A Testimony of a Life-Changing Experience with God

(This post was initially published 3/3/2018 and updated 9/10/2025)

Today I have a wonderful testimony from a young woman who knows the Real power of God and its life-changing ability.  As you read and listen to her testimony, ask yourself, “Am I really saved?”  Allow her testimony to serve as a mirror as you look into your own soul.

A Life-Changing Experience with God

By Sis. Cierra Wilkerson

It’s interesting how someone can be raised in the church all their life and think they know God, when in reality, they are just going through the motions. I was born and raised in an Apostolic Holiness church. I learned about Jesus at a young age, received the Holy Ghost, and believed I was living the right way. However, as I got older, I strayed from the Apostolic standards and doctrine, convincing myself that “it didn’t take all of that to live for God.” 

I changed the way I dressed, how I acted, and the company I kept. I was one of those people who thought, “we all fall short of His glory daily, and no one is perfect.” I reasoned that being human meant none of us could be perfect, only God holds that power. This mindset was dangerous. I believed that since everyone sins every day, it gave me a free pass to sin as well, because after all, “no sin is greater than another.” I would simply repent and tell the Lord, “I’m sorry,” even though I would go back and commit the same sins repeatedly. It wasn’t as if I was trying to sin intentionally; I genuinely wanted to live right and avoid doing anything that would grieve God’s heart.

Yet, there were certain sins I couldn’t shake off, no matter how hard I tried or how long I prayed about them. I found myself returning to those same sins and asking for forgiveness. I was bound. 

There were times when I would commit certain sins and afterwards cry out to God, asking Him, “Why am I like this?” I hated myself for letting God down in the way I did. Even though I believed I was saved, I couldn’t understand why I kept returning to behaviors that I knew displeased Him. I also had friends who influenced me negatively; they told me that God knew my heart and that, as Christians, we were simply meant to “strive” to live like Christ. They believed no person could live a sinless life, which showed they didn’t fully grasp God’s Word either. At that point in my life, I was merely going through the motions of my Christian walk. I had hit a spiritual plateau, and something essential was missing.

Later on, the Lord placed a desire in my heart to move to Fort Worth, Texas. Everything in my current situation was deteriorating, and I felt that relocating was the best option for me—both spiritually and naturally. I prayed and sought God’s guidance, and after receiving confirmation, I packed my bags and headed south. Although I didn’t know what God had in store for me, I felt certain that I was meant to be in Texas.

After making the move, I discovered a wonderful Holiness church that I later realized was one of the main reasons God led me to Texas. It was Full Gospel Holy Temple in Dallas. At this church, I was blessed to hear the unadulterated Word of God preached to me, which deepened my understanding of the Holy Ghost. The congregation looked different, and they had a passion for God that I had been yearning for. Without a doubt, I felt God’s presence in that sanctuary every time we gathered.

I attended week after week, absorbing the Word of God in a way I never had before. I learned that salvation requires more than just the evidence of speaking in tongues; it necessitates the POWER to live a holy lifestyle and to be freed from sin. That was the missing piece for me, and I became desperate to receive it.

The more I attended Full Gospel Holy Temple, the more the Lord began to transform my life. God provided me with an opportunity to break free from the sins that had me bound, and He spoke to me through the Man of God, Apostle Herman L. Murray, Jr. I made a vow to God that if He granted me the power I had been longing for, I would serve Him for the rest of my life. 

One Sunday morning, I went up for prayer, and the Man of God prayed for me. As soon as he touched my forehead, the power of the Holy Ghost surged through me. It was so overwhelming that by the end of the service, I was still crying out to God and speaking in tongues as I walked to my car. God had heard my cry and re-baptized me with the Holy Ghost. I knew without a doubt that I had received the power I was seeking. I could feel it all over me. 

It was an experience unlike any I had ever had or felt before. God knew exactly where I needed to be to find my deliverance, and since that day, my life has not been the same.

I can confidently say that the things that held me back for over 15 years are now GONE. I no longer have any desire to engage in them, nor do I think about them or struggle to stay away. I experienced a life-changing encounter with God and was set free from the chains that once bound me. I have the Holy Ghost, just as the Bible teaches. I now have a deep hunger for God and His Word. My actions, thoughts, and even how I dress have changed completely.

He blessed me with godly friends who encourage me in my faith. He corrected the mindset I had in the past that suggested “it doesn’t take all of that to live for God.” Through my journey, I learned that it takes everything and more if I want to experience His peace. Jesus didn’t die on the cross for us to remain in our sins. His Word states in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” I AM a new creature and a woman after God’s own heart. I have received the power I was seeking, and I am now set free from sin through the power of Jesus Christ! He is a DELIVERER, and He will keep you if you desire to be kept.  “But now being made FREE from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”  Romans 6:22 KJV.

“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Dear hearts, perhaps since you’ve heard this powerful testimony, you also want to be saved.  You may feel conviction for your life of sin and desire to be set free.   Do you also want to live for God?    The good news is, you can!  God loves you so much that He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you so that your soul can be saved.

The method for salvation that God put in place is a very simple one.   You simply repent of your sins, invite Jesus to save you, and commit to living for Him.  He is well able to save your soul and keep you if you want to be kept.  Next, ask God for the power of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  You need this power to live the life that He requires.

Repeat the words that I will provide or similar ones, and you are saved.  Remember, I can provide the words, but you must give the sincerity.  Say, “Father, forgive me of all my sins.  Save my soul.  If you save me, I will live for you forever.”

Once you have made your commitment to God and you mean it with all your heart, your soul will be immediately translated from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light.  Jesus will come into your heart and let you know that you are saved.

Next, ask God for the infilling of the Holy Ghost.  The Bible says in Luke 11:13 that He will give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks for it.

¹³ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?   

Ask for the infilling of the Holy Ghost in this way:  “Father, fill me with the Holy Ghost.”   You will know that you are filled with the Spirit because you will speak in new tongues.  You will receive a prayer language that empowers your spirit to communicate with God and empowers you to live a holy life.

Mark 16:17 says

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Acts 1:8 also tells us that we will receive the power that we need to live the life that God requires when we receive the Holy Ghost.

⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Persist in prayer until you receive the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues and the power to live holy.

Once you are saved, you need to become a part of a body of believers, a church, which will help you in your new walk with the Lord.  Read from the Holy Bible every day and expect the Lord to speak to you from His Word.  I invite you who are in the US to look for one of the 30+ Full Gospel Holy Temple Churches near you.  They are listed on our website, https://www.FGHT.org.

I also invite you to join my church’s YouTube community.  We livestream our services on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sunday mornings and evenings, and would love for you to join us.  We love you and are praying that God will bless you abundantly.  You may also contact me with questions, prayer requests, or to simply discuss the Lord through the comments section of any of the 240+ posts on my blog, www.strollingthrougharosegardencalledlife.blog.  May God bless you all.