New Life Today Blog: Changed for God's Glory by David Nicoli

Wanting to bless people with encouragement I decided to share my testimony once again with all who decide to read it. I believe God didn’t give me a testimony to hold to myself, but to spread the word of God. This is just a quick outline of some of the things God has done in my life.

I grew up in a Christian family, attending church every service. My parents are God-fearing people who I now respect and look up to. The high school I went to was influenced a lot by the hip hop culture; rap, graffiti, etc. I remember being introduced to graffiti in primary school at the age of 11 years, which continued for the next 10 years approximately and still to this day (but now from a Christian perspective).

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The friends' graffiti got me were “inappropriate” for a Christian kid growing up, especially when they were all into gangs. I remember Christianity soon left my mind and made way for satan and depression, I got that low I remember shamefully I even prayed to the devil on a couple occasions. I grew up with depression for many years keeping suicide close in my mind. I learnt to block everything out at church which only fueled the devil that deceived me for many years.

To give a quick outline, I started to hang around with “stoners” ad became one of them at the age of 16. I later started drinking, looking for different ways to bring me happiness, only to fail. At the age of 19 I was at my peak, spending a lot of money on spray paint to keep my reputation in my neighborhood. I also got heavier into the drinking which continued until I was nearly 21. Blacking out was something ‘normal’ for me.

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All the while I had parents praying for me at home, when I was getting home late at night my parents would pray for me nonstop (God bless them!). I have very strong parents, I don’t know anyone who could put up with what they did. God is good and I thank Him for my parents. God bless them! Sorry dad and mum!!

In 2009, September, at the age of 20, God woke me up through my car, I lost control of it. My car was the only valuable thing I had in my life and that’s what God had to “touch” to get to me. I praise Him for that. I won’t go into details about what happened but anyone is free to ask. God changed my life at the right time, if He waited any longer or didn’t change me at all, id be a drug addict no doubt (if alive), only me, God and a few friends know what sort of stuff I was about to get into. I remember Christianity soon left my mind and made way for satan and depression, I got that low I remember shamefully I even prayed to the devil on a couple occasions. I grew up with depression for many years keeping suicide close in my mind. I learnt to block everything out at church which only fueled the devil that deceived my neighborhood. I also got heavier into the drinking, which continued until I was nearly 21. Blacking out was something ‘normal’ for me.

All the while I had parents praying for me at home. When I was getting home late at night, my parents would pray for me nonstop (God bless them!). I have very strong parents, I don’t know anyone who could put up with what they did. God is good and I thank Him for my parents. God bless them! Sorry dad and mum!!

In 2009, September, at the age of 20, God woke me up through my car - I lost control of it. My car was the only valuable thing I had in my life and that’s what God had to “touch” to get to me. I praise Him for that. I won’t go into details about what happened but anyone is free to ask.

God changed my life at the right time, if He waited any longer or didn’t change me at all, I'd be a drug addict no doubt (if alive), only me, God and a few friends know what sort of stuff I was about to get into.

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I remember buying my first Bible and asking God to bless it and speak to me. I opened it up and the first verse I saw was Psalm 5:11 – “but let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.” – nasb. (Keeping in mind my depression, which God pulled me out of).Wanting to bless people with encouragement, I decided to share my testimony once again with all who decide to read it. I believe God didn’t give me a testimony to hold to myself, but to spread the word of God. This is just a quick outline of some of the things God has done in my life.

I grew up in a Christian family, attending church every service. My parents are God-fearing people who I now respect and look up to. The high school I went to was influenced a lot by the hip hop culture: rap, graffiti, etc. I remember being introduced to graffiti in primary school at the age of 11 years, which continued for the next 10 years approximately and still to this day (but now from a Christian perspective). God bless all who read this testimony, more details can be given through messenger, God bless you all.

Be blessed.

Since then it has been a life lesson for me, God teaching me so much. I have a lot to share, a lot of testimonies of how God has done miracles in my life...

My testimony isn’t as dramatic as other ones I’ve read and heard. But I know for sure that my past is the reason Christ was crucified and I thank God for opening my eyes to see that. That’s why I continue to praise God everyday, even though some people consider me as an extremist in the faith. All I know is that God has changed my life and I’ve seen Him work so much… anyone would be love and live as much - if not more!

Be Blessed.

Colossians 3:17

David Nicoli.