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Q. During youth group, I've heard many people tell dramatic testimonies of when God became real to them or they felt his love so strongly that it changed their hearts. I've never had one of these moments. I don't have a dramatic conversion story. I've just always believed. I'm starting to wonder how well I really know Christ if I've never felt these things. What can I do?

A. I know so many Christians who are in the same situation you're in. And I'm one of them. Sometimes when you don't have a dramatic story of finding Christ after a life of sin and rebellion, you wonder if you've really come to Christ at all.

If you're waiting for some feeling of euphoria or instant knowing that's supposed to accompany a conversion experience—and if you're like me—you may wait a lifetime. But that doesn't mean your faith isn't real.

Let me ask you a couple of slightly different questions: Have you ever felt bad about something you've done and tried to make it right? (Like apologizing to your sister for saying something mean.) Have you ever realized something you were doing wasn't good, and you decided to go in a different direction? (Like procrastinating on your homework and finally realizing you need to work on it consistently.)

When you make a course correction like that, does it always feel really, really good immediately? Probably not. But it's still the right decision. And it may be awhile before you experience the benefits.

In Matthew 3:2, Jesus preaches: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (NIV). Lots of people think the word repent means a tearful conversion experience. But actually, the word means to turn or head in a different direction. It means to make a midcourse correction and head in God's direction.

And repentance isn't a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Because we constantly are making bad decisions and our lives are often heading off in selfish directions, we need to keep making midcourse corrections, repenting and realigning ourselves in God's direction. That's what it means to follow Jesus.

Sometimes we experience lots of emotion when we repent and realign ourselves with Christ, and other times we don't. The feelings aren't what matters. What matters is that we've made a decision to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of our lives (see Romans 10:9-10 and John 1:12). If we've made that decision, Jesus welcomes us as one of his followers.

Marshall, a former pastor, is editor of Leadership, a magazine for pastors.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Ignite Your Faith.

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