I was watching a video the other day.  There was a huge plane carrying paratroopers, and standing at the door was a jump master. He leaned out an open door to make sure everything was safe. Then a light inside the plane turned green, and a line of young soldiers started jumping through the door.  Outside the plane you could see the paratroopers streaming out then gliding to the ground.  At the end of the video, you saw these young men, now full of confidence, having their jump wings pinned on their chest.  They had conquered a great task, and now they were being rewarded for their actions.

This reminded me of how I approach a lot of struggles in my life. I stand at the edge of the door ready to jump only to feel overwhelmed, afraid, or just too stubborn to cross the threshold and fully commit. As I get older I have started to realize that every time I have crossed the threshold, God has showed up and given me exactly what I needed to keep going. Every time I have backed away from the door, has only led to discomfort and sometimes pain in my life.  God will only reward faithfulness, and faithfulness is only fully realized in action. So if you want change in your life, you are going to have to get off your butt and do something.

Where do I start?
I don’t know about you, but getting started is often the hardest part.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed or distracted without clear instructions. Well, let me help you out. Let’s start with the basics. Read your Bible every day, and pray every day.

Don’t know where to start reading? Start with one of the gospels: Mathew, Mark, or Luke; then move on to the book of John. Don’t know what to pray? Start with the Lord’s Prayer. This is a prayer that can and should be prayed every day. It doesn’t have to be your only prayer, but it is the exact way that Jesus told us to pray. It doesn’t get any more simple than that.  (I have a PDF of the Lord’s Prayer for easy printing with an explanation of what each part means.)

Once you’ve got that down, find a church. This one isn’t always easy, but I believe that it is very important. It does three things. First, it gives us the support and encouragement of other believers. Second, preaching should help us better understand the Bible, and finally, it shows our commitment to dedicate our time to God.

Finally, as we grow in our relationship with God, we have to spread this to others. So many people who are Christians think that we get saved so that God will bless or reward us. In Scripture, we are told that God blesses us when we follow Him, but the true manifestation of our love for God and God’s love for us is showing His love and message to others.

So if you want to see God working in your life, have a relationship with God by praying, try and understand His plan by studying your Bible, find fellow believers, and finally follow God by showing His love for others.

Doing it Alone
I know for some of the people who read these blogs, you are the only one in your family that is really trying to be a good Christian. Some of you are being called to make changes in your family, but you do this alone. You are like explorers cutting a path through the jungle all by yourself. Sometimes it is lonely.  Sometimes it is overwhelming, and you are filled with doubt. Know that God sees you and will reward you for your faithfulness.  In Galatians 6:9 it says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” So to all Christians out there: stay the course and finish the fight.

– Written by Jeremiah

Meet the authors.
Listen to us discuss our blogs on our YouTube channel.

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13

As you say this prayer, reflect on the meaning and how it applies to you.  Say this prayer every day, even several times a day.

⁹“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

God is our good father, our dad who loves and cares for us.  He is also righteous and faithful.

¹⁰“Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

I agree to His will and His plan – not just in heaven, not just on earth but His plan in my life. I know His plan is good, and I will follow it.

¹¹“Give us this day our daily bread.”

We can pray to God for even the basic things in our life, like food bills or our health.

¹²“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

If we have been wronged or have unforgiveness in our life, we forgive those people acknowledging that we have hurt others as well and ask for our own forgiveness. We do this because God has forgiven us.

¹³“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:”

We know that God does not tempt us.  We acknowledge our own weaknesses to be drawn into sin.  We recognize the temptations and ask that He help guide us away from these destructive things in our life.

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.”

We thank Him for what He has done and acknowledge that He will continue to do it.