Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught.
Colossians 2:6-7
You prayed and asked Jesus to forgive your sins. You invited Him to come and live in your heart. Congratulations You are now a Christian--a disciple, or follower, of Jesus Christ. You have become a child of God. Now it's time to really get to know God better and learn how to walk with Him.
It's not unlike the process we all experience as human beings. We begin life as tiny little babies. We don't know anything about the world around us. We can't do anything for ourselves. We have to be taught. We have to learn how to talk . . . we have to learn how to walk. One step at a time.
The same thing happens with our faith in Jesus. In the beginning we are -baby- Christians. We have a lot to learn But little by little, day by day, one step at a time, we discover what it truly means to be Christian and how to live a life that pleases God.
As we learn to walk with God, we grow in our faith. We grow in our capacity to know and understand who God is. We grow in our ability to receive what He has to give us. We grow in appreciation of all that He is and all that He has done for us. The more we learn, the richer and fuller and deeper our relationship with God becomes.
This booklet will tell you how to walk with God: the things you can do that will help you draw closer to Him. There are all kinds of ideas and suggestions inside--most of them come right from the Word of God itself, the Bible. Sometimes you'll see Scriptures listed in parentheses like this: ( ). Look up the verses if you want to read them for yourself, or use the special sections called -To Find Out More.-
Now here is how you can learn to walk with God.
1. Walk in the Word
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
The best way to get to know God is to read the Bible. Every word, every verse, every chapter was inspired by God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16). Someone once said the Bible is God's love letter to us. The Bible explains who God is and what He is like. It tells us how He created the world and why He created all of us. The Bible teaches us right from wrong and shows us how to live in a way that pleases God. It introduces us to Jesus--our Savior--God's one and only Son.
Sixty-six books make up the Bible. They are divided into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some books tell us the stories of heroes of our faith: men and women who lived for God and did great things for Him. Others are filled with poetry, prayers, and proverbs--words of advice and instruction. Still others contain prophecies, special messages from God to His people. The stories about Jesus begin in the New Testament.
There are many ways to study the Bible. You can start at the beginning and read straight through, from Genesis to Revelation. If you were to read four chapters a day, you would finish in about a year or so.
Or you might choose to study one particular book at a time. Many new Christians begin by reading the Gospel of John. You can also look up verses throughout the Bible on a specific subject, such as -courage- or -friendship- or -peace.- Most Bibles have a concordance, or index, at the back that will help you find the verses you are looking for. You may also use a Bible study guide or workbook.
Whenever you finish a paragraph or chapter, review what you have read. See if you can answer the five W's and an H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Ask God to help you understand these Scriptures and learn something from what you have read. You might want to write your thoughts down in a notebook or journal.
More Ways To Walk In The Word:
- Listen to audio versions of the Bible on cassette or compact disc. Play them while you're getting ready for work in the morning, put them on in the car, or set them to play softly--and continuously--while you sleep at night.
- Memorize Bible verses that are meaningful to you, verses that encourage you or challenge you.
- Copy verses onto sticky notes. Put them where you will see them often--on the refrigerator, by the computer, or on the bathroom mirror.
- Make your own flashcards. Keep them in your wallet or purse and review them throughout the day. Practice saying each verse first thing in the morning, on the way to work, or before you go to bed at night.
- Sing Scripture memory songs. You may have learned them at church, listened to them on Christian radio, or picked up a compact disc at your local Christian bookstore. You can also make up your own songs, from your heart to God.
- Ask a friend or family member to test you. See if you can say the verse and the reference (title of the book, chapter, and verse) without any help.
To Find Out More: Read Psalm 119:9,11; Deuteronomy 6:6, and Hebrews 4:12.
2. Walk in an Attitude of Prayer
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Prayer is simply talking to God. The Bible tells us that God is the best friend we could ever have. We can share all of our thoughts and feelings with God, because He understands. He always has time to listen. He always cares (1 Peter 5:7). Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us, -Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.-
Some people prefer to pray silently, while others like to pray out loud. Some find it helpful to kneel or bow their heads and close their eyes--it keeps them focused and reduces distractions. But of course, you can pray any time, any place, any way that is comfortable for you. Sometimes you might repeat prayers you have learned at church or m
