I thought to myself, “What just hit me?�?BR>
While in Miami I watched my life, my apartment, my work, my family, and even my own health spiral out of control. I felt so helpless. It was there, while my husband was away in Paris, that God began to get my attention. Until all of these things happened, I felt like I had it “together,�?making decisions for my life and doing well on my own. But now, my circumstances were showing me that I didn’t have as much control as I thought I did. I was in bed, alone and sick! My niece died, I just got back from an awful trip, my apartment was a wreck and I was lonely.

Since I was ill in bed, I had a lot of time to think. It was then that I decided to buy a Bible �?even though I was mortified by the thought of becoming “religious.�?I had not talked to anyone about it and didn’t even think it would help me much, but I just kind of felt compelled to. So I got up and went to the bookstore down the street. I was too embarrassed to ask anyone there and finally found a Bible. I remember being embarrassed bringing it up to the register. When I got back to my place, I opened it up and had the hardest time reading it, because it was the Old King James version.

Soon I had become so physically ill that I actually let a friend of mine take me to a prayer meeting at a church. I thought it was silly but I was desperate and scared because my doctor suspected that my illness was incurable. At the prayer meeting people prayed aloud for me and kept telling me that God had a plan for my life. But I was angry inside and felt a little overwhelmed at the whole thing. That’s when an unexplainable tingling feeling blanketed me, and I wept. 

Something had changed

The next day, I had extensive medical testing, and when it was finished I learned that my health was fully restored! God had healed me and I felt so well! I believe that I was healed from more than just Crohn’s disease. That night I was also healed spiritually �?I came to know a God who personally loves me, and who can do anything �?even restore my health.

I was raised going to church and considered myself to be a Christian although I didn’t really believe in the Bible and rarely prayed. My god was a god of convenience. But the night I was healed, Jesus Christ became real to me. I realized my need for Him, and the fact that He was in control of all things. It made me willing to give Him the reins of my life when all along I had lived only for myself.

I developed a true faith in Jesus and understood that He suffered and died on a cross so that we could be together forever. I began to see how God had His hand on me from day one and I decided to commit my life to Him.

My husband experienced the miracles of my health being restored and he was amazed! He also saw how I was broken free from a smoking addiction that had a hold of me for years. What had once been so enjoyable to me was something I didn’t want to be around anymore. Soon, my husband also committed his life to Christ and we began to see that all good things came from His hand. Joy replaced the sadness that had been so prevalent in our lives.

There is so much more to life

When my world fell apart, I realized that life is so much more than working and trying to maintain control of everything. Now I make decisions based on the God I’ve come to know, rather than on what I want to do. I have peace in knowing the Person who created the universe, who knitted me together in my mother’s womb and who knows every part of you and me, is the One who is in control of my life.

I’ve found that He is the only constant thing. People will let you down, and things will come and go, but God will always be there. He is always there to guide me through my day and the many decision I make, letting me know when I need to do something or just be still.

Today, I am still modeling and acting, but now my identity is found in who I am in Christ and not what other people think of me. I am able to have peace in giving my cares to Him, and letting Him make them right. God is my first priority and goes into every part of my life, including my husband and my work.

Being a model and a woman brings tremendous influence. Now I am excited when I see each job as my mission field. Sometimes my purpose is to help and encourage others or to even be encouraged myself. Often when God uses me to help others, I find that it really is a huge blessing to me.

Clothes, makeup and fame never really mattered much. It’s more about the people. The more I dwell on myself, the uglier I get. I know I am beautiful in God’s sight through Jesus. I take what He gives me and I give it away. 

God gives each of us gifts. You have a choice to take them and use them for yourself, or you can use them for God’s glory. Use them and you will see beauty. Stop being consumed with yourself and fix your thoughts on Him. God called you and chose you, and there is a reason for that.

When you ask Jesus into your life, you are given the Holy Spirit as your counselor and guide. When you open the Bible and pray for wisdom, you will see things that you could not if the Spirit did not show you. Pray, listen and obey. He will show you what you need to do. He knows your needs. He made you and He knows you more than you know yourself, and He is right there waiting for you with open arms. You don’t need to clean yourself up to go to Him, He takes you just the way you are, and will come in and heal your deepest wounds to give you peace like you’ve never experienced. It no longer becomes conditional peace, but contentment in all circumstances. That is true love and true acceptance. You will not find it anywhere else. 

Trusting Jesus was the first step to huge adventures in our lives. Life is not always easy, but I know Christ is always with me. These promises are available to you as well. Why not pray this simple prayer in faith today and release the reins of your life back into God’s hands.

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer or if this article has been an encouragement to you, we would love to hear about it! We will e-mail you some information to help you grow, and respond personally to your questions. We look forward to your comments.

This story is brought to you by Models for Christ.

For information about getting into modeling, visit Models for Christ's tips for beginners.

To e-mail Christina Ralph, click here.

~ Stefanie Coutinho is the managing editor for Christian Women Today, and the cover model on the new Women Today Magazine.