by Kari Blaylock
Recently, I became a Christian…
In the summer of 2015 I became a Christian. It was a decision that had been a long time coming, but it was not until August that I made the commitment – in my heart – and was baptized. In my journey so far, I’ve had so many new experiences and learned so much that I can’t explain them all in less than a novel, but here are a few points:
You Really DO Have to Read the Bible.
This may seem like an obvious one, but for me it was not. I thought it would be enough to hear the verses during services and listen to the expertise of everyone else who had read the Bible.
I soon realized I was missing out. I could not engage in conversations the way I wanted to, I did not understand the connections that others were making, and I felt that my walk was shallow. Worst of all? I came to understand that I could not really hear God because I did not understand His word, which in turn meant that I did not really understand HIM.
It’s Not That Hard to Become Involved in the Church.
Serving in the church has been, and continues to be, extremely important to me. For, as it says in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” (See how I’ve been reading my Bible?) I feel a greater sense of accomplishment using my talents and time for Christ’s church than I ever have using them towards other endeavors.
But when I first joined the church, I thought that it would be very difficult for me to volunteer because I am so shy. However, once I showed my willingness, God took care of the rest. Besides, when you have something to be responsible for at church, you’re less likely to skip out on Sunday so…bonus!
There’s a Lot of Information to Absorb, and That’s Okay.
I felt extremely overwhelmed at first; it seemed like there was so much to learn and so much I didn’t understand. But I quickly found that God was giving me endless amounts of resources.
Any time I have a question, it doesn’t take long before the right person comes along who can answer it, or I find the right article or the right book. I really enjoy discussing things with my family, my church family, and friends. The more questions I ask, the more I realize that other people have questions and are on similar paths of discovery.
Furthermore, the more I learn the more I want to learn, which is good because I’m always ready to learn!
Like I said above, as someone new to being a Christian, I’m discovering new things all the time — new ways to interact with others, express my opinions, even about forgiveness. This path that I am on has been tricky at times, but it is so exciting to see what God has in store for my life!
Did you enjoy this post? If you have questions about following Christ, let us know!