Praise and Worship of God Became My Lifeline

Author: Eric S.

​My story is about the power of praise and worship.  Before I started with our Charismatic community, I was a bit apprehensive about it. Now I am pretty comfortable, and I even joined a worship music band.   
 
I have joined this community through Life in the Spirit Seminar - people from my parish invited me to come.  At the seminar, I met the prayer group and was baptized in Spirit.  At first, I didn’t feel very different, but things slowly started to change.  When people shared the Word of God at the Praise and Worship meetings, I could understand it.  It resonated with me, I received it in my heart and grew spiritually. I responded back to the Word because it spoke to me personally.  I felt more alive, especially while playing worship music with our band. I came to love the worship songs - when I’d sing them, I’d really mean them. God was reworking me, putting me through paces I didn’t expect...​

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I used to be afraid to share what I’ve perceived in Spirit. But I was encouraged by others in our community, gradually overcame my bashfulness, and decided that I would not hold back. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was meant to speak out. But then I tried bit by bit– when the Spirit prompted me, I started speaking out, sharing what I’ve received with others. And they’ve affirmed me.

You know, this is not easy for me as I suffer from schizophrenia. Just recently, I’ve gone through an episode and lost my way. I feel like I’ve lost a great deal of the spiritual connection because of that episode. But it is now coming back with Praise and Worship and the kindness of the community.
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If you’d ask me what’s next for me, I’d say that I’m not worried about it.  I am grateful for what God has already given me in this community that became like a family to me. What a community that is!  Its praise and worship of God became my lifeline.