After accepting Jesus into your heart, you need to work on developing your relationship with God. This is accomplished through reading your Bible, prayer, praise and worship, fellowship with other believers and attending church.

James 4:8 states “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Psalms 119: 105 says that “Your word [Bible] is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word is one of the ways that God speaks to His people. The Bible gives us wisdom and guidance for making all the decisions we must make in life. The Bible also gives us comfort, joy and hope during times of sickness, loss or other hardships. The Bible is our road map that keeps us on the path of salvation. It is important to spend time daily in God’s word. Devotionals, study materials, and sermons are also helpful in helping you to understand the Bible. You can download a Bible on your phone. There are also several apps that have Bible studies and devotionals. 

Do not be intimidating by praying to God. God is your heavenly Father now, and you are His child. Prayer is important because it is one of the ways that we speak to God, and it is also one of the ways God speaks back to us.1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “Pray without ceasing.” This means that we should always be praying, and we should pray about everything. We should pray for ourselves, our family, our friends, our jobs, our church, our country, all decisions that we must make, for the furtherance of God’s kingdom, and just because we love God. It is important to make sure we are praying for others.  The more your pray, the more personal and unique your prayer style becomes. The more you pray, the more comfortable you will feel talking to God. This is one of many prayer models to get you started on praying.  

Praise

Start your prayer by thanking God for what He has done for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Psalms 9:1-2 says “I will praise you, O Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of Your marvelous works; I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to your name, O most High.”

Repent

Acts 3:19 says “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that the times of refreshing my come from the presence of the Lord.” This means after we thank God, we need to ask God to forgive us of any sin we may have committed. We need to ask God to examine our hearts and show us any areas of our lives that need to be worked on by the Holy Spirit. God will refresh us in areas that we may be struggling in.

Ask

Matthew 7: 7 says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” This means we need to ask God for the things we have need of. This can be a closer walk with God, for God to give us a deeper understanding of Him, a new job, a financial need, a health need, salvation for family members or friends, a spouse, or anything that you have need of. God will supply your needs. You just have to ask God for the need, and believe that God will supply you with what you need.

Yield

The last part of our prayer should be for God’s will for our lives. By asking God’s will for our lives, we are acknowledging that God is our Heavenly Father, and that He knows what is best for our lives. By asking for God’s will, you are also telling God that you want to serve Him and obey Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” We must have faith that God will lead us in the path that we need to take, and that God’s way is the best way.

Praise through music is important because it is one of the ways that we glorify God and feel God’s presence. Psalms 68:4 says “Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, And rejoice before Him” and Psalms 40:3 tells us that “He has put a new song in my mouth, Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear; And will trust in the Lord.” Praise is not just singing songs to God. Praise is also an attitude of gratitude towards God. We need to tell God that we appreciate Him, and love Him. A grateful heart is a happy and content heart. 

Finally, you need to join a Christian church. The teachings of the church should align with what the Bible says because “All Scripture [Bible] is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instructions in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In the New Testament it says Church fellowship is important because God tells us to “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as in the manner of some but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). God wants us to fellowship with other believers. This is so we can edify another and pray for another. Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).  In James it says “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” (5:14). Church attendance is important because it is a time and place where we can come together as a family to praise our Heavenly Father. Church creates opportunities for you to hear the Word of God, and to mature in your faith. Churches also present opportunities for you to serve God through different ministries. We encourage you to find a church you like, and become a regular member.