“For many years I spoke to my distant cousin about our need of a Savior. When he visited me recently and I once again urged him to receive Christ, his immediate response was: “I would like to accept Jesus and join the church, but not yet. I live among people of other faiths. Unless I relocate, I will not be able to practice my faith well.” He cited persecution, ridicule, and pressure from his peers as excuses to postpone his decision.

His fears were legitimate, but I assured him that whatever happened, God would relationshipnot abandon him. I encouraged my cousin not to delay but to trust God for care and protection. He gave up his defenses, acknowledged his need of Christ’s forgiveness, and trusted Him as his personal Savior.

When Jesus invited people to follow Him, they too offered excuses—all about being busy with the cares of this world (Luke 9:59-62). The Lord’s answer to them urges us not to let excuses deprive us of the most important thing in life: the salvation of our souls” – Lawrence Darmani

“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

DECIDE FOR JESUS TODAY:

Jesus said, “Follow me.” The Son of God invited simple, common, broken, imperfect people to follow him. This means that somehow, even with our shortcomings and failures, God is willing to accept us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The most important step in your faith journey is making the decision to follow Jesus. Will you leave your old life and receive the new life he wants to give you? How you answer this question will determine the rest of your journey.

Being a follower of Jesus is not about being good enough. It is certainly not about being perfect. It is simply about accepting the fact that God loved you enough to send his Son to die for you. Are you willing to respond by following him?

It does not matter how long you’ve been sinning, it does not matter how bad your life has been, or the kind of sin you have committed, God can forgive all kinds of sins, the plaster is wider than the wound, His grace is sufficient, He came to the world, died on the cross, and resurrected so you can have eternal life.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Your decision now will determine where you will spend your eternity (in heaven or in hell)

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live” Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”. Mathew 11:28 (NLT)

Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. John 3:3 (KJV)

Take the following steps to be born again and have a new life in JESUS CHRIST:

ADMIT you are a sinner (as we all are).
“For all have sinned and have fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

BELIEVE that God sent Jesus to pay the ultimate price for our sin, offering a new life of forgiveness.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

CONFESS that Jesus is Lord and your one and only connection to God.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).

There is no magic prayer or ritual. All you have to do is receive God’s free gift of salvation. Admit, Believe and Confess.

You can say this simple prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I have seen myself as a sinner, I am sorry for all the things I have done wrong in my life (take a few moment to ask His forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). Please forgive me and cleanse me with your blood.
Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. I confess and accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Let all the works of darkness be destroyed in my life.
Thank you Lord for accepting me as your child and for writing my name in the book of life. Thank you Lord Jesus, Thank you heavenly father, in Jesus name I pray (amen)

If you have prayed this prayer wholeheartedly, I want to happily welcome you to God’s sweet family. As you have received forgiveness, you must forgive all those that has despitefully used and hurt you. The bible says forgive and you shall be forgiven!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” 2 Cor. 5:17 (KJV)

NEXT STEPS:

  1. Tell someone (others) about your new faith in Jesus. When you tell others, then it becomes a reality to you. Let your friends and families hear the good news.
  2. Read the bible. The bible is the word of God, read it daily, you can start to read few verses each day, you can start from the book of John (in the new testament). Then have a plan to read the whole bible, reading three and a half chapters daily will make you read the bible through in one year! Yes you can do it!
  3. Start to pray. Pray daily, pray in the morning before you begin the day, pray before you sleep, pray to him in songs, confession, thanksgiving and intercession (praying for others)
  4. Join a bible believing Church. It is important to be part of a group of Christians who worship God in truth.
  5. FURTHER READING: Please write these verses of the bible down and take time to read them. Colossians 3: 1-17 ,   Romans 6: 1-14,    1 John 3: 1-10.  Revelation 22: 1 – 21

 

I’m your friend,
Paul Ojomu.