"Help! Please, help me. I'm desperate!"

These were the words that pierced the atmosphere when they parted the lips of a woman in anguish. She looked around at the mess she had made of her life and wondered if there was a permanent remedy for her pain. Her marriage was on the brink of divorce. Her two small children were caught in the middle of an ugly battle, which forced them to witness their parents wither away in a desperate search for peace in the midst of such chaos. She was broken. Her temporary solution to 'fix' everything had failed. Nothing seemed to last. She knew of a man who could heal her. Yes, the name and story of Jesus was very familiar to her.

She grew up knowing His name but not truly knowing Him.

She cried out to Him often to save her from the awful pit of despair that had become her life. Yet, He always seemed to be her last resort. What she failed to recognize is that the things she was pleading with Him to save her from, were the very things He had already saved her from. You see, repetition in her asking of God to save her wasn't producing the lifestyle change she so desperately needed. She kept begging for something she already asked for, yet hadn't received- salvation. She longed for a healthy family. She desired a restored relationship between her husband, her children and herself but it was already given to her, she just hadn't received it yet. It's like a person asking someone for money. The giver tells the one asking, that they can have the money they are asking for. They even try to give the funds to them. Yet, instead of receiving the money, the person just continues to beg the giver for financial help. How silly is that? The silly thing is we actually do the same thing to God. God sent His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that we could be free from the penalty of sin and created the availability to have a relationship with Him. Yet, in order for that to have any affect in our life, we must receive it. I'm sure by now you know that the person this article is written about, is me. But, if we're honest, it's you too.

We all come to a crossroad in our life where we make the decision on whether or not to receive the salvation of God.

I'm thankful to write that once I received Him and His beautiful love for me, my life was forever changed. My marriage is better than ever and my children are now growing strong in their faith because they have witnessed the relationship of their parents restored by our loving, heavenly Father. You may be in a desperate situation. One that seems hopeless. My prayer is that these words will bring revelation of your need to receive God's invitation so you can get to know Him personally. If you want to receive His help for any situation that you are facing, all you need to do is ask, receive, and it's yours. In fact, the Word of God says in Matthew 7:7-10 "For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!". If you are searching for answers, you are not alone and you are not here, reading this article, by chance. The Holy Spirit led you here for such a time as this. If you want to make the decision to follow Christ, whether it be for the first time or not, and you want security in a fresh start, you can have it right now. The scripture says in Romans 10:9-10 that "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."

If you are ready to make that decision, say this prayer outloud.

"Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive me of my sin. Wash me and cleanse me. Set me free. Jesus, thank you that you died for me. I believe that You are risen from the dead and that You're coming back again for me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Give me a passion for the lost, a hunger for the things of God and a holy boldness to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm saved; I'm born again, I'm forgiven and I'm on my way to Heaven because I have Jesus in my heart." Now, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I tell you today that your sins are forgiven. Always remember to run to God and not from Him because He loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.