Hi loves!

Welcome to the first of many in the REDEEMED series - An Encounter with the God of Mercy. Do take a seat.

So it begins...

Born and bred in a Christian home, grew up loving the things of God and very passionate. As i grew up, i found myself loving the things of the world too. Yes i had dedicated myself to the things of God, but i still had time for mundane things.

I enjoyed my life in Christ on Sundays and still enjoyed life in the world on weekdays.I attended almost all Christian events and chased a lot of ministers, but little did that affect my life. Life was good. I mean i could do all i wanted and still return to God without remorse

Fast forward, i found myself heralding a move of God in another land unconsciously. A baggage of sins and weights on weekdays and a vessel of God during church meetings. How God managed that, i can't fathom. But i guess that's why there's a dimension of him called MERCY.

I was literally on my way to hell if not there alreadyNo different from an unbeliever,even maybe worse.This had become a typical case of revival on the wings of immoralityIn the upcoming episodes,I'll handle the sins and weights in detail and how that i was able to break free

What sin had i not committed? What weight didn't i carry? Fleshly desires were my companion. At one evening's meeting, a brother was preaching and then mentioned a phrase that caught my attention...

"many of us have become signpost Christians. We lead others to Christ but never get there ourselves". The Apostle Paul's words from 1 Corinthians 9:27 made meaning to me... It struck a chord in my heart. All these years i was leading others to a brook that i wasn't drinking of.

I had to make a decision. A decision to live the life i preach. A decision to do that which pleases my master. Hebrews 12:1 became my favorite because it kept me on my toes. Interestingly in all these seasons i never neglected my place of prayer.

I began to have moments of prayer where all I'd do is cry out to God. They were cries of plea for mercy. It was during these moments that the light of Jesus became real to me. God told me all he needed from me was consecration. It wasn't new. I had heard it several times.

I knew i had been graced with a mandate. A carrier of destinies. I knew i wasn't ordinary. I needed to re-calibrate and align, and this is where the struggle begun. Saying YES to Jesus moved me into a season where i struggled more than before.

Temptations everywhere i turned, and surrounded by the very things i was breaking free from. To understand the degree, i battled to the point where i decided to take a break from God. But a certain hunger and thirst had filled my heart. I'd become desperate to go deeper with God.

It is true when they say no one goes to God unless he first draws them. I had become very intentional about my growth. Word, worship and prayer took over most of my interests.

So fast forward again, transformation came. I was able to get my personal revival. I had a new desire and this opened me up to dimensions in God i had never imagined. People loved it. Others too couldn't come to terms with this person.

I boldly say that this didn't come without constant imperfection and deep repentance.Today as you read this, there's something i want you to take from this, no matter where you are or how far you think you have gone, God can and surely shall deliver you.

He will receive you in his loving arms again. All you need to do is surrender. I won't lie to you. Surrendering isn't easy as they say. Like me, you might be looking back at me things you'll have to leave behind. You know them...

But you need to understand the relevance of God's grace is to help us surrender even the most difficult things. Here i am, whisked from the grasps of hell by God and made into a person of purpose.

He took a shattered mirror of reflection and glued the pieces together through the power of his incredible love. I have no hand in this. I should've been dead.I should've been in the streets messed up.I shouldn't be enjoying this level of grace and favor, but mercy was holding me

i write this to commemorate all God has done in my life. He didn't just save me, but equipped me with arsenals to extend his kingdom on earth. He set a fire ablaze in me and the world must hear of it!

It is my desire for as many people as possible to come to the true saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus and that he desires intimacy with anyone who is willing. His love never fails. For those who have thought my walk with God has been perfect from birth, sorry to disappoint you

this has been the reality of my life.I am here today because God's mercy kept me.i borrow the words of Apostle Paul from 2 Corinthians 12:9 which i cling to with all my heart "..therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"

God has been and always will be faithful!My renewed life in Christ became bliss. This world became empty and pale compared to knowing Jesus. I enjoyed and still enjoying this walk with God. I might not be entirely there yet. But like David,his mercies are new every morning for me

As i end this introduction, if at least one person will benefit from this confession of being a shattered, grace needing mess of a young man who is only alive today because of mercy, i will join the heavens rejoice.

Get up and get back to God. With Jesus you can be naked and not ashamed. Go broken before him, telling him outside his mercies you are nothing and watch mercy turn your life around.

Before you leave, in all humility, say this prayer with me... Lord Jesus, i come just as i am, naked and unashamed in need of your mercy. Let your refiner's fire search me and take away anything that is inconsistent with your life.

Help me to live for you and be relevant in what you're doing in this season. Give me the grace and strength to stand firm in this world. And in the end, i will wear the crown as a faithful servant. Thank you for your this new life. Amen!