Saved on the Forth
"The Fourth of July had always been a day of celebration, but for me, it was a day of reckoning. As a soldier, I'd seen my fair share of battles, but none had tested my mettle like the one I'd just survived. The fire had been intense, bullets whizzing past my head, explosions rocking the earth beneath my feet. I thought for sure I'd meet my maker that day. But God had other plans. As I lay wounded on the battlefield, a sense of desperation washed over me. I'd lived a life far from Him, ignoring the whispers of my conscience, pushing aside the conviction that something more waited for me beyond the trenches of war. But in that moment, with death staring me in the face, I cried out to Him. "Lord, if You're real, save me! I've lived a life of sin and selfishness, but I'm willing to surrender it all to You. Please, don't let me die here." In the midst of battle, a strange calm enveloped me. I felt a presence around me, a warmth that seemed to seep into my very bones. The fire ceased, and an eerie silence fell over the battlefield. When medics reached me, they were amazed I'd survived. I knew then that God had indeed answered my plea. As I lay in the hospital, recovering from my wounds, I couldn't shake the feeling that God had saved me for a purpose. The words of Psalm 91:14-15 echoed in my mind: "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name." The Fourth of July, once a day of patriotic fervor, had become a day of personal liberation. I'd been set free from the bondage of sin, and a new life in Christ had begun. The fire that had threatened to consume me had instead refined me, purified me, and prepared me for the mission ahead. From that day forward, I knew I'd follow Him, no matter the cost. The battlefield may have been scarred, but my soul was redeemed. And as I looked up at the stars on that Independence Day night, I whispered a prayer of gratitude: 'Thank You, Lord, for saving me. I'll follow You, wherever You lead.'" I hope this testimony blesses and encourages you because you may be the reason I'm telling this story today. Have a happy 4th, of July.
Susan Barker Nikitenko 2025© FbAnnaBenSavedNMRMPMPBKBJULYMES
