The Heart of A Follower

A Year of Life Transformation

I’m one of those people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior countless times, without fully knowing or understanding what it meant.
Born and raised in Catholicism, I believed I knew God and what he wanted from me. I thought I understood the “terms and conditions” for staying in his favor: attending Sunday Mass, knowing the chosen vessels by heart, behaving properly in church, reciting the rosary, and so on.
I sang in the choir and occasionally said quick prayers before eating or sleeping ; mainly to please God and avoid his anger. But even with all that, my heart still felt thirsty for something I couldn’t define.
I remember being introduced to small group gatherings, a "cell," by friends. At first, I mostly went just for a chance to get out of the house. But I found myself really enjoying the songs and testimonies, it was a culture I wasn’t familiar with.
Three years later, I was invited to another cell. This one didn’t have beautiful songs or good vibes, though😂. Instead, it had real people with real struggles coming together to support each other in facing life’s challenges.
I was shocked when they openly shared their problems in front of their pastor. What?👀 Wasn’t that forbidden? You mean they wouldn’t kick you out next Sunday for admitting your sins? That was different from what I knew about Christian churches. In my experience, they were perfect places where I could never truly fit in. If you made any mistake, you were judged and excluded. Unfortunately, I had seen it happen to people I knew.
But this discipleship group, was such a safe place. People were vulnerable, honest, and accepted just as they were. I immediately knew this was where God wanted me to serve. I quickly connected with them, and God revealed Himself to me in a new way.
He was no longer the supreme ruler watching for my failures to punish me. Instead, He became an accessible friend who walked with me every day through joy and struggles. I no longer felt like I had to prove myself or follow strict terms and conditions. We were starting a journey together!💕

That was the turning point. I finally understood what had been missing in my heart for so long. God didn’t just want me to follow rules or complete tasks like A, B, C, and D. He wanted a real relationship with me.
Shortly after that, I was invited to church where I’ve remained ever since. In just one year, I learned so much that it felt impossible to keep track of it all.
I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible. I’ve done things I couldn’t imagine myself doing before, like praying for strangers in the street or leading prayers out loud, Who even does that? 😂!

I just needed to surrender, let Him take control, and allow Him to lead me.
I was hopeless and on the brink, but God showed up.
Today, I am proud to say that I lead a discipleship group, just like the one that helped me climb out of my deep well. Through their obedience to God, they guided me, and now I’ve decided to follow and obey God by being a vessel for others’ salvation.