We can't forget certain events, and one of the main ones is the day we understand that God exists and wants to save us. It was this message that Jacob passed on to his son Joseph, who had been despised by his brothers and sold as a slave to the Amalekites and taken to Egypt. There, he served as merchandise, but for the Lord he would be the man who would save the world from the great famine that would ravage that region. Jacob understood that Joseph had a blessing for everyone.

         Try to remember the most important day for you, when you understood who God is and gave yourself to Him. The Lord called you and marked your heart to be His, to be used in His work. In my case, it may have seemed insignificant in the eyes of man, but even though I was only six years old, it was the beginning of God's great wonders in my life. With tears, I confessed that I had received Jesus as Savior and Lord and, from then on, the transformation was complete.

           When temptation came, I remembered the day I was born again, regained my strength and continued to stand firm in my faith in Jesus. To this day, I am sure that I am the Father's property, and that encounter with Christ is forever. I know that God visited me in the Presbyterian Church of Muniz Freire, my hometown in the state of Espírito Santo, and made me His child. All I have to say is: “Thank You for everything, Your visit to me was worth it, Jesus!”.

           Who are you without the memory of God's invitation? If you're away from the Lord's presence, going down a bad path, remember your first encounter with Him, when you heard His voice. The Father continues to include you in His plans, so don't ever get lost. If you do, run back into the Lord's arms. When He appeared to Jacob in Light, He changed His servant's life, and he never forgot Him. God was that patriarch's strong arm!

       How many trials did Jacob face? How he must have cried and mourned when his sons lied and said that Joseph had died. Even though he felt the absence of his beloved Rachel's firstborn, Jacob refused to console himself. The divine testimony was in his heart. It doesn't matter what bad things have happened to him: the Lord doesn't see what is apparent, but the heart of the one who seeks Him to return to true love.

           Your first experience with God is precious and cannot be torn from your life, because it was the moment when He revealed Himself to you. Return to communion with the Being who created all things and planned to make you a kind of hero who will never lose a battle. Repent of your sins and return to the company of the One who has the wonderful plan to be fulfilled through you.

          Since the day God appeared to you, He has blessed you. If you feel out of place and unable to fulfill yourself, the Lord invites you to start again at His side and says that nothing and no one will snatch you out of His hands. Your heavenly Father has open arms to welcome you with honor. Live with Jesus for eternity. Say amen to Him!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares