I will always remember the first day I went to church. I must say "went" and not "attended" because I turned around and left within minutes of arriving, before the service even started!

The Lord had put a strong desire in my heart to attend church for the first time in my life. It took every bit of courage I could muster to go by myself, but when I got there, I was overcome with fear. Fear of the unknown. I didn't know what to expect and I didn't know what I was expected to do. Did I kneel when I entered, as churches I had seen on television? Was I allowed to wear makeup? Were there certain places I should not sit?

What if I did the wrong thing and made a fool of myself? Were there no rules written somewhere in the foyer or some handbook on Church Etiquette, something like: "The Dos and Don'ts Of Church-Attending Christians"?

To add to my anxiety, this was a very large church and memories of my first day of high school flooded back. That first day. I was so nervous that when the teacher called me forward to get my books, I tripped and fell in front of the whole class and sprained my ankle to the sound of their gleeful laughter. Boy, did I break the ice that morning! I had to bravely limp back to my seat and remain at school the whole day, despite my pain and humiliation.

Well, unlike that day, I was all grown up now and could do what I wanted. This time I could escape and spare myself any humiliation; I could leave and go home. And go home, I did.

Although initially I did feel relief, that was soon replaced by the same unrelenting desire to go to church which propelled me that Sunday morning. It was obvious that God wasn't going to let me "skip out" on what He had planned for me. I was learning the truth of His Word in Proverbs: "In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

My desire to obey was stronger than my fear, and early Monday morning, I contacted the pastor who happily offered to meet me at the door. I can still see his welcoming face that next Sunday when, for the first time, I entered God's House and my life was changed forever!

Looking back now, I can see God's plan for my life unfolding with that first step of obedience to attend church, and how that first step led me to the open door of His Kingdom and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

I believe we all want the full abundant life Jesus died to give us. That life is available to us in God's plan for each of us, but we have to do our part for that plan to be fulfilled. We may have to do things we don't want to do, or get past any fears or doubts and obey what He is telling us to do.

Someone has said that our obedience to God today determines what we will be for Him tomorrow. To me, that also means that as we obey Him today, we can trust Him with our tomorrows and look forward to what He has planned for us!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Patricia Bryan is the Pastor at His Path Christian Centre in Maple Ridge.