Following Jesus, a new beginning...
To be made right with God is to surrender to his love and his purpose for our lives. It is a turning from an attachment to the world to a relationship with Jesus, who leads us into a secure attachment with God by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is who has drawn your heart to love God again tonight - the one who is calling you home to the one who made you and who loves you like a son or daughter.
Romans 10:9 says: “If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Salvation is God’s free gift to us. The Bible refers to salvation as an orphan being adopted into the best family ever. One who was defenseless on their own, being called into a family (God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and a less-than-perfect Church doing her best). We are found in the Father and formed in this family by eternal love.
Through Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection from the dead, he offers anyone who would turn to him irrevocable acceptance into the family of God, and he empowers his followers to live a life wholly and fully to reflect God to the rest of His creation.
If you are not sure whether you know God as a Father, or you know in fact that you need Jesus, you can choose to follow Him right now by praying a prayer of surrender to Jesus. This is a moment of new beginning. You can trust it, and you can rest assured God has led you here out of his love for you. He draws us like a good father, and we simply respond. This is how good he is. You can trust he has seen you, has heard the cry of your heart, is drawing you, and now has the power to do for you what you could not do for yourself - forgive sin and offer forever-life-changing love.
Dear Jesus, I’m praying this prayer because I know I need You. I want to trust that You love me, accept me and will forgive me. I receive Your love and grace for me - the free gift that it is - and I ask that You would be my Heavenly Father, and Lord of my life. Help me believe in You and love You every day, and help me to show the world what You are like and how great Your love is. Thank you for receiving me entirely, as I am, and I ask you to baptize me in your love.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
WOW! To pray these words with a surrendered heart to Jesus is the beginning of the most important voyage you will ever embark on: the journey of life in the Father, friendship with Jesus, and joy in the Spirit. Please let us know if you’ve just responded to Jesus and prayed this prayer by letting us know below.
We are thrilled you’ve decided to take this significant step.