The Best Thing
What Impressed Me?
That I was able to commit to a 12 Sunday class, willingly. But seriously, everything about the course impressed me. The content of the textbook, the teacher; the interactive way that classes were held (everybody had to participate, nobody can just sit at the side and not say anything). My classmates also impressed me.
What Impacted Me?
This class literally changed my life, before this class, I was a "Sunday Christian." I would go to church on Sundays, sit through the service, and then, go on with my normal life. I honestly believed that I was being a good Christian already by doing this.
I have learned so many things in this class. More than I've ever learned in all my years attending church. My daily Quiet time/Bible reading has helped me little by little become a better person. Before this class, I really didn't think reading the Bible was necessary much less, reading it everyday. But when I actually started reading the Bible everyday, I was so surprised at how much it helped me in normal everyday situations. It helped me even during difficult times and best of all, it helped me get a clearer picture of how I should live/be living my life.
Recently, I was experiencing some "issues" at work that normally would have really bothered me. Normally, I would have done either of these 2 things: I would have been so mad at the person who was talking behind my back, and would have picked a fight with her. or, I would have resigned. given up, and said, I really don't care what everybody thinks of me. I am better than all of you. I deserve better treatment than this. You know, normal things a prideful person would do. But with God's help, (for 1 straight month, my quiet time/prayers were all about this particular issue) I was able to not do anything rash and really think about the issues at hand and what the reasons/motivations are of the people that have hurt me. and if they really meant to do so or not.
God helped me forgive them, and not bear grudges. God helped me see the lessons behind the whole incident. God helped me realized that what they were saying was true. That I really am not working as hard as I should be. I felt like I couldn't live up to the expectations that my boss had of me anyway, so why even bother? But God helped me realize that: Even if other people are better at me in doing my job, I cannot just completely give up, and stop trying. I may not be the brightest and most intelligent but I can be the most hard-working.
Without God's guidance, I would never have reacted this way. I am so thankful that I was able to attend this class. This class is really one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
What Challenged Me?
At first, the idea of entrusting EVERYTHING to God was a little difficult for me. I have always had trust issues with everything. Meaning, every time I ask people to do something for me, I have a habit of following up, and always worrying if they really will do it for me, or if they will do it well. So, mostly when I pray to God, I also do some things at the sidelines, just to make sure that things will work out.
But when I started attending the ETS classes..I suddenly thought "Why not trust Him completely? Why not try it out?" And I haven't looked back from that time on. Trusting God really did make my life so much easier. Makes me wonder why I never thought of doing this until now.
— Sara, the Philippines
