Second Miracle

Background

After the initial infilling of God's Spirit into my life, something amazing happened within my heart—overnight! But first, a little background.

Nearly ten years before the first miracle, I had become a thief. I started stealing little things here and there. Over time, this thievery grew to the point where in my teens I began breaking into homes with a screwdriver and an awl. I felt no guilt, remorse, or shame for my actions. Additionally, I had never been caught—or even suspected!

Miracle #2

Here's where the next miracle took place. I got up the next morning, ready to begin my day, and that's when the Spirit inside of me gave me new thoughts, feelings, and direction. I had an unction to do the following:

• • Humble myself! Go back to everyone I stole from, confess what I did, and offer to repay them four-fold!
• • Humble myself even more. Go back to everyone I was cruel and mean to and apologize!

So, that's what I did. I went to my parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, teachers, and everyone I stole from. I confessed what I did, asked for forgiveness, and promised to repay them.

Was it humbling? Yes. Was it embarrassing? Yes. However, with His Spirit, a newfound joy, peace, and confidence, it didn't feel as hard as it could have. Looking back on it now, I am thankful no one called the police or had me arrested!

NOTE: No one told or taught me to do these things. I did them because I felt an unexplained unction from within me — something that led me to do them. The timeline:

1. I went to church that Sunday evening at 6:00pm.
2. I was baptized a little after 9:00pm.
3. Shortly after I came out of the water was when the tongues began.
4. I got home around 11:00pm.
5. I got up at 6:00am the next morning — and that's when the unctions first began.

Takeaways

1. Though tongues may or may not appear in a person's life, God's Spirit always leads a New Believer to change their heart, mind and life to draw nearer to Him.
2. The signature move of God's Spirit being activated in a person's life is always "humility." Always! Yes, there's also peace, joy, confidence, and sometimes boldness, but all of us get humbled as we begin to draw nearer to Him!
3. I am thankful the church culture in which I came to know Christ taught me how to pray and how to seek after God! Salvation is just a starting point—like pre-school or kindergarten. What comes next is sanctification.

So, what happened to my desires to steal? They went away after my baptism! Since that glorious day, I have not had one thought or temptation to steal anything from anyone. For that, I am truly thankful!

If you have questions or comments, feel free to email me here.

In His Name,

Roy