What to expect next

The Holy Spirit comes into your life.

You may not feel different now that you have said the prayer, but you can trust what Jesus told the disciples. He has sent the Helper that He may abide with us forever. (John 14:16) That Helper is the Holy Spirit. He will be with you and guide you until the time Jesus takes you home in the Rapture. Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit isn’t received by the world because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but He will be revealed to you because He dwells with you and will be in you.

Assurance of Salvation and Eternal Life

There are many Scriptures that tell us how we can be sure we are saved. One favorite is: “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Paul said it this way in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

How will we spend eternity? Revelation 21:4 tells us: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Opposition

Expect opposition from people who don’t know Jesus as their Savior. They will give you many reasons why you are wrong to believe in Him. Since we are in a spiritual war, expect spiritual battles.

Satan knows his time is short, and he is in a rage (Rev. 12:12). His demons (fallen angels) are looking to see who is serving the Lord. They will attempt to stop anything you do for God. Doubt and discouragement are two of Satan’s favorite weapons. Do not let him steal your joy, slow you down, or hold you back from doing what God wants you to do.

God

Expect God to move. James 1:6-7 notes that believers should pray expecting that God will move. Yes, Satan will attack, but God will prevail. God has, and will continue to move on behalf of, and through, His people. We may not always be able to see His working, but we can know He has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11) and He is at work. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us how to overcome the enemy: “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”

How can I be saved?

1. Admit you are a Sinner

Understand that God has not been first place in your life and ask Him to forgive your sins. Scripture notes that God loves us, and that Jesus will forgive the sins that are confessed to Him.

• “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from every wrong.” (1 John 1:9)

2. Believe in Jesus as your Savior

Believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins and that He rose again and is alive today.

• “If you confess that Jesus is your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

3. Confess the Jesus is Lord

Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be Lord of your life.

• Romans 10:9 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.

• Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Remember, restoring our relationship with God is not based on anything we do, but on what Jesus already did for us!

Here is a sample prayer:
“Dear God, thank you for loving me, even when I didn’t love You. I realize I need You in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and I ask You to forgive me. Thank you for sending Your Son to die on the cross for me. Please help me to understand Your will for my life, and how I can live to please you. Please come into my life and make me a new person. I accept Your gift of salvation. Please help me to grow now as a Christian. In the name of Your Son Jesus, I ask these things, Amen!”

Why do I need to be saved

You may be thinking, I’m a good person and a good God would not leave me behind and take some of my friends and family members. That does not seem fair. What God has done, and what God always does, is fair and just.

God is good, and He gave the world a warning. In John 3:16 we read, “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.” Only a good God would do that.

What is Prayer

The most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God.” Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God.

Beginning in Genesis, you are immediately introduced to a love story of a sovereign, merciful, loving God, who is the Creator of all things. The Bible contains the very words of God, which means they are real, they are true, and they are trustworthy (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible also reveals who we are compared to a holy and perfect God. We are sinful and broken in our natural state, separated from God. But the great news the Bible tells us is that we can be redeemed through a savior, Jesus Christ.