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Deciding to give your life to Christ is hands down the best decision that anyone can make in their entire life. There is no other moment in time that can compare. Sadly, sometimes we see people come to the altar, get saved, and somehow someway, they end up backsliding. If you know anything about my journey, then you know that this was my story. For seven long years, I was in and out of a relationship with Jesus. I sincerely thought I loved the Lord, and I had a desire to please Him. Still, time and time again, I would always make the wrong choice. In retrospect, there were some common mistakes that I kept making. New Christians! I am *screaming* welcome to the family!!! I am so happy you were brave enough to trust Jesus and take this journey. As your new sister, I do not want you to choose the long route like I did. I am giving you an official heads up so that you can experience everything God has planned for you in your Christian walk.
Mistake #1 – Not Separating Yourself
Okay…I get it! You love your friends and close associates. They have been there for you and a part of your life for some time. But do I have permission to be completely honest with you? If those friends are not saved, that would mean you both are on two different paths now. The closer you begin to walk with God, the more these differences will start to become apparent. New Christians have to be especially cautious with their connection. The last thing you want is friendships that are going to tempt you to go back to the places that you just came from. You must resist temptation. You don’t need friends that are going to invite you to the club, offer you drinks, and tease you about your commitment to refrain from sex until marriage. While separation may not be easy, it is often necessary to get you to the next level with God. Am I saying that all unsaved people are bad? Of course not! Am I saying you should not love or even communicate with someone that is not saved? No way! If you did that, how would they learn about Jesus? I am saying that you will need to make your stance known and create boundaries so that you do not end up in reverse. You may even be required to separate yourself for some time. Pray for your unbelieving friends, love them, encourage them, but I will repeat it, know your boundaries.
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
Mistake #2 – Not Being Intentional
Every single one of us was born into sin. Unfortunately, this is a part of being human. Yet when you gave your life to God, you received a new nature and the Holy Spirit. Being new Christians does not mean that some magic trick happens, and you are instantly changed. There are still certain habits and patterns that you have developed for over one or even two decades of your life. While God’s Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome, that does not mean that we should not do our part and be intentional about resisting temptation. One of my greatest battles was music. I enjoyed the sounds of Drake, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, and the list goes on. However, I felt a leading to surrender this area of my life to Jesus. It was tempting to continue to listen to these types of music since I had developed a habit of doing so every day. I had to become intentional about breaking this habit. Ultimately, I deleted all of those songs from my cell phone, got rid of cd’s in my car, and downloaded gospel music instead. Sure enough, in time, the desire to listen to secular music completely left my life, but it all started with me being intentional.
… Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
James 4:4
Mistake #3 – Not Renewing the Mind Consistently
In addition to breaking old habits, it is time to be intentional about developing new ones. As new Christians, you will now need to learn how to understand God and His desires for your life. Here’s a link to a really neat Bible. The Bible is God’s message to humanity. In it, God instructs us, displays his love, corrects us, and provides every solution that we need for living here on earth. As you read your Word, you will find that God’s ways are much different than what you are accustomed to. This is why renewing your mind must be done daily. I find that when I am not consistent in reading my Bible, my thoughts tend to drift away slowly. I do not always realize it instantly, but this is the danger in not renewing your mind consistently. Just as when a newborn baby is born into the world, that baby needs to eat every few hours to ensure healthy growth, this is the same as new Christians. You need your spiritual milk (God’s Word), frequently and consistently (1 Peter 2:2).
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
My prayer is that you will avoid these common mistakes that new Christians often make. I’m here for you as you learn how to walk this journey. Most importantly, God is in your corner, fighting for you and loving you. There is greater ahead of you, and God’s plans for you are perfect. As always, Be Strong, Be Courageous, Serve God Wholeheartedly Gilberta Thompson P.S. If you want to read more about my journey, grab a copy of my book here.
