Starting A New life with God

FIRST STEP

PRAYER OF SALVATION:

“Dear Lord Jesus,

I know I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. I need your help and believe in your redemption work for me at Calvary.

Please forgive me of my sin, save me and make my life new. Write my name in Heaven’s Book of Life and give me your Holy Spirit to teach me your ways. From today, I am a child of purpose, destiny, and eternity, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECOND STEP

NEW BELIEVER’S DEVOTIONALS:

Study the following devotionals to build up your new faith. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth!” – 2 Timothy 2:15

Devotional 1:-

Topic: Jesus is your Saviour

Scriptures: John 3:16 / John 8:36

When John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world…He gave His one and only Son”, it is clear that God gave us His very best. God’s love for you and me is neither artificial nor superficial; it is sacrificial!

It cost God to let go of His Son for a time, and it cost Jesus His life to pay a price that was not His, but which we had incurred ourselves – the high price of salvation. Therefore, Jesus is your Saviour, and you have new life flowing through you because of Him: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”, (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This newness of life makes you free from the power of sin that makes you do wrong when you long to do the right thing (Romans 7:15). It also breaks you free from your dark past, because: “Who the Son sets free is free indeed!” (John 3:36).

WOW(Words of Wisdom) – “Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can” – Dwight L. Moody.

Devotional 2:-

Topic: Jesus is your Friend

Scripture: John 15:13-15

What a privilege that Christ has chosen to call us His friends. A source has defined a friend as the first person who comes in when the whole world goes out. He or she is someone you are fond of; share close affection, common beliefs, and values with, and whom you talk or spend time with.

For God to change our relationship with Him from Servant to Friend means that His focus is not merely on what service we can render to Him as our creator but also on what good He can do for us.

“You are my Friends IF you do what I command…!” (vs.14). God, as our Friend, wants to do for us what Friends do:

  • To give support and assistance when we need it.
  • To be our confidant and give us His listening ears.
  • To be an ally, not a foe.
  • To stand by us, not to betray us.
  • To partner with us in life’s ventures.
  • To be the last man standing with us when all others forsake us.

In return, God expects you and I to obey His Word as we make it a daily habit to read the Bible. He wants us to continue to choose Him and His ways in every area of our lives. We are His friends IF we do what He commands.

WOW(Words of Wisdom) – “A Friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself” – (Anonymous).

Devotional 3:-

Topic: The Holy Spirit is your Companion, Teacher, and Guide.

Scripture: John 14:26

As a new believer, you are currently taking baby steps in your walk of faith. As such, with time, you need to grow from the stage of taking milk to the stage of eating meat in the things of the Spirit (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12). The Holy Spirit is our assigned Teacher for spiritual growth.

Recognize the Holy Spirit’s Place in your life- John 14:15-17

At new birth, the Holy Spirit begins to dwell inside of you silently (Acts 2:38). You still need to invite Him to occupy all areas of your life prominently, so He can freely show you how to grow your faith. In so doing, He will become your daily companion, teacher, and guide, as you develop the important habits of:

  1. Daily Bible Study- Joshua 1:8 (Aim to spend about 15 minutes reading a portion of the Bible daily).
  2. Daily Prayer- Romans 8:26 (Aim to start and end each day praying to God).

Seek Baptism- Acts 22:16

After new birth, seek to be baptised. There are two types of Baptism for a believer, namely:

  1. Baptism by Water (Acts 8:35-38) This involves being immersed in water by a clergy, to symbolize the end of your old nature and the rebirth of a new you in Christ.
  2. Baptism by Fire (Luke 3:16) This involves an experience of receiving the tangible power of the Holy Spirit upon you that leads to speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4). It is obtained by asking the Holy Spirit directly for it in a prayer of faith. It is an empowerment that fortifies you in tackling the challenges and difficulties of life more triumphantly.

Be Transformed- Roman 12:2

The primary aim of God in getting us saved is to make us resemble His Son and our brother, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). We are to seek to live less in the flesh and more in the spirit, and the Holy Spirit is standing ready to teach us how!

Daily exposure to God’s Word through Bible studies, listening to godly teachings and living a prayerful life will ultimately transform our mindset, speech, and lifestyle in line with the attributes of the Holy Spirit which are listed in Galatians 5:22-25.

Keep Eternity in view- Titus 3:3-7 / Hebrews 11:13-16

Your faith in Christ secures your place in eternity – don’t trade it for anything! Nothing on this earth lasts forever; only God’s Word and eternity will stand the test of time (Revelations 21:1-3).

WOW(Words of Wisdom) – “As the Sun can be seen only by its own light, so Christ can be known only by His own Spirit” – Robert Leighton.