Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
A New Creation
By Galena Ivenina
July 19th, 2026
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
I had always longed to know God, and when I was 34 years old, He answered that desire in the form of a letter in our mailbox inviting us to some Bible meetings held in our city. When I showed up the first night, the preacher said, “From this day on, you will never read the Bible like an ordinary book again, but research what God has written for yourself.” He was right, and I began finding answers to questions I’d had for years.
Once, I read a text about the Kingdom of God that said, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27. Suddenly, I realized that I was spiritually unclean; and while I hadn’t committed any visible crimes, God was telling me that He not only judges our actions but our thoughts, too! Lord, how will I ever be able to enter Your Kingdom? What can I do? I really want to get to Heaven, I prayed.
I didn’t wonder for long because the preacher answered the cry of my heart by showing us the door through which every sinner can be saved: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. As I left that meeting, I confessed my sins to God, asking for His forgiveness. I knew He’d heard me because my heart felt so light.
I had a tremendous desire to be baptized, but my mother was seriously opposed to it. “Go to the Bible courses,” she said, “but don’t get baptized because we already baptized you as a baby.”
What a dilemma. I felt the struggle in my soul but realized that my union with God could only be made by a sufficiently mature mind. The Holy Spirit worked on my heart, and I often had tears in my eyes. All I needed was one more sign, so when a friend called and asked if I’d get baptized with her, I said, “Yes, let’s do it!”
It was raining that Saturday, but the preacher prayed and said, “Today you will see the power of God. There will be no rain during the baptism,” and so it happened! It poured until the beginning of the ceremony, but the rain stopped, and the sun came out as we entered the water.
That was not the only miracle. After I was baptized, I didn’t want to get out of the water because it seemed that Christ, Himself, had just baptized me! I couldn’t hold back the rush of joy and hugged the minister who baptized me. My soul was delighted, and when I got home, everyone was gone, so I turned on quiet music, realizing that my new, amazing life had just begun.
A New Creation
By Galena Ivenina
July 19th, 2026
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
I had always longed to know God, and when I was 34 years old, He answered that desire in the form of a letter in our mailbox inviting us to some Bible meetings held in our city. When I showed up the first night, the preacher said, “From this day on, you will never read the Bible like an ordinary book again, but research what God has written for yourself.” He was right, and I began finding answers to questions I’d had for years.
Once, I read a text about the Kingdom of God that said, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27. Suddenly, I realized that I was spiritually unclean; and while I hadn’t committed any visible crimes, God was telling me that He not only judges our actions but our thoughts, too! Lord, how will I ever be able to enter Your Kingdom? What can I do? I really want to get to Heaven, I prayed.
I didn’t wonder for long because the preacher answered the cry of my heart by showing us the door through which every sinner can be saved: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. As I left that meeting, I confessed my sins to God, asking for His forgiveness. I knew He’d heard me because my heart felt so light.
I had a tremendous desire to be baptized, but my mother was seriously opposed to it. “Go to the Bible courses,” she said, “but don’t get baptized because we already baptized you as a baby.”
What a dilemma. I felt the struggle in my soul but realized that my union with God could only be made by a sufficiently mature mind. The Holy Spirit worked on my heart, and I often had tears in my eyes. All I needed was one more sign, so when a friend called and asked if I’d get baptized with her, I said, “Yes, let’s do it!”
It was raining that Saturday, but the preacher prayed and said, “Today you will see the power of God. There will be no rain during the baptism,” and so it happened! It poured until the beginning of the ceremony, but the rain stopped, and the sun came out as we entered the water.
That was not the only miracle. After I was baptized, I didn’t want to get out of the water because it seemed that Christ, Himself, had just baptized me! I couldn’t hold back the rush of joy and hugged the minister who baptized me. My soul was delighted, and when I got home, everyone was gone, so I turned on quiet music, realizing that my new, amazing life had just begun.
Three Angels Broadcasting Network Devotional.
A New Creation
By Galena Ivenina
July 19th, 2026
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
I had always longed to know God, and when I was 34 years old, He answered that desire in the form of a letter in our mailbox inviting us to some Bible meetings held in our city. When I showed up the first night, the preacher said, “From this day on, you will never read the Bible like an ordinary book again, but research what God has written for yourself.” He was right, and I began finding answers to questions I’d had for years.
Once, I read a text about the Kingdom of God that said, “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27. Suddenly, I realized that I was spiritually unclean; and while I hadn’t committed any visible crimes, God was telling me that He not only judges our actions but our thoughts, too! Lord, how will I ever be able to enter Your Kingdom? What can I do? I really want to get to Heaven, I prayed.
I didn’t wonder for long because the preacher answered the cry of my heart by showing us the door through which every sinner can be saved: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. As I left that meeting, I confessed my sins to God, asking for His forgiveness. I knew He’d heard me because my heart felt so light.
I had a tremendous desire to be baptized, but my mother was seriously opposed to it. “Go to the Bible courses,” she said, “but don’t get baptized because we already baptized you as a baby.”
What a dilemma. I felt the struggle in my soul but realized that my union with God could only be made by a sufficiently mature mind. The Holy Spirit worked on my heart, and I often had tears in my eyes. All I needed was one more sign, so when a friend called and asked if I’d get baptized with her, I said, “Yes, let’s do it!”
It was raining that Saturday, but the preacher prayed and said, “Today you will see the power of God. There will be no rain during the baptism,” and so it happened! It poured until the beginning of the ceremony, but the rain stopped, and the sun came out as we entered the water.
That was not the only miracle. After I was baptized, I didn’t want to get out of the water because it seemed that Christ, Himself, had just baptized me! I couldn’t hold back the rush of joy and hugged the minister who baptized me. My soul was delighted, and when I got home, everyone was gone, so I turned on quiet music, realizing that my new, amazing life had just begun.
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