If you have prayed that prayer, that is probably your question, and a natural one. But remember, God is all-powerful and owns the universe. He really does not need anything we have. But He does want something. He desires our love and fellowship. He created us for fellowship with Himself and to enjoy Him forever. Christianity is really not a "religion" as many people think, but a "relationship."
Of course, God also wants our obedience and submission to His superior wisdom, but mainly for our own good and so that He can use us to be a blessing to others. His ways are never arbitrary and are always for a loving purpose. Below are some principles from God's Word that will strengthen your relationship with Him, help you to be a more effective servant, and help you to receive all the blessings that our loving God has for you.
· Talk with God continually. That is what prayer is - talking with God. It also means listening, always in tune to His Spirit, at home, at work, at school, or wherever. In Jesus' name, we have the incredible privilege of communicating directly with the Creator of the universe anytime, day or night! No appointment necessary. "Pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
· Read His Word, the Bible. God will speak to you through His Word. You will learn more about His nature, His ways, and His will, purposes and promises for your life. It will help understand His book if you better know the Author. The Gospel of John is a good place to start. A modern translation and a good commentary will help understanding. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63).
·
Obey Him. Our obedience demonstrates our love for
God and recognition of who He is. "Whoever
has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves
me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself
to him" (John 14:21).
God's Word tells us not to sin, which grieves God, hinders our fellowship
with Him, and harms ourselves and others. God wants us to live holy
lives, becoming more like Jesus (Romans 8:29). If you do sin, confess
it immediately, then (by faith) receive God's forgiveness and cleansing
according to 1 John 1:9. One of your first acts of obedience should
be to be baptized in water, a demonstration that your old nature has been
buried with Christ and that, coming out of the water, you have risen with
Him in His resurrection. Baptism is usually done in the local church.
·
Find fellowship with other believers. Our relationship
and fellowship with other believers (the Body of Christ) are important
to God. That is why He established the church, where we can not
only worship together but find fellowship, teaching, counseling, ministry
to our special needs, and where God can use each of us to impart these
same blessings to others. "Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching"
(Hebrews 10:25). Find a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church
where the power of the Holy Spirit is recognized. But beware of
cults, which typically deny the deity of Christ; insist that works, not
just grace, are required for salvation; are often centered around one
founder whose writings take precedence over the Bible; and sometimes will
have their own book, claimed to be sacred, in addition to the Bible.
Remember, God says in Revelation 22:18-19: "I
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone
adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this
book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of
prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and
in the holy city, which are described in this book."
· "Be filled with the Spirit," God exhorts us in Ephesians 5:18. This means to be continually empowered for God's use and a victorious life by His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). We receive this empowering by faith. See Chapter 4 of this book.
You have now entered the most exciting and fulfilling life imaginable! Learn to trust God with every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7); tell others about God's great love and "good news" (John 15:8); walk in the Spirit and do not give in to your old carnal desires (Galatians 5:16,17); and be aware of spiritual warfare and God's prescription for continuous victory over Satan (Ephesians 6:10-18).