Anthony R. Sanders - Start Your Day With God

Anthony R. Sanders' Testimony

My story comes at a time that all will be able to relate. I had to struggle most of my life. Like many others, the turning point was when I decided to dig deeper into my faith walk with God. I had been going to church for about two and a half years learning, but in a sense not truly growing because I lacked purpose. Once I discovered that purpose, I no longer had to wander in the wilderness of life aimlessly.

Many people attend church out of tradition because grandma and mama made them but not out of love for Christ. The more I grew, the more I wanted to grow and know more about the man called Jesus. I have discovered what true love is. No, it is not the physical love that most teenagers and young adults strive to have but the spiritual intimacy of understanding what unconditional love truly is. This love is without walls or boundaries. We have so many walls of protection up that we can not truly see the agape love that God desires that we experience.

As much as I adore my wife and children there is no love like Christ, the ultimate life giver and the sacrificial lamb of God. Who could love more? Who could love harder? Who could love unconditionally like Christ? His love is deeper than anyone can imagine. I truly found that love about eleven years ago and have not and will not let go. Being told that I would not amount to much, being told that since I was not intelligent enough to do this or that and even being told that I needed to have a certain title to do anything or to get recognized that I was a person of God, could have ruined my life, but I discovered God's love and it sustained me.

What truly distinguishes us with God is our love for Him and others. I have that sincere love for all I come into contact with. I may not have a full bank account but that does not slow down nor stop my love for God and others because God's love has made me richer than money ever could.   I smile and laugh as often as I can because I am happy and full of joy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Discovering purpose allowed me to see things in a different light. I understand what worship is and praise and adoration are. I understand that God desires to hear from me each day and expects me to receive His guidance and directions.

Each day is an opportunity for me to say, " Good morning Lord, I love you for who you are and not for what you do and that's enough."   But as you can see and understand God deserves and desires more. He wants me to tell about His love story, and how He can change lives and that we are not meant to be in poverty but to be prosperous and walk in good health even as our soul prospers. My story is not that profound nor complex, but simply put God's love can move mountains. God's love heals disease; it mends broken hearts and provides understanding to those who lack it. God brought me from a point of having a dad there but very little guidance as to what it took to be a man. God did that. He was my guide into manhood. I prayed and asked God to teach me how to be a man, a husband, and a father. That's how much He loves me.

He teaches me and gives me understanding and places the right people in my life. God has my best interest at hand, so why should I be afraid of change and growth. God's love for me will not cause me to fail; it will correct me when needed; it will hold me when I need it, and God's love will also be there to listen even to my deepest thoughts and heal my deepest wounds. God's love is powerful enough to move the mountains of life that may hinder my progress and even strengthen me to climb on either side of the mountain. Each day God shows me how much He loves me.

I realize not enough people truly understand His love. They say they do, but actions speak louder than words. Putting your love for Christ in action is pleasing to Him.   Start your day with God will somehow cause an examination through constantly hearing and visualizing what God is saying in His word and through His love about the relationship He requires between man and Himself. The understanding of this relationship will cause man to want to move closer to Him. God's love is so powerful; it will transform the old into the new. I am not the same anymore; I have God and His unconditional love and it changed my life forever, and that's a story in itself. To God Be the Glory and Many Blessings

Anthony R. Sanders lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his wife Jennifer and their three children, Qiana, Zemariah, and Caleb. He loves preaching the Word and serving the people of God. He is currently serving on active duty in the United States Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.