Today’s verse took me back to that moment when I knew that I knew, THAT I KNEW that I believed Jesus was REAL.

It’s somewhat of a funny story. At least it is to me.

From what I recall, I never had an “imaginary friend,” I talked to Jesus as a child and he was my friend.  I knew that I couldn’t see him, but that he was with me, and that he was VERY REAL.

I wasn’t sure of how to explain our friendship to the rest of the world, so I just kept it to myself.

Then one day,  I remember hearing my grandma or mom play a song by the Truthettes called Peanut Butter and Jelly and it all made sense. 

See, I was (and still am) a kid that loved a a good PB&J sandwich.

When I heard the lyrics to this song, I knew that I HAD to find out what they were talking about?

I mean, what IN THE WORLD could be better than a PB&J sandwich?

So, I kept listening. And by the end of the song, I was in tears.

I’ve always been that child. My parents called me their “sensitive one.” 😂 But seriously, this song put much of what I felt when I went to church into words.

The Truthettes – Peanut Butter & Jelly

(Spoken)
You know God is still working miracles
Because He blessed the soul of a little boy at church
A short while ago
As the preacher read the scriptures
Of how God can save and heal
He begin to feel the spirit
And the presence of God in his little soul
He couldn’t explain what was happening to him
And all he knew that it was something warm and something wonderful

And after service, he walked up and gave the preacher his hand
And told him, “Through your message
My soul was really blessed today.”

Now later when he got home still feeling good from the service
He told his mother
He said, “mother, I’m so hungry
I’m so hungry right now.”
She said, “Son, come into the kitchen
And I’ll fix you a sandwich.”
She reached in the cabinet
And took out the peanut butter and jelly
He said, “Mother, you really don’t understand.”
She looked at him and said,
“What is it son, what is it that I don’t understand”
He said, “Mother, what you don’t understand is this right here.”

He told her..
“I don’t want no peanut butter and jelly
(He said) I don’t want no peanut butter and jelly
I want my soul to be saved
I want my soul to be saved”

He said, “Mother I heard the preacher say,
‘Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteous for they shall be filled.’

He also said, ‘Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not. For such is the kingdom of Heaven.’

He looked at her with tears in his eyes,
Now momma you see, that you fixed the wrong food for me.”

He told her..
“I don’t want no peanut butter and jelly
(He kept on saying) I don’t want no peanut butter and jelly
I want my soul to be saved
I want my soul to be saved….”

I was probably only 5 or 6 years old, but (now that I think about it) I’m sure I prayed my own personal prayer of salvation that day.

…When I heard the lyrics to this song, I knew I HAD to find out what they were talking about? What IN THE WORLD could be better than a PB&J sandwich?….

God probably met me as I was riding in the car with my grandma and/or mom, more times than I ever realized over those years 18 of my life.

It just goes to show you, that it doesn’t matter where you are when you decide to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior of your life, to stop a bad habit, or to begin a positive one.

It just matters that you have FAITH and that you begin to ACT on what you BELIEVE.

First, you have to BELIEVE.

That’s my personal testimony.  I’m far from perfect, but I BELIEVE GOD and I continue to walk out this faith and grow and become better.

Believing is a PERSONAL thing. No one can do it for you.

Even if they try, you would be hard pressed to find someone who can truly “believe” based upon another person’s account– it leaves too much room for doubt.

In those rare cases, we can often feel comfortable doing so because of the strength of our personal relationship (i.e. I can believe what my mom/husband/best friend tells me because of years of a trusted relationship– and even those relationships have varrying degrees of trust which may depend upon the individual or past events).

Today, I’m praying that you’ll have your own fresh encounter with Jesus Christ. So you will know, without a doubt, that this gift of eternal life is one that you’ve received. 💖

And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John 3:36 NLT

http://bible.com/116/jhn.3.36.NLT