I have been forever changed. I hear people say this all the time and I must admit, I'm usually a little bit skeptic. But, I've experienced it and I know it to be absolutely true in my life. My freshman year of college left me with a lot of alone time and I took full advantage of those moments with God. One evening, as I meandered around my room worshipping along with my ipod, I felt God nudging me to really enter into His presence. I started praying, but that wasn't good enough- I needed to fully surrender. As I lay face-down on the floor, I implored of God- I asked Him to change me. I was no longer satisfied with the mediocrity of my walk with Him. I wanted to be completely dependent on Him, completely engulfed by His love, completely surrendered to His will. He met me in that place and I encountered His Holy Spirit unlike ever before. There was no wailing or gnashing of teeth, no emotional climax, no goose bumps or tears- just a beautiful, peaceful, wonderful moment basking in His presence. He renewed my joy that day. No, not renewed- let's face it, I wasn't all that joyful before hand- no, He gave me a new joy. He became my joy. My entire demeanor shifted. Even though life continued on much the same, my reaction to it was vastly different. I embraced hope, I saw beauty in pain, I knew peace is struggle. And although I am faced with new obstacles constantly, I am fortified by my Savior- His joy is my strength through it all. This world may be ugly, but this walk is beautiful, and this girl is blessed!