Your friend has been inviting you to his church for weeks now and you've finally agreed. You walk into the church only to be greeted by a warm and welcoming group of people. Then, the worship starts and you feel something stir inside you that you haven't experienced before. The pastor's message is more relevant to your life than you thought it would be. When the pastor asks those who would like to be saved to raise their hand, you feel your hand go up without hesitation. The pastor prays for you, gives you a Bible and sends you on your way with your friend. This is an experience you will never forget. But, what do you do now? What are you supposed to change? What's the next step? These are all common questions newly religious people may be asking themselves. Here are a few things you can do to help in those first few weeks of being saved.
Tell Friends and Family
Telling friends and family is a great first step. You can let them know what has happened to you and then invite them to your church. Some might say yes, but don't be surprised if not everyone accepts your offer. That's okay, try not to take it personally. Remember that just a few short weeks ago you were the same way. They may change their minds later, but if they don't, hopefully they will at least be able to accept your new religion.
Get Involved
Being around like-minded people is going to help you a lot. You will be able to develop new friendships, get your questions answered, and learn more about your new faith. Getting involved in a church is a great way to find people who are similar to you. You may want to go back to your buddy's church if you felt like it may be a good fit. If you aren't sure, then shop around a little bit. Figure out what you are looking for in a church and find a church that meets that criteria. Once you are there, getting involved in one of the small groups and attending church regularly will help ensure you become involved.
Ask Questions
Getting involved will help you get your questions answered. You may ask your pastor, your friend, or someone else from the church. You will likely have many questions in those first few weeks and months. Even those who have been religious for years still come across things they don't truly understand. The truth is, not every question will be answered. There is some mystery in religion. Still, asking your questions can help you get to understand more about your religion.
Don't Expect Everything to Change at Once
Some people get saved and expect things in their life to begin turning around immediately. The thing is, life doesn't change overnight. The good news is that while the trials and struggles in life will be there, you may find you are able to deal with them in a better way. This happens for several reasons:
You have a new community you can lean on and ask for advice or prayers. You likely feel a new sense of peace that you didn't have before. Getting saved will likely encourage you to make better decisions, which may help with some of your circumstances.
Still, try not to get discouraged when the rough parts of life happen. Unfortunately, these happen to everyone. Still, you have control over your attitude in life, and you may find that as you change your attitude, your life starts to slowly turn around as well. Remember that getting saved is about changing from the inside out, not about your circumstances magically being resolved. Telling friends and family, getting involved, and getting your questions answered will help your faith develop and help you grow spiritually.
