Scott's Story
Almost 4 years ago I encountered what I had prayed for for many years. I wanted to have a full on encounter with the Holy Spirit. It was June of 2016 and I was driving around my farm in Stanfield, Arizona. Typically in the morning I'm alone and I have opportunity to pray. On this day, I was able to encounter what I knew was the Holy Spirit. I have been asked how to explain it and in doing so this is the best way I can. Imagine that you’re with your friends and you asked them to surround you but they have to be shoulder to shoulder. Your eyes are closed you know that they are there but you cannot see them. Now imagine the greatest experience you've ever felt, for me that would be sex. Now imagine that feeling times 10!!
That's how I explain it because the feeling was not from this world and it lasted for 2 weeks!.
What life was like before Christ
Growing up wasn't always easy for me I was bullied from the time I was in 2nd grade all the way until I was in about a sophomore in high school. Although I did have friends, there was a part of me that was easily picked on by bullies and many of them were girls. I grew up in a broken home. Though my parents were divorced, I did have a good life working on the family farm and learning how to have good work ethic. In highschool I had a new truck and that attracted girls. When I would take a truck load of girls to parties I would often drive home alone. That was very painful and I understand that as I look back on my life. But once I hit my early twenties I started to enter the club scene and that's where the partying began. I grew up being taught that I could have anything I wanted so I started to chase money, cars and women. Don’t get me wrong, I had to work for these things but whatever I bought would never satisfy me. Every goal I ever set I achieved whether that was having a certain amount of money in my bank account or by driving a specific vehicle, it was easy for me to accomplish. From the time I was 24 years old until I was 28 I was partying 3 to 4 nights a week.
During that period I met a woman that I did marry. We were married from 2001 until 2005. After the divorce was over I spent my time at the gym and working on the dairy farm we owned. For the record, I did grow up in a Christian home and I always believed that I was saved by grace but I never did understand the depth that it took to become a true Christian. From 2005 until 2010 I dated on and off and then met a woman who birthed my little girl. When my daughter was born I knew that it was time to make a decision.
That decision would be to turn to God and away from my sins. My relationship with my daughter's mother was never easy for the first 2 or 3 years. Although I tried to do the right thing and be that right type of man, things were still falling apart. I decided to start reading books from people that turned to God that weren't every day Christians. The story of Brian “Head” Welch from the group Korn really hit a nerve for me. Although I didn't grow up in the same world Brian did, I wanted to experience the Holy Spirit the way he did.
I started to read The Bible, get involved in church and pray constantly. I knew in order to get closer to Jesus Christ I had to dwell in His presence. So I set 3 goals! I wanted to encounter Jesus Christ, I wanted to go to Israel and I wanted to be baptized in the Jordan River. Doing these things would help me become a man that my daughter would be proud of and someone that I could show what a godly man looks like.
In the Spring of 2016 I had made an announcement to my friends that I wanted to go to Israel. Within one month I had a phone call from a friend who told me that there was a group going to Isreal. I met for the meeting got all the details paid for my ticket and we were off to Israel and February of 2017.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
-Deuteronomy 7:9
As I continue to grow in my faith, there always verses that come up through my journey with Christ. The verse above speaks to me today. After I was baptized, my soul felt at peace. I knew that even though I had lived in such a dark world of loneliness, self doubt, sex and depression, God was waiting for me. I only wish people understood the the gravity of what life is like to be a Christian.
My new life in christ
I am not perfect but I know through prayer and constant perseverance that I'm becoming the man God intends me to be. I wish I could take 5 of my closest friends and have them tell you what I was once like... The Power of God is beyond this World! I am better because my eyes are open now.... My sex addiction is gone, my depression is eliminated my anxiety is nearly gone. I continue to be sanctified through Jesus Jesus Christ the creator of the World. He has answered all of prayers, maybe not the way I want them to be but that's fine because it's his will and not mine.
In June of 2016 just about 6 months before I left for Israel I encountered The Holy Spirit. After the 2 week encounter was over, God showed me this verse:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”
Acts 1:8
It nearly brought me to tears, God answered my first prayer...
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