. There was a certain presence, a sense of peace he had that I simply didn’t possess. I went into his room at about midnight and told him about my revelation.

He asked me if I wanted to pray the “sinner’s prayer” and I was pretty open to whatever at that point. I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my heart to be my Lord and Savior. I prayed that he would make me the man he wanted me to be and that he would take control of my life. Immediately a presence entered into me that has been with me ever since.

I truly believe, from the bottom of my heart, that Jesus saved me that day. That he entered the heart of a desperate soul and rescued me from the darkness I was trapped in. Life has by no means been easy since that point. I have had plenty of trials and difficulties, but Someone has been there seeing me through every single one of them. The decision I made that day has affected absolutely everything about my life. Jesus is my Savior and Lord and my life is about submitting to him. 

He knocked on the door of my heart and I opened it. Revelation 3:20 says, “ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” He is extending that same invitation to you as well. Whether you say yes or no is the most important decision you’ll ever make. He loves you and has a purpose for you…my encouragement is to not wait another minute to respond.

Here is a spoken word poem I performed at Seacoast Church that illustrates Jesus’s invitation to follow him…hope you enjoy!