So you’ve just started exploring Christianity, and decided to follow Christ. Now what? How should life change? How can you continue to grow? Embracing a faith-filled life is a transformative journey that involves daily decisions and actions rooted in your newfound belief in Jesus Christ. What does it look like to live out your new beliefs? Here are some essential steps to guide you in this exciting journey.

1. Reading the Bible

The Bible is not only God’s Word, but also serves as a guide for living a faithful life. It offers wisdom, encouragement, and instructions for righteous living. Where do you begin? Here are a few tips for reading the Bible:

• Start with the Gospels: Begin with the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to learn about the life and teachings of Jesus.
• Daily Devotion: Set aside time each day to read and reflect on Scripture. Even a few minutes a day can make a significant difference. There are several apps, websites and books that can help you have a daily devotion as well, including the Bible App. 
• Bible Study Plans: Utilize Bible study plans available in apps or online to keep you on track and help you explore different parts of the Bible. We recommend the 60 Day Reading Plan if you need a good place to start. 

2. Attending Church

Church is a place for worship, learning, and community. It strengthens your faith and provides spiritual support. We highly encourage you to find a local church where you can find all of these important things essential to your spiritual growth. Here are a few things to try:

• Find a Local Church: Look for a church that preaches the Gospel and aligns with biblical teachings. Attend regularly to grow in your faith. Look for a church that has sound teaching, fellowship, prayer, and who talks about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. You might begin by asking friends and neighbors where they attend.
• Participate in Services: Engage in worship, listen to sermons, and partake in communion if encouraged by that church to deepen your connection with God. 
• Join Church Activities: Get involved in Bible study groups, prayer meetings, and volunteer opportunities to build relationships and serve others. Most churches have a variety of activities to help you get connected with other believers and to grow in your faith.

3. Fellowship with Other Believers

Fellowship is more than just being social. Fellowship with other believers provides mutual encouragement, accountability, and spiritual growth. It’s about doing life together! Here are a few ways to find some fellowship:

• Small Groups: Join a small group or Bible study at your church where you can share your experiences, ask questions, and grow together in faith.
• Christian Friends: It’s important to have a few friends who share your beliefs and can support you in your spiritual journey. 
• Mentorship: Seek out a mentor – a mature believer who can offer guidance, wisdom, and prayer support. This can often be your Bible Study leader or a church leader in your community.

4. Practicing What Jesus Taught

Jesus has called us as followers to live out his teachings to demonstrate our faith and impact those around us. Here are a few tips for what that looks like in daily life:

• Love and Forgive: Follow Jesus’ command to love others as yourself (Matthew 22:39) and forgive those who wrong you (Matthew 6:14-15). This can be a hard one to do particularly with some people in our lives, but it’s always good to try our best.
• Serve Others: Look for ways to serve in your community, whether through your church, local charities, or simply helping neighbors in need. Most local churches will share opportunities to serve in and outside of the church walls in weekly newsletters and bulletins.
• Don’t Be Afraid To Share Your Faith: Be open about your faith and look for opportunities to share the Gospel with others, through words and actions. Jesus called us to share, so even praying for opportunities to encourage others before we meet with them can be a great way to get our hearts prepared to share.

5. Prayer

Prayer is your direct line of communication with God. It strengthens your relationship with Him and guides your daily life. Just like any other relationship, it’s important to talk to Him on a daily basis to continue that relationship and build it. Here are a few strategies for doing that:

• Daily Prayer: Make prayer a daily habit. Start and end your day with prayer, and talk to God throughout your day.
• Prayer Journal: Keep a journal to note your prayers and God’s responses. This helps you see His faithfulness and encourages you to keep praying. It can also be helpful as you reflect on certain issues to write it out on paper.
• Prayer Groups: Join or form prayer groups to pray with others and for each other’s needs. This is a great way to build fellowship as well.

6. Living Out Christian Values

Your lifestyle should reflect your faith in Christ. This means embodying Christian values in all areas of your life as much as you can, remembering Jesus is the only one who is completely perfect. We will fail, but we have to give ourselves grace as we try our best every day:

• Integrity and Honesty: Live with integrity and honesty in your personal and professional life, reflecting the truth of the Gospel. This will often be difficult and make you different from your peers.
• Compassion and Humility: Show compassion and humility in your interactions, following Jesus’ example of servanthood. 
• Perseverance and Faithfulness: Remain steadfast in your faith, even in difficult times, trusting in God’s promises. There will be seasons where it is difficult to have complete faith; just keep trusting as best you can, and God will continue to draw near to you.

Living a faith-filled life is a continuous journey of growth and transformation. By committing to these practical steps, you will deepen your relationship with God and positively impact those around you. Remember, you are not alone in this journey – God is with you, and so is your community of believers. Embrace your faith with joy and confidence, knowing that each step you take brings you closer to Him.