God's Plan For Your Life
Jan 2, 2023 | by Mike Prah
My friend, may I ask you life’s most important question? All eternity depends upon your answer to this question. Are you saved? There are two kinds of people in the world, the saved and the unsaved. God loves you and wants you to be saved to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Here is God’s plan for your life:
First: You need to be saved!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (ESV)
Second: You cannot save yourself!
“[God] saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:5 (NLT)
Third: Jesus has provided for your salvation!
“He [Christ] personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds, you are healed.” I Peter 2:24 (NLT)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3.16 (ESV)
Fourth: You must ask Jesus for salvation!
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (ESV)
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Fifth: Now is the time to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior!
“…behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
What To Do to Be Saved
Right now, call upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save you. Realize you are a sinner and that Christ died in your place. By faith, ask God to have mercy on you and to save you for Jesus’ sake.
What to pray:
“Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner, and save me now. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. Please help me to follow and obey Jesus as Lord of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer and asked Jesus into your life, then you are saved! Congratulations and welcome to the family of God! Let us know so we can rejoice with you and keep you in our prayers.
NOW THAT YOU’RE SAVED, WHAT’S NEXT?..
Your decision to receive Christ as Savior is the most essential decision you will ever make. There is no greater joy in all the world than to know Christ personally, to know your sins are forgiven, and to have peace in your soul.
You have been born again! Born of the Spirit! A miracle has taken place in your life. You are a new creature: “Therefore if any person belongs to Christ, they are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.” 2nd Corinthians 5.17. God, the Creator of the universe, has become your Father. Now for the first time, you are considered a child of God, and Heaven is your eternal home.
Although your decision to become a Christian is excellent and important, it is not all. It is but the beginning of a new life in Christ. When you were saved, you were not immediately a full-grown Christian but a “babe in Christ.” As a baby Christian, you are commanded to “grow” (2nd Peter 3.18). Everyone loves babies, but no one wants them to stay in the nursery. Only by growing spiritually can you please God and glorify Him in your life.
To grow to maturity as a Christian, you must be loyal and obedient to the commands of Christ. He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14.15). Some of these requirements are listed here so that that you may know what our Lord expects of His children.
1. Join a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching Church and Attend Regularly
The Christian life is not just our private affair. It is a family affair in which we enjoy fellowship with our Heavenly Father and other Christians. Every Christian should unite with a local, Bible-believing church and share its worship, fellowship, and witness. If Jesus loved the church enough to die for it (Ephesians 5:25), this is sufficient reason for us to love and support it.
Regular church attendance should be as much a habit as eating. “Don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25) is a clear command of the word of God. At church services, you will hear God’s word explained and applied to your everyday problems of life. Every Christian, young and old, needs the inspiration and information gained in a church worship service. If you try to live the Christian life alone, failure will result. In unity, there is strength.
2. Read Your Bible Daily
Jesus said, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, NLT). Just as you need physical food to sustain your physical life, you need spiritual food (the Bible) to maintain your spiritual life. We suggest you begin with the New Testament by reading the Gospel of John or Mark. Our Website has several Daily Devotions, and Bible Reading plans where you can read or listen to daily portions of the Bible.
Set aside a few moments at the beginning of each day for Bible reading. Look for promises to claim, commandments to obey, examples to follow, and sins to avoid. Your growth as a Christian will be directly related to your application of the Word of God. We recommend you have the Bible App on your smartphone, so you can have the Bible with you anytime, anywhere. See below for a link to download the free YouVersion Bible App.
3. Pray Every Day
Jesus said, people "should always pray.” (Luke 18:1, NLT). In another place, we read, “Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17, ESV). You should form the habit of praying daily for definite people and specific things. A prayer list may prove helpful in making your prayers more meaningful. There is nothing too great and nothing too small to take to the Lord in prayer. Thank God for all He has done for you. Ask Him for the strength and help you need to live for Jesus Christ.
4. Be Baptized
Water baptism is a necessary step of obedience for a new Christian. The first public act in the ministry of Jesus was His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17). The New Testament teaches that baptism is an outward sign of an inward change (Romans 6.4). It is a public confession and testimony of what has already taken place in your heart.
Water baptism is a spiritual act that symbolizes burial and resurrection. We are buried with Christ (immersed in water) in the likeness of His death and are raised with Christ in the likeness of His resurrection (Romans 6:). Baptism also pictures the burial of the old sinful life and a new life's resurrection in Christ. As a believer, you should be baptized not to be saved, but because you are saved (Acts 8.35-40). It is a witness of your faith in Christ.
5. Witness For Christ
The world's most significant work is soul-winning, and every Christian can and should bring others to the Savior. Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Try to speak naturally and cheerfully every day to someone about Christ. The Bible says, “Whoever captures souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Remember, you witness by what you do as well as what you say. At home, work, school, and everywhere, there should be something different about you—your love, patience, and understanding. Tell someone that Jesus Christ has made the difference. in you.
There is far more to the Christian life than what is included here, but if these initial steps are carefully followed, you will find yourself growing more and more in the knowledge and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Please accept this personal invitation to worship with us at our church so that we may help you continue your growth as a Christian. If God should lead you to do so, we know you will find a friendly welcome here. Most of all, we hope Christ will be made real to you through our teaching and preaching.
If you are a new Christian or would like material to shepherd a new Christian, download the “Beginning My Walk With Christ” booklet.
May God bless you!
Mike Prah
* Download the free YouVersion Bible App here: (Apple Devices | Android Devices)