UNIMAGINABLY MORE!

Ryan Bentacur (Arab, AL)

I can't even begin to express enough how important and worthwhile it is to just take the step and give up EVERYTHING to God. He's just going to keep convicting you and the devil is just going to keep his power over you until it's done. So, you might as well get it done sooner than later and save yourself the hardship and guilt. I'm speaking from fresh experience here.

It wasn't but three months ago that I was steeped in marijuana use and pornography, foul language, no direction, no money, no desire to try to make it through the next day, no hope and no joy. I knew that I needed to come back to God because I felt him tugging at my heart, but I just didn't want to give up the pleasures in my life that I thought I needed. I was being deceived hardcore. But God put someone very special in my life. She saved my life and by her brilliant example of a life given completely to Christ Jesus I was given hope of something better. I gave up EVERYTHING! I was afraid and I was unsure, I was above all, embarrassed and ashamed, but God took me in his arms and held my head to His chest. He wiped the tears from my eyes and with forgiveness in his voice, he said, "My son's come home again!" Now here I am. A few short weeks later, a light on a lamp stand being used to illuminate a room, with the promise of unimaginably more than any of my expectations and wildest dreams!

God called me to Florida from north Alabama on what I would call a missions trip. He told me that there were things in my life blocking his ability to work through me 100%. First, he sent me to Pensacola, Florida to a revival where my back was healed and I learned that steadfast faith is essential for miracles. I also learned that we are not to lose faith when we don’t see immediate results in what we pray for and claim in the name of Jesus.

Next, I was sent to my Encounter in Sarasota, Florida. That was where everything came to a head. That is where God met me where I was and showed me, in a way that finally made sense, what his love is all about and why. That encounter rocked my concept of love and life in Christ in such a way that I know I will never be the same. My Encounter made real the abstract idea of unconditional love and allowed me to place it in my life as the glue that holds everything together. The wonderful thing was that I wasn’t alone. Everyone there was rocked at the very foundations of their being right along with me. The testimonies that I heard there, the love that I felt, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the anointing, everything I saw and experienced in those three days changed the course of my life forever. I was set free from everything, including myself. By simply giving in and taking the step to give it ALL up, God removed the walls that were blocking his ability to work wonders in and through my life.

God told me to step out in faith on this trip and that he would reward me accordingly for doing so. He took care of the money, the accommodations, and the divine appointments. He took me from a position of poverty to a place where I was being used to bless others as I was being blessed despite what was in my bank account. He's given me someone through a completely pure relationship to replace and reverse the hurt and loss left by a bad marriage; a wonderful business all my own doing what I love to do; a divine calling to be a minister, of all things (!!!); a promise to do real miracles and be a spiritual warrior out on the frontlines helping to save people's lives from the torment and judgment of sin. My life is filled with so much joy that I've begun to inadvertently spill it out onto others without even having to try! Praise God I haven't missed any of the things that I gave up in the slightest! Talk about restoration and then some!!!

The greatest part is that He's got the exact same promise in store for you! All you have to do is let him accomplish it by surrendering yourself completely to him. He loves you just as much as he loves me, and he's waiting for you to come home to him, just like he was waiting for me. You won't find any condemnation when you come; just forgiveness, mercy, grace, healing, peace, hope, satisfaction, promise, joy, and above all, love. "But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he had Christ Jesus choose YOU to share in his eternal glory." 1 Peter 5:10

I know I'm constantly being bombarded by the enemy to feel overwhelmed and powerless in the face of giants such as custody, child support, bills, business, being a single parent, loneliness, stress, depression, anxiety, weariness and such. It feels like a thousand huge enemies mounting against me from every side. Can you relate? But this is where I find comfort: "But you are my shield and you give me VICTORY and great honor. I pray to you and you answer from your sacred hill. I sleep and wake up refreshed because you, Lord, protect me. Ten thousand enemies attack from every side, but I am not afraid... because you protect and bless your people." Psalm 3:3-8

God's Word. It may seem like a vast and intimidating book because you don't really know where to read to find what's going to help you. You feel like it's got what you need but you don't have the map to find it and dig it out. I found my peace and encouragement in the back of the Bible at first. 1 John, 1 Peter, James, Hebrews, then Isaiah (chapters 44 +), 2 Corinthians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Jeremiah. I encourage you to read those and see where it takes you. When you read Scripture, especially a single verse or passage, read the verse and then go back and read the paragraph before AND after the verse/passage and sometimes farther to see the context that it's being used in. Then, you will get the most out of its meaning and let the Holy Spirit give you the insight and wisdom on how and where it applies to your life.