I might not ever walk without crutches, but walking victoriously through life has nothing to do with legs. It is our attitude, and what is inside our hearts. I have found that walking with God is where abundant life comes from, and starting a relationship with Him was the greatest decision I ever made.

Like so many people, I spent most of my life searching for happiness. I thought if I got the best grades, the best boyfriend, the best car, the best job, or the most money, I'd be fulfilled. My life was a constant struggle to win approval and fit in. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was at the top of my class, had a two-page list of activities and achievements, and was miserable. Something was missing.

I was even a faithful churchgoer. I sang in the choir, went to Sunday school, and was an active volunteer. I assumed I was a Christian because I went to church, but I really wasn’t sure if I would go to heaven if I died. I imagined God had a big scale where He weighed my deeds, and I hoped I had enough good ones to get to heaven. Then, my senior year of high school, my friend Susan explained that going to church didn't make me a Christian any more than going to McDonald's made me a hamburger! But she did explain how I could have eternal life -- by personally asking Christ to come into my life and forgive my sins. So, as an act of my will, I placed my faith in Christ, and for the first time I knew for sure I would go to heaven.

My relationship with God changed my life. He fulfilled my needs for love, meaning, and purpose. He can do the same for you.

The Path To Victory ... Are you on it?

If you died tonight, do you know where you would spend eternity? Do you know for sure you would go to heaven? A life of victory begins by knowing the answer. Don't go through life without knowing these four points:

1. God loves you and created you to know Him personally.
   "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Every one of us needs Christ. He created us to have a relationship with Him, and He has a special plan for your life.
2. We are sinful and separated from God.
   "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). If we stayed in this state, we would spend an eternity apart from God: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
3. Jesus Christ is God's only way to pay for our sin.
   "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus died on the cross to prove His love for us. Not only that, but He was buried and rose again to prove He defeated death. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6).
4. We must make a personal decision to place our faith in Christ.
   Just knowing the facts is not enough. We need to ask Christ into our lives to become children of God. When we place our faith and trust in Him, we can experience His incredible grace, love, and forgiveness. It is as simple as the following prayer:
   
   Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life, and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.
   
   Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, pray it right now, and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you prayed that prayer, God promises you eternal life with Him. "The witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13). The next step is running the race of life full speed ahead. Develop your new relationship with God -- spend time with Him, pray, read God's Word. Get involved in a church and fellowship group where Christ is honored and His Word is taught. Get to know Jesus Christ, His character and His promises. God never promised that life would be easy, but He promised He’d be with us. Someone said, “True joy in life is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God,” and it’s true. With God by your side, you can walk victorious through anything.