Welcome to the Family of God
We are so excited that the Holy Spirit has led you to take the first steps to follow Jesus as your Savior. When one sinner repents and turns to Jesus there is a great celebration in heaven. Wow! That is amazing. Choosing to follow Jesus is the most important decision you have or will ever make. As a new believer, you can expect to have new attitudes and desires. Worldly ways may not be as important as they once were. Why? That is the work of the Holy Spirit in you. Growth takes time, but it begins by simply responding to Jesus as He transforms you. May the Lord bless you on this exciting journey!
Whether this is your first time committing your life to Jesus or a rededication of your life, these steps below will help build a strong and lasting relationship with Jesus on this spiritual journey in life.
Read the Bible Daily
The Bible will tell you everything you need to know in order to grow and fulfill God’s plan for your life. Because God speaks through His Word, you will get to know Him better and learn what pleases Him. As you hear and obey His Word, you will grow strong and begin to see positive changes in your life. We suggest starting in the New Testament and reading the Gospel of John. Because the Bible may be new to you don’t be afraid to reread the Gospel of John several times. You will be amazed how the Lord will give you spiritual insight as you read His word.
You can buy a Bible online, download one onto your smart device, pick one up at your local bookstore, or even ask a local church for one.
Here are a few internet links that offer a variety of great ways to explore the Bible:
www.biblestudytools.com/Library
Pray Daily
Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as a child of God. Prayer is just a conversation with God. God wants you to know Him personally and wants you to share your heart with Him. God loves to talk to His children any time of the day or night. Don’t hesitate to pour out your heart to the Lord. He is a God of great mercy and compassion.
The A.C.T.S method is a good easy way to learn and remember how to pray.
Adore – Start your prayer by telling God how much you adore Him, giving Him recognition for who He is, and thank Him for what He has done for you.
Confess – Confession is acknowledging that you have sinned and asking God to forgive you of those sins. The Bible says that if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us of all that we have done wrong.
Thanks – We have so much to be thankful for in our lives, including our salvation. God’s people should be joyful and grateful people who spread that wherever they go.
Supplication – Supplication simply means praying for your personal needs and the needs of those around you.
Find a Church to Attend
You can’t do this alone and we need each other! Going to church is the primary way you will grow in your faith. You will meet other believers, develop friendships, and find a community that will support you on this new journey in life. In addition, you may want to consider joining a small Bible study group that meets in someone’s home. Remember it is important that you find a local church that teaches the Bible, and values worship, evangelism, and community. Ask the Lord to direct you to the right church. The Lord loves to give us guidance when we ask.
Share Your Faith
The Good news of Jesus is hard to keep to yourself! Now that you are following Jesus, it’s time to tell people about Him. Don’t hide your faith from people around you, they need Jesus just as much as you needed Jesus. How will they know that Jesus is real if the people around them don’t tell them? A great way to share with them is to tell your story. Tell them what Jesus has done for you and what He will do for them. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as you talk to others about what Jesus has done in your life.
Stay the Course
Being a Christian is not always easy and we are still sinful people. As believers in Jesus, you are in a spiritual battle. When you became a child of God, you also became an enemy of the devil and he will try to tempt you into disobeying God. Know that it isn’t a sin to be tempted and even Jesus experienced temptation (read Luke 4:1–3) but giving in to the temptation is a sin. Christians will experience times of testing and trials, but God promises to be with us and give us the strength we need to get through hard times. As we enter into this spiritual battle the Apostle Paul calls us to put on the full armor of God. Please take time to read Ephesians 6:10-18.
