So, you have encountered Jesus or even accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, but what about following Jesus?
The first step was letting Jesus in your heart, now it’s time to let your heart follow Him.
How do you do that?
It sounds a little intimidating at first; however, the richness of the Christian life is found in the decision to not just agree with Jesus but to begin your walk with Him.
A majority of self-proclaimed born-again Christians don’t actually let their faith dictate any part of their lives.
Christianity is most commonly like a badge of honor worn, while daily life continues as it would without the badge being added.
Did you know that Christ died to save your life, and to change your life!
Life isn’t about chasing happiness anymore…
It’s about daily understanding that God never stops chasing after you!
If you believe that just accepting Jesus is as good as it gets, you have been misinformed.
It gets so much better!
Letting your life be changed by the love of Jesus; that is when you truly start living!
Would you like to start experiencing life more like how God intended for you?
If you’re ready, please keep reading this post!
I’m going to break this down as practically as I can…
Following Jesus: What it Means and Practical Steps to Start!
First question:
What does following Jesus mean?
I don’t mean physically walk in Jesus footsteps, though if you apply that concept spiritually, it is a better picture of what this experience will look like.
If I was telling you to follow me, essentially I’m telling you to do something as I’m doing it.
It’s observing an example and doing the same things yourself.
Following Jesus means observing His ways and applying them to your actions.
How can we watch Jesus and do all things like He does?
Jesus actually explains this in John 13:12-17, after He humbly washed the feet of His followers.
“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
John 13:12-17 NKJV.
Jesus’ life is the example, and we see a reflection of Christ’s love throughout the entire Old Testament.
It’s consistent and true, from age to age.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV.
Which means that Jesus’ example remains true, even today!
Having such an unwavering example helps us to observe and reciprocate; wouldn’t you agree?
His consistency provides a safety that gives us peace and confidence to follow.
Does this mean that our only way to observe Jesus’ example is when reading God’s word?
If this is the case, I might not be able to follow His example well, because I spend a lot more of my hours working at a job that won’t allow me to read the gospels all day.
The word of God is living and active, but reading the Bible all day is not even what Jesus did to live a perfect life.
Jesus spent more time serving and actively living out God’s word, than He did reading the scriptures.
So, how do we keep mindful of Jesus’ example in the moments we aren’t reading the Bible?
Jesus tells us that too!
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 14:26 NKJV.
Pretty cool, huh?
He didn’t leave an easy example to follow, but He surely made it simple.
I still want to break it down more, because I know how it is to desire to go deeper with Jesus while still not knowing fully what that looks like.
Here are some
practical steps to start following Jesus!
Slow down
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV.
When we are the decision-makers in our lives, it’s easy to quickly analyze a situation and call the shots based on our own understanding.
However, when following Jesus, you don’t want to make your own footprints, you want to follow His.
So, don’t rush to make a decision that you believe makes the most sense to you.
Slow down, spend time in the scriptures, ask the LORD where He wants to lead you and trust Him to .
Remember that God’s Holy Spirit is your Helper and is ready to help you take the right next steps.
Minimize distractions
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:2 NKJV.
It’s natural when trying to follow in a certain way, that opposing leaders would draw your attention and steer you in another direction.
The things in life have such a way of getting our attention.
It’s usually fear that tries to convince us that we should stop following Jesus’ ways.
Jesus’ ways bring so much peace, but it’s often tied to patience, which gives fear an opportunity to push you to call the shots yourself.
A way to combat the fear pulling you in other directions is to keep your eyes on Jesus.
Minimize the time you spend focusing on the world and its ways and turn your attention back to the One you truly want to follow.
As practical as I can get…
Spend less time on social media or entertainment media and more time in God’s word.
Media is made for the purpose of grabbing your attention and leaving you to follow their propositions.
Unfortunately, media plays on your weaknesses and lack, which can cause anxiety, fear and a sense of urgency to fill a hole inside you, that they only emphasize.
No, I am not just being paranoid; this is actually the most fundamental marketing strategy and all media is in the business of selling things to you.
(I am not saying that there isn't a place for marketing, I am just saying that it should not own your attention.)
On the other hand, God’s word fills you with safety, fullness and a sense of peace in knowing that you are never far from the God who loves you so much that He gave everything to save you.
Guard your heart
“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV.
Our hearts are pretty vulnerable and the devil often plays on its tenderness, to keep you from looking beyond what you are feeling.
Practically keeping your heart means be mindful of your emotions and be in-tune to what it’s expressing to you.
Have you ever heard this phrase…
“Follow your heart.”
It sounds great until you realize that your heart is truly all over the place.
Your heart has a great capacity for all emotions!
Which doesn’t just include compassion, kindness and service…
Most often your heart will fight for the good of yourself since your personal experiences will influence your emotions first.
Our hearts naturally lean towards protecting ourselves, at even the cost of another person.
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.””
Mark 7:21-23 NKJV.
I know that’s a heavy thought to carry, but that’s why we are called to do things differently.
Not to follow our hearts, but to lead our hearts!
This is why we need to stay mindful of our hearts and not be quick to let our emotions cause us to act in any way.
These are some practical steps you can take to start following Jesus.
It is most important though to trust the LORD, in all of these things!
Practice trusting God over trusting yourself.
When you trust Him, He is able to lead you to experience deepest peace, truest joy and purpose beyond what you have ever imagined.
These things are only found when you let Jesus lead the way and you follow in pure faith; knowing that if He’s leading you, nothing in this world can steal these things from you.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:31-39 NKJV.
Rest in knowing that no weapon formed against you will prosper! (Isaiah 54:17)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2025 by HUNGRY STILL?
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The
Hungry Still?
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Everyone has a hungry soul;
We are here to help you fill your soul with the only thing that will actually satisfy it, and point your attention to the One who never stops paying attention to you!
