Sooo, this past Sunday (or recently) you gave your life to Christ. You accepted Him into your heart and you’ve made up your mind to make a change. You leave church feeling energized and ready for this next step. The only problem is, you don’t know what that next step is. Monday morning comes around and you’re back in the real world. You’re still in that bad relationship or you still have those co-workers at your job that you want to curse out or you still have the desire to hit up happy hour and get drunk after work. You think to yourself, “Wait a minute, I gave my life to God yesterday. All of this stuff should be gone! I’m a Christian now.” Yes, this is true. However, this does not mean that problems and situations magically disappear because of your choice to follow God. This is where the true work comes in. I think this is how a lot of people may feel after they get saved or rededicate their lives. Acceptance of the invitation is always great but what do you do after you’ve made that decision?
1. Stay connected
Your salvation does not end once you accept Jesus into your heart. Continue to go to Sunday worship services and bible studies. Consider joining a local church and once you become a member, look for opportunities to become a part of a ministry. If you are in school, find an on-campus Christian organization to become a part of. Groups like that are very beneficial since they will have people just like you who are trying to live the same way that you are.
2. Read your Bible
This may seem like the most daunting task but it is the most vital; it is your life’s instruction manual. Do not be afraid or hesitate to use it. And don’t think that you have to spend 20 hours reading it. Even if it begins as five minutes a day…just read. Pick a time of the day where you can devote a few minutes to reading and then, after you’ve read, take a few moments to meditate on it. If you have difficulty choosing a passage or book to read, buy a devotional that will help guide your reading for each day. There are plenty of them that are geared towards youth, college students and young adults, women, and men. Find one that works for you and will meet your needs. Also, if you are technologically savvy, you can download the Bible app YouVersion which has an option for you to choose a specific reading plan.
3. Realize it is a process
I’ve said this before but you must understand that things are not going to change overnight. You are not going to be super-saved as soon as you accept Christ into your heart. Try to make little changes over time: if you like to listen to secular music in the car, try changing it to a gospel station instead. If you find that you have quite the potty mouth, try substituting words. Instead of the S-word say “Shoot” instead of saying, “What the ‘you know what’” you can say, “What the ham sandwich?” LOL I know it sounds silly but you’re trying to make changes right? You have to start somewhere.
These are just some starter suggestions to keep you plugged in. Over time, you should see that you will begin to master these areas and move on to different levels in your faith. The important thing, though, is that you stay committed to the growth process. Your relationship with Christ doesn’t stop after your acceptance of Him…that is only the beginning.
