(Guest post by: Lacy Hittle)
Hi there! Let’s jump right in with a question I’d like you to answer honestly:
Do you genuinely know Jesus, or have you simply grown up in church being told that you do?
I grew up deeply involved in church, but honestly, it wasn’t until recently that I had a truly real and raw encounter with the Lord.
This past year has been full of both ups and downs. Poor Madie and Lilly, along with others, have had to come to my rescue many times.
Since March, I graduated from my program after a nightmare of a school year. I started my own business, moved out of my parents’ house, and so much more.
Amidst all of this change, I wasn’t truly following the Lord; I was simply going through the motions.
Back in the middle of September, Madie and I began growing more serious in our faith. We were reading our Bibles more, doing more devotionals, and praying with greater intention. Not long after, we both felt the devil trying to attack us, because nothing threatens him more than the pursuit of a strong relationship with the Lord.
The chaos of all these new life changes, along with the seemingly constant attacks from the enemy and my lack of a deep hope in Jesus, began to weigh on me, worsening the depression I sometimes struggled with.
A few weeks after I first began drawing closer to the Lord, I had a true surrender moment. The day that I truly got saved was a combination of the worst and best day of my life. Without going into detail, my mind was not in a good place. I was at my breaking point and prayed a prayer of complete surrender to the Lord.
I prayed for Him to take control of my mind, my fears, my worries, my business concerns, my stress of income. All of it.
On this day, I felt a comfort and peace that came by means of prayer, and it was unlike anything I had experienced before. The next morning, on my way to work, I prayed my surrender prayer again. And I truly cannot make this up, this day was one of the most hopeful and encouraging days of my life. I felt more joyful, excited, happy, and productive than I had in a very long time!
The usual anger and irritability I often carried simply weren’t there. It was wonderful.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I still have days when I fall short. I’m not perfect. But I am changed, and the Lord helps me through my challenges when I allow Him to.
It takes effort, it takes waking up each morning, surrendering everything to Him, and truly meaning it.
It’s easy during this time of year to feel especially close to the Lord simply because of the meaning and atmosphere that typically surrounds the holiday season.
But as this Christmas season approaches, I want to challenge you to do more than simply go through the motions—attending church services, joining Bible studies, or listening to the classic Christmas songs without truly reflecting on their meaning.
Really dig into your Bible; read it, study it, and seek to truly understand it. Pray for the strength to completely surrender whatever is weighing you down.
Don’t wait another day to let the Lord radically transform your life. He is waiting for you to surrender everything to Him.
The Few 
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