Gen Z Speaks: A Living Sacrifice
Welcome to Peniel CrossRoads, where we embrace Jesus’s heart and together live out the call to biblical unity!
My name is Alaina, and I am going to be a junior at Olivet Nazarene University. I can’t express how grateful I am for the transformation God granted for my life in the fall and spring semesters of my sophomore year…
Before this year, I admit, I was not living out my life to please Christ. I grew up in the church all my life, but I drifted away from what God was calling me to. Because I wanted to live my life the way I wanted, I found myself ignoring His voice, distancing myself from the church and reading the Bible. I believed that rebelling against how I was raised would be able to fill the void of loneliness and emptiness I had struggled with for years.
Even though I was running from the Lord, HE continued to pursue me. I had a life changing moment at Fall Revival on Olivet’s campus in 2022. A friend and I were praying during the last song, “New Wine” (by Hillsong Worship), on the first night of revival. My friend turned to me and prophesied over me, saying that I was about to receive a new fire and passion for Christ. After leaving the service, I felt convicted of my negative attitudes toward God. I prayed that He might change me and make me a vessel and an offering, just as the lyrics in the song said.
After this encounter with God through a friend and a song, my faith was renewed, and I became zealous for the Lord’s word. It was as if I could not get enough of the Scriptures! I began to preach and lead Bible studies for our ladies’ soccer team. Most importantly, I removed the things in my life that were detracting from my relationship with God. I felt the peace and intimacy with Him that I had always heard preached about but never understood. Finally, I allowed Jesus not only to be my Savior, but Lord over all of me.
A verse I had learned when participating in Bible quizzing in high school resurfaced during one of my devotions recently, and I received new understanding of its truth. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
The imagery of being crucified with Christ—just as He died for us—showed me how I should live my life: as a living sacrifice. Rather than selfishly chasing after my own ambitions and rebelling against God, my goal now is to allow God to shape and mold me into the best version of myself, even if that means sacrificing some of my own desires. Through the pains and joys of this growing period, I want to praise God for the work He has done in me this past year!
“For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.” Psalm 92:4
By Alaina Bahr
**Editor’s Note: Alaina was the young woman we spoke of in "7000 Who Have Not Bowed a Knee". We are greatly encouraged by her confidence in her Lord and her love for Scripture!
COMING UP: Next week we will continue the “Gen Z Speaks” series, inviting young people “who have not bowed a knee” to the spirit of this world to share words the Lord has given them.