I want to tell you how Jesus changed my life this week. It’s October, and everyone is thinking of Halloween. I don’t celebrate Halloween because it doesn’t please God. Instead, my mom and I decided that October 31st would be the day we’d start playing our Christmas music each year, as a way of remembering how Jesus came and defeated Satan. Even on Satan’s own holiday, Jesus is stronger!

I went to spend the night with my dad. He's not Christian, and I pray for him all the time. I ask my church friends to pray for him, too. I had told him I didn’t want to go through the haunted house at the pumpkin patch, but when we got there, he told me to go through. I asked if I could wait outside.. I asked if we could do something else instead.. but nothing worked. I knew I should obey my dad, even if I didn’t want to. I went though the haunted house with him, and even though I wanted to close my eyes, there were turns and steps inside and I was afraid I’d fall. It was very dark inside and there were horrible things everywhere. It was then that I started praying. I asked Jesus, “Please make it so I never have to go through another haunted house. I know You’re with me, even here in this awful place.” Soon, I could see the end of it and I knew it was almost over.

When I came out of the haunted house, it felt to me like all of a sudden, I was closer to Jesus. It was the most wonderful feeling I have ever had. My mom has asked me before if I knew I was going to heaven. I wasn’t really sure. But when I came out of that haunted house after feeling Jesus with me, I knew for the first time... for SURE... that I am going to heaven!

My mom reminded me of a verse in the Bible that’s in Romans. That’s where God tells us that in all things, He works for the good of those who love him. All things. Not just good things, but even bad things like me having to go through an ugly haunted house. I’m glad, now, that I had to do that, because God used it to bring me closer to Jesus.