You have made the best and most important decision for your life. You are now in a relationship – with God. Like any relationship, your relationship with God will grow only if you spend time with Him and experience His presence in your daily activities.
I became a Christian in campus where I had the advantage of having mature Christians to guide me. The first thing they taught me was to set aside time to listen to God and talk to Him. This time is usually referred to as a “Quiet Time.”
Quiet time
During our quiet time we:
1. Listen to God
We listen to God by reading the Bible. Why? Because the Bible is the very word and will of God, preserved for us so we can get to know who He is and what He wants for our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Get a Bible translation that is easy to understand like The New International Version or the English Standard Version. Begin with one of the Gospels in the New Testament. Use a pad of paper to write down your questions and observations. Answer these two questions for each chapter: What do I learn about God or Jesus? Are there things discussed that I should begin practicing or avoid altogether? This will help you to see that the Bible is very practical to your life today. After you finish John, just keep going all the way to Revelation.
Alternatively you can read the Bible online together with notes to help you understand the Bible text (check out the YouVersion website).
2. Talk to God
Prayer or talking to God is very important for a healthy relationship with God. We can talk with God anytime, anywhere, in any mood, and in any season of temptation or joy.
Psalm 62:8 says to “pour out your hearts to God.”
There is an acronym, ACTS, which is most helpful if you are not used to talking to God.
A for Adoration: is where we praise God for who He is: loving, good, kind, understanding righteous. As you read the Bible and write down the things you are learning about God, you will have more and more to praise Him for. Also, begin to read a Psalm a day – and praise God for how each Psalm reveals new dimensions of His character and ways.
C for Confession: is a key component to growth. Sin clogs up our fellowship with God. We’ll feel guilty and distant if we have attitudes and actions in our lives that the Bible says are wrong. That’s where confession comes in. Look up 1 John 1:9. Then read Psalm 32:3-5 about the consequences of unconfessed sin and how to deal with it.
T for Thanksgiving: is when we just say thanks to God for all He has done for us. Again, the Psalms are a great place to be reminded of all He has done for us. Use the psalmists’ words as your own. It’s a good way to learn to just talk with God.
S for Supplication: is where we pray both for ourselves and for others in our lives. Keep a prayer list with the date you started praying on your behalf or the behalf of another and the date the prayer was answered. Pray specifically, expectantly and faithfully.
Other things that are important
Other things that are important for Christians to do, and new Christians to start doing include:
Fellowship with Other Believers
It is very important in our relationship with God to spend time with other Christians. Go with your Christian friend to his or her church. God has designed Christians to be dependent on one another. We are to help one another understand biblical truth, counsel one another regarding situations in life, encourage one another, hold one another accountable, and work together in meeting the physical and financial needs of fellow believers and those in the community.
Talk to Others about Christ
This is called witnessing. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, the Apostle Paul refers to us as ‘Christ’s ambassadors’. Once you are confident of your relationship with Christ – you have received forgiveness for your sin, found contentment, joy, fulfilment, and fruitfulness in Christ – you must tell your friends about your new relationship with Christ. Make a list of the top ten people you want to talk to about the Lord. Pray for them and just wait for Him to open up the opportunities to do so.
Your new life in Christ does not just promise an abundant life here on earth, but eternal life and the assurance of being in a place prepared for you in God’s presence when you die (John 10:10, 14:1-4). So cling to Christ and never let go of Him.