what now?

If you’ve just made Jesus the Lord and Saviour of your life, the old you, that person doomed in sin, was crucified with Christ, and you are no longer enslaved and dominated by sin. For the first time in our lives, we are enabled not to live a life of sin but to live a life fully pleasing to God. As long as we live in this world, tethered to it by our bodies, there will be a pull by our flesh to the ways of the flesh. But our story doesn’t end there, thankfully. God has given us the tools needed to win those battles and live as an overcomer. You have an exciting future ahead of you!

Jesus warned in Mark 4 about how the devil will come and attempt to steal from you the miracle that God just performed in your heart. He’ll try to steal what you just received from God. However, this can only occur if we allow him to steal from us. Jesus talked about this in a parable in Mark 4:14-20. He likened His Word as the seed planted and our hearts to the soil.

In reading this, you’ll notice that there are several types of soil Jesus mentions, which represent our hearts.

The footpath is near impossible for the seed to penetrate. This is a heart that is hardened. Satan can immediately come and steal the seed.
The rocky soil is shallow and is difficult for roots to grow. Seed may be received initially with joy, but no roots can form because the soil is shallow. Just below the soil are rocks making it impenetrable to any roots, causing what has been sown to wither and likely die.
The soil overrun by thorns crowds out whatever seed is down, choking it and inhibiting its growth. These are the cares of this life, which try to draw you away from Christ.
Finally, there is the good soil. It’s fertile, and the roots are healthy with mineral-rich nutrients. It feeds, guards, and cares for the roots.

We recognise that some soils may be difficult to sow seed into but can become fertile and healthy, nutrient-rich soil with the proper care and attention. Even in the best of soil, care must still be taken. If it isn’t, weeds will creep in and begin to choke out the desired plants. This can happen in our lives, too, if care isn't taken.

be watchful

Jesus said in John 10:10 | NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly

Whether someone is a Christian or not, the devil’s intention is to steal from us. His intent is to steal our peace, joy, health, relationships, finances, etc. If we allow him, he’ll endeavour to kill and destroy everything good in our lives. If you watch the news, it’s nothing but reporting on the devil stealing, killing, and destroying. But thankfully, Jesus didn’t leave things there. Jesus put it all on the line to give you life! The devil wants to steal, kill and destroy, and God wants to give us life, but we’re the deciding vote. We’re the one who tips the scales.

The Apostle Peter gives a similar admonition,

1 Peter 5:8-9 | NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Peter encourages us to be watchful and on guard because the devil walks about seeking whom he may devour. He will attempt to set traps to cause you to slip into your old ways of sin in his effort to trick you into walking away from God. This isn’t something for us to be fearful of. The devil is seeking those whom he may devour. Don’t allow yourself to be one of those by following Peter’s advice to be cautious and watchful of these traps and pitfalls. Make the decision which soil you'll be. Will you be the hardened footpath, rocky soil, soil crowded with thorns, or the fertile soil? How do we do that?

renew your mind

Romans 12:1-2 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Apostle Paul tells us that we need to renew our minds. Our spirit has been renewed and reborn, but our mind has not. Our mind wants to live in the past, but our spirit desires to move forward with Christ. As long as we live on this earth, we will deal with a mind that needs to be aligned with God’s word. We need to take responsibility for our minds and put in the time to renew our minds with God’s Word. You can look at it like this, our spirit is renewed, and on one side, our flesh has not and stands on the opposite side. It is our mind which stands in between these two. If we build up and strengthen our spirit to be the dominant force in our lives, our minds will follow suit, and our flesh will become the minority partner. However, if we instead feed our flesh with the cares, desires, and sins of this world, it will become dominant, and our mind will follow, and the two teamed up will dominate our lives.

The truth and the reality of our new life is found in God’s Word. In it are the keys to overcoming in life and living a life of peace and joy. If implemented as we meditate upon it, pray it and speak it over our lives by faith, it will transform us from the inside out and begin to produce the character of God in our lives. Below is a list of what God’s Word begins to produce in our lives as a new creation.

Galatians 5:22-25 | NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

God's Word

Here are some practical steps for you to take to continue to grow in your faith in God and become an overcomer in life throughout this journey and develop an unshakable foundation.

Our first step is to recognise the importance of investing in ourselves. Most of us recognise the importance of investing in our mental health these days, but it’s even more critical to invest in our spiritual health. If you do that, your mental health will follow.
Our second step is acting on that recognition and beginning to invest in your life’s foundation.

You see, it’s not good enough only to recognise the importance of investing in your spiritual health if you don’t actually invest in your spiritual health. I’m going to give you three keys, and if you begin to apply them, you’ll set yourself up to become an overcomer in this life!

1) Build your foundation upon God’s Word!

This is what Jesus said.

Matthew 7:24-27 | NLT

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

There’s nothing more important in your life than God’s word. It’s your anchor in the storms of life. It’s your compass to navigate life’s turbulent waters. It’s a lighthouse that shows you the way to safety when everything around you is in chaos. If you’re not spending time reading and studying God’s word, you’re neglecting the very thing God gave you to help you navigate and remain steady through this life.

prayer

2) Strengthen your foundation by prayer!

Jude 1:20 | MSG

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the centre of God’s love!

Next to studying your Bible, there’s nothing more vital or beneficial than prayer. When we pray according to God’s Word, by the Holy Spirit, and by faith, we unleash the power of Heaven.

James 5:16 NLT

…The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Prayer is a vital part of our walk with God. It is often when we pray that He talks to our heart and when we express our heart to Him. It is central to our relationship. It is also how we give God entrance into our lives to intervene on our behalf. In 1 John 5:14, it says that we can have confidence that God hears us when we pray according to His will. His will is His Word. As we pray His Word over our lives by faith, He responds and brings it to pass in our lives.

Listen to what the Apostle Paul says about these first 2 points.

Ephesians 6:13-18 | MSG

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting, you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long…

Paul says that the two primary weapons at your disposal to fight your battles throughout your life are God’s Word and prayer. Take full advantage of inviting God into every situation!

church

Finally, the third key is-

3) Do not neglect the assembling of the brethren!

What does that mean? It means don’t dismiss the importance in your life of attending a church that teaches the Word and allows the Holy Spirit to move and minister. If you can’t find one, please message us, and we’ll do our best to help you locate one. In this new walk with God, finding a church that can help you grow in your new faith will be a great blessing. It is a place where you can make lifelong friendships with people who will love and encourage you.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

If you follow these in your new life, I’m not guaranteeing that your life will be perfect, but I am ensuring that you’ll grow in your relationship with God and set yourself up for success in a fully pleasing life to Him. If you follow these three keys, you’ll be inviting the creator of the universe into your life to intervene on your behalf. I’m not a betting man, but it’s a sure thing by doing that. You can’t lose!