How Do I Begin a Relationship with God?
Beginning a relationship with God is not about memorising particular words; it is about turning back to him and trusting Christ. Here is a simple explanation, and some first steps to take wisely.
Perhaps you have read about Jesus Christ, and something in your heart is saying: I want to know him, not just know about him. And perhaps you are asking: where do I start? Do I need a particular place, a particular person, or particular words? The answer is simpler than you think, and deeper too.
God is the one who begins
Before you ever looked for God, he was looking for you. And Christ has made a promise to everyone who comes to him:
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
No past can keep you out, and no question will get you turned away. The door is open because Christ opened it through his death and resurrection.
Repentance: turning back
Repentance means standing honestly before God, confessing your sins to him, and turning back to him, wanting to leave the path that has taken you away from him. Repentance does not mean fixing yourself first and then coming; it means coming as you are, and handing him what you cannot fix on your own. And his promise to the one who repents is clear:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Faith: trusting Christ
Faith does not mean understanding everything; it means trusting Jesus Christ: that he died for your sins and rose from the dead, and receiving him as the Lord and Saviour of your life. The Gospel of John says of those who do this:
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
You are not joining an idea; you are entering a relationship with the Father through Christ. And salvation here is a gift you receive, not a wage you earn (see Ephesians 2:8-9).
How do I say this to God?
There are no magic words, and God looks at the heart. You can speak to him now in your own words, in any language or dialect, anywhere, even in silence. Tell him what is in your heart: that you have sinned against him, that you need his forgiveness, that you trust Jesus Christ who died for you and rose again, and that you want to follow him.
And if you would like some words to help you, here is a simple prayer you can say sincerely: “God, I confess that I have sinned against you and I need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn back to you in repentance, and I receive Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Teach me to follow him.”
It is not the words that save, but the Christ you trust. And if you have prayed from your heart, this is the beginning of the journey, not the end.
What next? First steps, taken wisely
- Read the Gospel of John, one chapter a day.
- Talk to God every day in simple words: thank you, forgive me, help me.
- Do not walk alone. You can write to us, even using a pseudonym, so that we can pray with you and answer your questions.
Look after yourself wisely. Do not rush to tell anyone about your faith before thinking carefully about your situation and your safety; you can write to us so that we can think it through and pray about it with you. Wisdom is neither fear nor denial. And read Your Safety First before you write to us.
The Bible says: “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Believing with the heart and confessing with the mouth go together. Confessing that Jesus is Lord begins honestly before God, and then before believers you trust. The Lord who told his disciples to be wise and innocent (see Matthew 10:16) does not ask you to rush into danger; he gives you wisdom to know when to share your faith, with whom, and how.
In time you will come to know other steps in life with Christ: fellowship with other believers, because the church is one family that Christ brings together, and baptism, which is the sign of new life in him. These are important steps, and you do not have to settle everything today. You can ask us about them in a message, and we will think with you about what suits your circumstances and your safety.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that you never cast out anyone who comes to you. I come to you today just as I am. Forgive me, receive me, and teach me to follow you with wisdom and love. Amen.
Next Step
Have you recently come to faith, or are you still thinking and asking? Write to us, even using a pseudonym; we do not ask for your real name, your city or your phone number. A small team from the church reads your message, prays for you and answers you from God's Word when they can, though replies may take a while. And if you would like, one of us can walk with you by message through your first steps, answering your questions and praying with you.
We are not an emergency service. If you are in danger right now, first contact your local emergency services or someone you trust who is near you, and read what to do if you are in danger.
Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).