When I was a young man and a young Christian (more than a few weeks ago), I prayed for God to help me find His light and His righteousness. With the guidance and prompting of the Holy Spirit, I found them! They were in the most unlikely spot in the entire universe; deep inside my own heart.
I felt more clean, pure and refreshed than I had ever known before. His still small voice whispered, “This is what your heavenly Father sees when He looks in your heart. Because you accepted the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for your sins in 1954, His precious blood washed away your sins and your Father only sees the righteousness of Jesus. His light – the light of the world now shines brightly in you. Jesus is the light of the world, but when He left this world to return to heaven, he passed that light on to you and to each person who accepts Him as Savior. People around you won’t always understand the source of the light, but some will see the light radiating from inside you like the powerful beam of a lighthouse guiding them from rough waters to safety. Others may see the beauty of the light as though is was shining through a stained glass window. It is then that they all will feel the love you have in your heart for God and for them along with your other fruit of the Spirit. You are not perfect, but you have been redeemed and you are now God’s torch bearer.”
It was at that time that I realized the strong desire of my heart for a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I was shocked to learn that God also longs for that same closer relationship with each of His children. Over the years our relationship has grown closer. One of my favorite gospel songs states, “Some call Him Savior, the redeemer of all men. I call Him Jesus for He’s my dearest friend.” I proclaim Jesus as my Lord and Savior and I pray every prayer in the name of Jesus, but when I commune personally with Him, I use the same name his mother used when she would call him to dinner – Yeshua. It just feels comfortable using his Hebrew name; the closest I come to having a special prayer language.
This revelation I’m sharing with you is nothing for me to brag about; but it is something for which I remain eternally grateful.