What Now?
By:Shane’i Carmen
When I first began my journey as a Christian, I remember being 14 and attending Church with a friend of mine from school. One Sunday I was crying uncontrollably and felt led to the altar to get saved. I know it wasn’t me, because I was a shy young lady and did not like any attention on me and this Church was huge. I was being led by the Holy Spirit to stand up and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I was chosen. Once I accepted Christ so many things changed for me and it wasn’t for good, (that is an entirely different post for a different day.) After getting saved especially at that age, I had no clue what it looked like to be a Christian. I wasn’t being led or told the things I should be doing; I was not told about reading the Bible or the importance of having a close relationship with God. I wasn’t told how the attacks of the enemy would come or that I needed to put on my armor every day.
Ephesians 6:10-12
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Getting Saved Is Deeper Than You Think
Accepting Christ is more than just declaring it, it’s about living it, your life transforming and you becoming a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!
Now, I continued to go to Church every Sunday with my friend and her family and the next decade or more would prove to be a roller coaster ride of what I now know as attacks of the enemy, paired with lessons from the Lord. Though I would continue to live life how I wanted, God was always right there with me. He was protecting, providing, and loving me even when I had no clue how to love myself and was living a self-destructive lifestyle.
Deuteronomy 31:8
8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Transformation Is Possible
After many years of living according to the world’s standards, I knew I needed more.
1 John 2: 16-17
16 For everything in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
I was empty, depleted, lost, angry, and now a mother with 2 kids. I returned to the Church I got saved at in my late 20’s and was given what I needed at the time, but still no real guidance, no one pouring into a lost soul who yearned and needed help. I eventually left that Church due to feeling unseen and not knowing the steps I needed to get closer to God. My cousin who attended Church with her husband invited me and my sister to come and this is where my life began to truly change. This Church was smaller, but I could feel the love of not just the congregation but the Love of God. The Pastor taught the word in a way I could understand and if I had questions, I now had people to ask. Now, it was not about me just going to this Church and everything instantly changing, it was a literal transformation after years of going and I’m still growing. It was understanding that where you fellowship matters and being a part of a community of other believers can help you transform. I wasn’t judged because of my past instead I was loved through it. I was able to have Biblical Counseling, I received help with my children, I had people to talk to, cry with and people who wanted to see me healed and chains broken off me
Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
Your Relatioship with God Matters
Understanding that more than fellowship your personal relationship with God is the most important aspect of this walk. Going to Church is the first step, but a relationship with God is every day. Learning the word of God, applying it to your life, and living to serve God is what He wants of us. I always used to say, “I don’t understand the Bible” (King James Version), but a huge part of that was not being open or truly trying to understand it. I started by doing devotionals on the Bible Gateway app, all the devotionals have scriptures tied to it so I would look at the scriptures in either the New Living Translation (NLT) or The New International Version (NIV.) This broke the verses down into simpler terms that made it easy for me to understand. I would also look at the verses in King James (KJV) as well, just so it would tie everything together for me. The more I began to understand through the devotionals and sermons I desired more and more. Realizing that the word of God shows us who God is, what He has done, what He can do, how His power is real and promises for His people to be true. As you go through life you begin to see how the word of God, invokes change, transformation, gives you hope for day to day and Eternal Life with Jesus.
Change– Ephesians 4:22-24
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Transformation – Romans 12:2
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Hope- Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Eternal Life- John 3:16
16 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.
Getting saved and accepting Jesus as your personal savior is one the most life changing things you can do. Life as a believer doesn’t mean that everything will be perfect, but it means we are serving a God who died for our sins, a God who wants us to spread his word, a God that can do what man can’t, a God that wants you to be closer to Him than anything else. To do that you have to have a relationship with Him and seek Him with your whole heart.
What this looks like:
- Find a Church home- allow the Holy Spirit to lead you the right place
- Read your Word- spend time getting to know Jesus
- Apply the Word to your life- this is when true transformation can begin
- Prayer- talk to God, there is no specific way, just have a conversation with him
- Worship- become devoted to God because of His greatness
- Faith, Hope, Trust- put your complete confidence in Him
Transformation does not happen overnight! Keep your eyes on God and watch how your life will begin to change!!