January 2026
I Will Do It My Way: Your Story Matters
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God who works.” — 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)
A Tapestry of Conversion
As a pastor, one of the greatest privileges is hearing the diverse stories of how people came to faith in Christ. I’ve heard of the dramatic moments—the person who stepped forward at a great crusade, the student whose life was utterly changed by a campus ministry message, or the one struck by truth after reading a single devotional book.
Then there are the quiet transformations—the individuals who can’t recall a single moment, having been raised in homes where faith was lived out daily, believing in Jesus as naturally as they learned to speak. Their faith developed gradually, a conscious, humble unfolding of Christ’s claims on their lives.
Your story, like every other, is unique. It’s a powerful, individual testimony woven into the fabric of the church. But when we look at this colorful tapestry of testimonies, a simple yet profound truth emerges: There is no single formula for salvation.
The Programmers Are Dismissed
If all conversions followed the same rigid steps—if everyone had to attend a certain event or follow a specific process—we, as humans, would inevitably try to program God. We would draw conclusions like, “If we do X, Y, and Z, conversions are guaranteed!” We would rely on our technique, our programs, and our energy.
But the Lord, in His sovereignty, constantly says, in effect, “I am going to do it My way.”
He purposefully uses an infinite variety of means to call His people. Why? So that we are compelled to give Him the praise and the glory for the conversion of every single person.
Our hands are kept off the mechanism of grace so that His hand alone is visible. This keeps us humble, grateful, and entirely dependent on Him.
The Invisible Constant
Though the experiences are diverse, two non-negotiable constants remain at the core of every genuine conversion:
1. The Message: In every saving story, there is contact with the Gospel—the message of Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura). This message proclaims our condemnation (sin and death) set against our justification and life, which comes only through Jesus Christ (Solus Christus).
2. The Power: Deeper than the message is the hidden constant: the work of the Holy Spirit. We are saved by grace alone (Sola Gratia), and we receive this gift only by faith (Sola Fide). But where does the faith come from? It is the Holy Spirit who takes the external word of the Gospel, dispels the death and darkness in the heart, and creates the gift of faith that saves.
The Spirit is the source. The Spirit is the power. The Spirit is the invisible hand driving God’s message home.
Reflection and Prayer
As you reflect on your own journey, take heart in this: Your conversion was not a fluke, a product of human technique, or a random chance. It was the sovereign work of God, who chose to do it His way—unprogrammed, unexpected, and undeniably powerful—so that He alone would receive the glory.
A Prayer for 2026
Sovereign Lord, thank you that my salvation is not dependent on my effort or on human
programs, but entirely on your will and your grace. Thank you for the diversity of conversion
stories, which remind us that you are working in countless ways. Most of all, thank you for the
Holy Spirit, who took your living Word and created life and faith in my heart. Keep me humble
and grateful and help me to always give you the praise and the glory.
Amen.