To the Newly Baptized: “Welcome to the Family”

So you just got baptized?

Congratulations! The waters of baptism have declared you God’s child. You’re in the family now. So it’s time to start learning what life in the family looks like.

I’m genuinely pleased to know I have another brother or sister in Christ.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you what you’ve gotten yourself into.

Over my almost fifteen years as a Christian, I’ve been increasingly convinced that we need to do a better job preparing baptized converts for the Christian life. It’s not a walk in the park.

There will be days you want to give up. There will be days when you don’t want to get out of bed. There will be days when you wonder if it’s even worth it at all.

I’m here to tell you: Yes! It is totally worth it!

Even when it doesn’t feel like it. And there’s a good chance it will not feel like it more often than it feels like it. Even when life makes no sense. It makes much more sense when God walks with you. So press on. Keep going. Persevere!

As you take another step–one more step than you thought you’d be able to take–you’ll find that the strength to go on is supernatural.

Youths may faint and grow weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary;
they will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30–31 (HCSB)

3 Practices to Help Renew Your Strength

But how do we tap into this supernatural strength day-by-day? Here are three critical practices for your Christian life that will make it easier to “walk and not faint.” (I could list more, but I believe these three are the most important.)

Persevere in Prayer

Prayer is commanded in Scripture. If we are to grow in our intimacy with God, we must pray–just like if you want to foster a relationship with another person, you must speak to him or her. Prayer is admittedly harder, since we can’t physically see God, but it is just as important.

Jesus taught us how to do it (Matthew 6:9–13) and told us that it’s our hope against temptation (Matthew 26:41). Paul told us to pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And we have a whole book of the Bible full of prayers covering the whole range of human emotions and expressions (Psalms).

If you don’t know what to pray, the Psalms encourage us to approach God as we are. They also show us how others have approached God through the ages.

Develop your prayer life! You won’t regret it!

Commit to a Church Community

Church is essential to your Christian walk. And there are many good ones out there. Catholic. Nondenominational. Methodist. Reformed. Baptist. Even home churches.

The most important thing when looking for a church is that you find a community of people committed to seeking and obeying God. They need to take the Bible seriously, and not only when it says things they already agree with. They need to do life together, take care of one another’s needs, hold one another accountable, and be known for their graciousness.

Find a place like this and your Christian life will thrive.

Continue Confession

Confession is commanded in the Bible. First John paints confession as the alternative to claiming sinless perfection. In fact, 1 John implies that failure to confess is a mark of an unbeliever.

You needn’t necessarily confess to a priest, but you should confess to a trusted friend or even (if you’re lucky) a trusted pastor. We were not made to carry around guilt and shame forever.

So confess it and let it go, and if it leads to consequences–so be it. The Christian life is not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

Confession helps you thrive in Christ!

Conclusion

If you’re interested in more tips as a new Christian, check out my second full-length album–Welcome to da Faith–and watch as your Christian life is empowered and blossoms. But remember: Prayer, Church, and Confession are three indispensable ingredients for a healthy Christian life.

God bless you in this journey.

In this with you!

Thanks for reading.