Even though I was a Christian for sixteen years, I always heard that we were to “keep short accounts with God.” Basically, every time I sinned, I would have to confess the sin quickly, because I believed that if I died without my last sin being covered, I would go straight to hell.

I really believed in the need to confess all my sins and I tried to do it as quickly as possible every day or do a “catch all” every night. I would pray, “Jesus, please forgive me for all my sins known and unknown” at the end of every day.

However, this did not help my walk with God. I would say I was a “yo-yo” Christian for all those years. I would read about the fruit of the Spirit, pick one, and try to practice it for the day, and then pick another and try to practice it the following day. I got nowhere because anytime I thought I had “mastered” peace in my life, a difficult situation would come up and my peace would go, resulting in anger.

When that happened, I would give up and stop trying. The amazing thing was when I stopped trying, I would have success for a while, but I would start thinking, “I’m not trying, something must be wrong!” And then the cycle of failure would begin again. After many rounds of defeat, I gave up completely and said to myself, “Christianity is too hard.”

Then, my mother introduced me to Pastor Joseph Prince’s broadcast. She said, “Here is a man who preaches like no other!” When I watched your show, which was different and gave me hope that perhaps God was not the strict guy upstairs waiting to catch me failing.

I started to realize that staying saved does not have to do with my perfect actions and thoughts after all, and that God is really that good to save me in spite of my failings. It felt like a load had finally been lifted off me. There was no more of my performance to look at. Righteousness is a gift and it doesn’t depend on me—it depends entirely on Jesus.

I began to see the fruit of the Spirit in my life manifest effortlessly on a consistent basis. I remember reading Destined To Reign and though I did not believe you at that time, you were so right about change that happens supernaturally and without struggle.

Focusing on Jesus and continually hearing the gospel of grace brought about what willpower and discipline could never do in sixteen years of trying.

All praise to God for His gospel, which you have re-introduced the world to! Thank you, Pastor Prince, for teaching unadulterated grace.