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Two Significant Events That Changed Me Inside and Out
The years 1995 and 2001 both mark significant milestones (pregnancy and becoming a born-again Christian) that changed me forever on the inside and out.
1995 — I became pregnant with my first child
My pregnancy changed me in two ways: I made choices that changed me and the baby growing inside me changed me.
I made choices that changed me
Although I had been smoking a pack a day since I was 15 years old, I quit “cold turkey”. In my mind, I envisioned my womb filling up with smoke every time I took a drag of my cigarette. I couldn’t do that to my growing baby.
I started exercising more. Although I already enjoyed walking, I joined the YMCA and started walking on the treadmill and working out in the gym. I wanted to be strong for my delivery and my baby.
I also changed my eating habits. I paid more attention to what I put in my body and opted for more fresh vegetables. I wanted my baby to have the best foods to grow healthy and strong inside me.
The baby made changes inside me
During my pregnancy, I noticed dark patches on my face and had a heightened sense of smell. I had a lovely pregnancy glow and craved certain foods. My hair and nails started to grow more quickly. I gained weight.
The other significant event in my life that changed me was when I became a born-again Christian.
2001 —I became a Born Again Christian
My spiritual renewal changed me in two ways: I made choices that changed me and the Holy Spirit inside me changed me.
I made choices that changed me
In accepting Jesus as my personal Savior, I made a choice to watch what I thought. I wanted to follow the Bible’s advice to think about things that were true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
I watched what I said. In the past, I had a bad habit of dropping f*bombs. I wanted to clean up my speech and not have any foul language come out of my mouth.
I also changed what I did. I started to tithe, attend church, and pray. I read my Bible and participated in Bible studies.
The Holy Spirit made changes inside me
In accepting a personal relationship with God, I invited the Holy Spirit to live inside me.
The Holy Spirit living in me helps me to grow, live a godly life, and tell others about God. He is transforming me from the inside out. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is moving me towards Christ-likeness.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:17–18, NIV)
Like a caterpillar to a butterfly, both these milestones caused significant metamorphosis. I was forever changed on the inside and out.
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