Give Up Now!
July 3, 2013 Leave a comment
"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go." Isaiah 48:17 AMP
Growing up as a child, I’m always reminded by these words in our home library that says: "The greatest mistake is giving up". Up to this day, those words are embedded in me. Part of the reason why I’ve chosen endurance cycling and swimming as my favorite pastime was the mindset of not giving up. You really have to put a lot of negative energy in me before I say "I am done" or “I quit” or I’m abandoning this idea” or “I will choose another path”.
But…
Sometime in the 90’s, I’ve violated that idea of not giving up. I can’t really remember the details but I know somehow I gave up something that changes the course of my life forever.
In my 2nd year in college in Cebu, I discovered the self defense art of Aikido. I fall in love with the sport and started attending practice twice a week. I formed friendship with a few group of people in that circle. At that time, there were only a handful Aikido practitioners in Cebu and the training was held in a private home somewhere in Talamban. On the weekends, I really have to put an effort to go to the dojo just to get my training for 2 hours but I did not care about the long commute. It was fun and exciting and I know in my heart that Aikido will become a central core of my life. I started reading books about aikido and I consumed other materials in related subject also. I was drawn to spirituality.
At the same time, I took up cycling as part of weekly activities. I was in my 20’s at that time and I had a stable job, no commitments and I just had all the time for anything that I wanted to do. Basically, I was living a great life. I counted 5 years of Aikido training in me and I was really drawn to the spiritual side of it too. One of the likes I have with my Aikido training was the peace of mind and self-control that I’ve attained through the training. No doubt that I was in perfect peace at those years [I thought] . I practiced meditation and stillness and mindfulness and become good at it. I was in total control of my body, mind and spirit. Later did I know that in the coming year I have to give it up.
In 1989, I had two cycling accidents, the first one was only minor. I hit a pedestrian crossing the road and I did not have time to react and collided the person head on. My mindfulness and awareness skills failed me. On the 2nd accident, while I started climbing a steep bridge at the foot of Mactan Bridge, A car hit me from behind. I was dragged for a total distance of 9 feet according to the police report. My bike was crumpled underneath the car but fortunately I survived with no broken bones. The injuries I received were a bruised buttocks, bleeding elbows and bleeding knees. Other than that, I was fine.
Looking back now, I learned that the two cycling accidents were the turning of my life. Through that intervention, I was led to join a local church and became a born again Christian. While attending church regularly, I resumed my Aikido practice on the weekends and resumed meditation. I love the calming effect of meditation and the outcome after doing it. It feels like you are in perfect harmony with life.
One day during the Wednesday service, my pastor called out for a Baptism of the Holy Spirit [read more about it] I was only around 3-month old in my walk as Christian and I was not fully immersed yet of the full effect of the power of God. I attended church, read my Bible everyday, daily prayer meetings, sing songs, raised my hand in worship but at that point I was just a simple follower of the faith and nothing else [no boldness]. My pastor was preaching the Valley of Dry Bones that evening and at the end of the service, he called out for believers – those who wanted to commit their lives fully to Christ. I said to myself that I’ve already done that a few months ago but the altar call seemed like it was calling me again and I was confused. Then the pastor explained that he was talking about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and you must receive it. I was skeptic at that time but in my heart I said, ok, I will go up to the front and do it. On the background, the church band was playing “Only By Grace” and I closed my eyes and raised my hand towards heaven and totally surrender my life to Him and I said in my prayer that I will do anything for Him. As silence dominated in my mind, I heard this voice in my heart telling me what to do. There was a long list of the things that I needed to get rid of and I said, yes Lord, I will. As the prayer progressed, I felt something in me, it was like a flowing river of goodness flowing through my whole body and then all of a sudden I was speaking in a strange language. I did not fully understand what it was at that time but all I can say that it was a great feeling. Later on, I then realized that it was a touch from Heaven. From that time on, boldness and confidence and trust began to grow within me and it carried me even up to this day. My life was transformed.
After that day, the rest of my life evolved. I later gave up Aikido and meditation and replaced it with prayers and meditation. Yes, I was a quitter – for the right reasons.
I know that some of you are skeptics about my experience but please understand that it was real for me and to the rest of the brothers and sisters in Christ. The experience exists and if you are at the end of your rope, please know that there is one thing that you have not done yet – give up your life for Christ.
To Brent and Brittney, when you come across this journal, please know and understand that without the Holy Spirit in you, things that you do, things that you know well is powerless. May you guys one day stumble upon the mystery I once experienced. It was a great revelation – it transformed my whole life to a new beginning.
1. Find a spirit filled church
2. Read your Bible daily and ask for revelation
3. Pray
See it at YouVersion.com: