Part Two
What are very practical steps to follow Jesus and start to be known for following Jesus? How do we start?
Memorize scripture – find a verse, preferably one that speaks to you.
- My favorite chapter is Psalm 139 so I memorized it.
- Each year I memorize the Psalm chapter that corresponds to my age. Started this when I was 46 and now I’m working on Psalm 51.
- I have all kinds of verses in OT and NT that I write down and have worked on memorizing. Also it’s very good for my brain.
- One of my favorites is “let my conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt so I know how to respond.” Colossians 4:6. I repeat this one often to myself when I need to have challenging conversations. Because I have this memorized and repeat it to myself, it then changes how I interact with others.
Read Scripture Old Testament & New Testament – I mean really, how can you say you follow Jesus if you don’t read His book? Are you going to understand it? Probably not but read anyways. I don’t understand how my phone works but I use it anyways.
- Set aside a specific time each day and read or listen to the Bible.
- Follow a reading plan, listen to it on a commute – that’s how I started.
- Methodically read it.
- I do a yearly plan.
- Each morning, I read a chapter in the OT and a chapter in the NT. I started at Genesis and Matthew and once I finish that testament then I start over which means it takes me longer to do OT than NT.
- Most nights, I read a chapter in the Gospels and Acts before bed. I started in Matthew and then nightly read a chapter working my way through them then I start over.
Spend time with other people: Community – we are not supposed to do this walk alone and we aren’t created to do life alone.
- Reach out to a friend, make time for coffee, lunch, walks. Maybe once a month.
- Send notes to others when they do something nice. Not a text but a handwritten note.
- Welcome neighbors or friends into your home – yep INVITE them over.
- Call someone – not a text but a phone call. Doesn’t even have to be regular but call someone just to say hi.
- Don’t wait for someone else to start, you start.
Pray out loud and for others – I think we have stopped praying but we thought it needed to be elaborate, learned, or “official.” This is such a loss in the Church and affects those outside the Church. Just pray – not in a different voice, not using too many words but just a prayer offered up to our Creator on behalf of someone else.
- A friend mentioned they are not feeling well. Quickly say “Jesus heal my friend. Amen” and move onto the next topic of conversation.
- A coworker has a family problem and shares that with you. Say “Jesus please intervene in this situation and guide XXXXX.” Then right back to work.
- A child is worried about a test at school. Say “Lord help XXXX to have peace during his test. Help him recall quickly what he’s learned and if he doesn’t know it, guide him to guess well.” I have prayed this one MANY times over my children.
- I’ve texted prayers to friends if that was the only way I could get it to them! Whatever works.
- Be known as someone who prays. Not like religious leaders but as someone who has a relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit our helper. Talking real life with God – a dialogue with God – that’s what prayer is.
Get Help
I didn’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve felt that way too. And honestly, that’s okay. Jesus never asked us to have all the answers — He just asked us to follow Him.
One thing that helped me was the book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. It’s not complicated or over-spiritual. It’s practical. It gives real steps on how to actually live like Jesus in the middle of everyday life and it’s written for a real person. If you don’t know where to begin, this might be a good place to start.
Start Somewhere
So this week, today, what can I do or say with others that shows I follow Jesus? Not just believe but FOLLOW. We all have to start somewhere and Jesus meets us wherever that somewhere is, if we ask Him to help us. He will and He does. I’m living proof.