My Way

God's Way

God allowed me to be born in a Christian home where my parents taught me about God and His teachings. We often would read the Bible and study His Word. However, as I was growing up, I viewed learning about God and the Bible as a negative thing. I only saw the restrictions placed on me that prevented me from doing the things other kids my age were allowed to do. I wanted to grow up quickly during that time so that I would be able to make my own decisions, and do whatever I wanted, rather than doing whatever my parents ruled. I took for granted learning about God at a young age and rebelled against the Lord's calling so that I could be more like the other kids my age.

When I was a schoolgirl of fifteen years old, the Lord began talking to my heart. I was very close to reaching the age when my parents said I could make my own decisions and do the things that I wanted to do. I was definitely not ready to surrender my stubborn will to the Lord. Every time He would speak to me, I would run to hide in the bathroom or another place where I could cry by myself. I did not want to give up my desires and way of living.

On August 19, 1979, I was under heavy conviction and I attended a service that was held in the little church my family attended. I had prepared myself to again be rebellious to God's call and the words that were preached. However, the Lord knew better. After the sermon, I saw my sister run to the altar to pray and it broke my heart. I could not take the conviction any longer, I ran to the altar after her. By the time I reached the altar, I had already made the decision to give my life to God. I was ready to seriously pray. When I opened my heart and confessed my sins, the Lord was so good to me. He took all my sins away. He did not first remind me of all the times that I neglected to accept His call. He just received me, washed me, and saved my soul.

I received so much more than I was expecting when He saved me. I knew that salvation was the way the soul was saved from eternity in Hell, but I had no idea of everything else it entailed. That night, I received such a wonderful peace in my heart, and such an amazing change in my life that I never imagined possible. That peace, which is still in my heart today, is what has kept me in the Gospel. I thank Him for that peace that passes all my understanding. Through many trials and storms, and the temptations of the devil, the Lord has always been faithful to me and has kept me safely in His embrace.

I can truly say that I am witness of the power of the Lord because He has proved His power time and again in my life. I know Him as a Doctor; I know Him as a Friend; I know Him as a Father, and I know that He is my all in all. Any time that I need the Lord, He is there. When I am in pain, I call on His name and He helps me. When I face situations and I am unsure of what to do, He takes care of me. When my father died, the Lord was there to comfort me. Everything that I know, everything that I do and everything that I am, is all because of Jesus. The Lord has supplied all my needs, no matter how big or small.

I will always be amazed at how God works. The way He brought such a wonderful change in me, and the way He has kept me are things that will always fill me with awe. I can testify wherever I go and to everyone I meet, that the Lord is faithful. My desire and determination are to continue to follow my Lord and Master. He has called me to perform many different jobs and to be involved in many different works of the Gospel, all of which I could not do in my own strength. I rely on Him to be my strength and my help. I have been serving the Lord for several years, but nothing I do would ever be worth enough to pay Him back for everything He has given me.

Nilsa Natta is superintendent of the Sunday school program in the Apostolic Faith Churches in the Dominican Republic.