First StepsSample

Following Jesus is a lifelong process

Following Jesus is not a one-step process where you pray a prayer of salvation. It is a lifelong process of following Jesus. Paul said, “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.” Philippians 3:8

Following Jesus outweighs everything else in life. It outweighs cars, houses, and even gold. Paul had been successful in life, but when he found Jesus, it changed everything, including his goals in life.

A.W. Tozer once said,

“To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love. I have tasted of God’s goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more.”

That is the ironic thing about Jesus.

He satisfied you more than anything else could. We each have a hole in our hearts, and Jesus alone can fill it. Not the world, alcohol, or sex, but Jesus. The peace and satisfaction that comes from trusting Jesus are lasting. Even when we put our trust in Jesus and experience that satisfaction, there is also an unexplainable longing to know Him more.

We come to know Jesus more throughout our lives. We do that by reading and meditating on God’s Word, sitting under great Christian preaching and teaching, practicing the spiritual disciplines, and seeking God in prayer.

You can seek God anytime by opening up your Bible and taking time for prayer and worship. Prayer is an opportunity to know God more, seek Him, and experience His goodness in your life.

• You can talk to God throughout your day like you talk to a friend. It’s called prayer.
• You can pray by asking God to meet needs in your life or by praying for others you care about.
• You can pray by thanking God and worshiping Him for what He has done in your life.
• When you read the Bible, it’s God talking to you. You can take time in prayer to read the Bible and listen to what God is saying to you.

Prayer is truly one of life’s greatest opportunities. It’s a chance to talk with the God of the universe and consider His love and how awesome He is.