So I’ve Surrendered My Life to Christ, Now What?
Welcome to the Land of Begin Again
All of us live with some kind of regret: something we've at some time that we'd do anything to undo, something we said that we'd give anything to take back, something we've gotten mixed up in that we wish we'd never gotten involved with. Or we may have committed the sin of omission: not acted when we could or should have acted. Years, even decades, later the feeling of shame, the hurt caused to others, the attempts at self-destruction and the feeling of unworthiness and disingenuous continues to haunt us and hang a perpetual cloud over our lives, robbing our peace and tarnishing our relationships with others. Well guess what? Today, you have been set free and washed clean now and forever!
First of all, know that you need not fear death because Jesus has secured a place for your in Heaven when you die and that, because Jesus paid the way, God has forgiven your sins, past, present and future. Now, He will begin helping you grow and mature in the faith so that you’ll become more and more like His Son Jesus in character. If you’re feeling intimidated by that, know that God has indwelt you with the Holy Spirit, who will help you.
So here are some tips to help you get started:
Don’t go by your feelings. Some have reported feeling unburdened, like it feels when you’ve confessed something that’s been weighing heavily on your conscience. Some people didn’t feel anything at all. So remember that your salvation is not about feelings, but about faith in what Jesus has done.
Find a bible and start reading it so that you can get to know God better and what He wants in a relationship with you. It's also your only sure defense against spiritual deception. There are good and bad bible translations out there, so I would recommend the New International Version (NIV) or the New Living Translation (not NLB) as they’re easier to understand and the closest to the original manuscripts. Other recommendations for new believers are the God’s Word translation and Christian Standard Bible. The New King James (NKJV) is a bit more difficult, but it’s the most widely known version.
Most new believers start out by reading the Gospel of John and then the rest of the New Testament, since it has instructions for the Church and how to live the Christian life. Try to set aside time for daily bible study, at least a couple of chapters if that’s all you’re able to do (you’ll be surprised by how much progress you can make if you stick to it). After you’ve finished the New Testament, I would recommend going back to the book of Genesis, the first book of the bible, and making it a habit of reading through the entire bible each year. It may sound intimidating, but it’s like reading a book series, and I always learn something new each time I read it.
Don’t be surprised that not everyone will celebrate your newfound faith; in fact, most won’t. Some may think you’ve turned into a “religious nut.” Friends may feel betrayed that you don’t want to do some things you used to do; they may even try to pressure you to return to your old sinful activities. Pray to God first for discernment, grace and guidance and look for a church or community of believers where you can grow together and support one another spiritually. If there's not a local church in your area, hopefully, you can find or start a bible study group with fellow believers. Then pray for friends and family members who may not understand what's going on.
Make it a daily habit to spend some time with God through prayer. While the bible is God’s method for communicating and building a relationship with us, prayer is our way of maintaining a relationship with Him.
Last, share the gospel with others so that they too can receive eternal life.