Ben Utecht

Tightend :: Cincinnati Bengals

 

I was very fortunate growing up to have parents who truly understood what having a personal relationship with Jesus is all about. My dad has been a minister for over 25 years. My mother prayed and received Christ at a young age and has been passionate about her faith ever since. I had the opportunity not only to hear about a personal relationship with Jesus from my parents, but also see the example of a marriage centered on Christ.

 I prayed and received Christ at a young age, but never fully grasped the importance of an ongoing personal relationship with Jesus until college. At that time, the Lord allowed me to face some storms that eventually led me to the place I should have been the whole time—a committed and consistent relationship with Jesus. The Lord began to use injuries to show me the need for Him in my life.   

At first I responded with anger and sinful decisions. Then, through a friendship the Lord confronted me and revealed what He wanted me to understand, especially about surrender.  My whole life story can be summed up with that word. Surrender means to die to our selfish desires every day and relinquish all that we are and have to the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” We need to give Jesus full control, and by faith trust in His will for our lives, especially when the storms come.  My life mission statement comes from Paul’s words in Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” 

 

 

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