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Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AIA

My Imperfections Come to the Surface - Kyle Gritters

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I grew up in a home with parents who followed Christ and who loved me, always leading by example. In childhood I believed that going to church with them every Sunday, whether I wanted to or not, was my free ticket into eternal life. I was acting like a follower of Christ on Sunday and doing whatever I wanted every other day of the week, which was usually disobeying my parents.

I knew that living a true Christ-centered life was not what I was doing because my parents were the model of it. I just could not control my temper and I didn’t want to surrender all my fun, to live as a committed Christ-follower. For the Lord to get a hold of me, He had me go to a Bible camp in middle school and changed my life. I never liked singing in church because I was embarrassed, but at this camp I sang to the Lord until He overwhelmed me, to the point where I could not stop crying. That night I asked God to forgive my sins, I fully committed my life to the Lord, and I talked with a camp counselor about what it truly means to be on a daily walk with the Lord. Going to church on Sunday was no longer my religion, but a time to learn about my Savior Jesus Christ and all the things He did for me.

My walk with the Lord did not change overnight, but as grow to know Him more, my imperfections come to the surface and He scrapes them off. I notice life is the hardest when I go through it in my own strength.

Later I realized God was the one who gave me the talent to race my bike, and it has been amazing to give Him the reigns in my life. He has put it on my heart to be an example of what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ in the sport of cycling. Wherever God has us in life as His followers, we are called to be a light.

—Kyle Gritters, USA cyclist

Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of AIA

My Imperfections Come to the Surface - Kyle Gritters

Aug 08, 2019

I grew up in a home with parents who followed Christ and who loved me, always leading by example. In childhood I believed that going to church with them every Sunday, whether I wanted to or not, was my free ticket into eternal life. I was acting like a follower of Christ on Sunday and doing whatever I wanted every other day of the week, which was usually disobeying my parents. I knew that living a true Christ-centered life was not what I was doing because my parents were the model of it. I just could not control my temper and I didn’t want to surrender all my fun, to live as a committed Christ-follower. For the Lord to get a hold of me, He had me go to a Bible camp in middle school and changed my life. I never liked singing in church because I was embarrassed, but at this camp I sang to the Lord until He overwhelmed me, to the point where I could not stop crying. That night I asked God to forgive my sins, I fully committed my life to the Lord, and I talked with a camp counselor about what it truly means to be on a daily walk with the Lord. Going to church on Sunday was no longer my religion, but a time to learn about my Savior Jesus Christ and all the things He did for me. My walk with the Lord did not change overnight, but as grow to know Him more, my imperfections come to the surface and He scrapes them off. I notice life is the hardest when I go through it in my own strength. Later I realized God was the one who gave me the talent to race my bike, and it has been amazing to give Him the reigns in my life. He has put it on my heart to be an example of what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus Christ in the sport of cycling. Wherever God has us in life as His followers, we are called to be a light. —Kyle Gritters, USA cyclist