Have you recently given your life to Jesus Christ? The Bible says you are a new creation. You have been born-again. Just like a newborn baby comes into the world and needs nourishment to thrive, that’s how it is with your spiritual birth—you need spiritual food.
The following four steps will help you establish a lifestyle that allows Jesus to guide and direct your new life in Him. As you take time to do these four things, God’s plan for you will begin to unfold. Congratulations on the best decision you could ever make!
1. Prayer (talking to God)
Prayer is the biblical word for talking to God. Prayer is communication between you and God. God created you as you are, and He wants to spend time communicating with you. Go ahead and thank Him for the beautiful day. Ask Him for guidance in difficult circumstances. Most important, ask Him to give you strength and wisdom to live a life that pleases Him. As you open your Bible each day, ask Jesus to open your eyes and heart to see and hear what His Spirit says to you.
Scriptures to read: 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18; Philippians 4:6–7; Psalm 34:1–8; Luke 18:1
2. Study (getting to know God)
How would you feel if you had not eaten anything for three days? You would feel like passing out! With spiritual nourishment, the principle is the same. When you go three days without reading the Bible and spending time with Jesus, you are spiritually starving. But when you spend time with Jesus daily, you will be satisfied spiritually. Before going to sleep each night, ask yourself, “Did I learn something new about Jesus today? What promise did Jesus reveal to me today? How have I become more like Jesus today?” When looking for a Bible, we suggest an English Standard Version (ESV) or a New American Standard Bible (NASB). At Hope Valley we primarily use the ESV during the service. The New International Version (NIV) and the New King James (NKJV) are also good selections.
Scriptures to read: 2 Timothy 2:15; Psalm 1:1–3; Psalm 119:9–16; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12
3. Fellowship (being with believers)
Fellowship is just a fancy word that simply means to hang around or interact with other Christians. To illustrate this, let’s picture a barbecue with red, glowing charcoal briquettes. If you reach in with tongs and remove one of those little briquettes, setting it apart from the others, what will happen? It will go out! It will get cold! But if you take that same briquette and place it back into the fire with the others, what will happen? Once again, it will take on the same characteristics of the other briquettes. So it is with the Christian walk. If you surround yourself with other Christians and begin to share and pray together, you will not grow “cold” in your walk with Christ.
Scriptures to read: Acts 2:42–47; Philippians 2:1–4; Ephesians 5:19–21; 1 John 1:5–7; Hebrews 10:24–25
4. Witnessing (telling others about Jesus)
When you begin living your life according to the first three principles above, you will be noticeably different. Those who know you will be able to see a change in your life. Witnessing, or sharing your faith, is simply telling others what Jesus has done to bring about that change. In Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Share what Jesus has done in your life. Give others the same opportunity you were given to live for eternity with Jesus Christ in heaven.
Scriptures to read: Acts 1:8; Matthew 5:14–16; Ephesians 6:19; Acts 4:13–21; Acts 10:42–43
As a new believer, if you establish these four vital principles early in your Christian walk, you will become a strong disciple of Jesus Christ and you will live a fruitful, victorious Christian life.