Bear Valley Church

This is a once-for-all decision. A "process" follows, but you have to start by inviting Him into your life and accepting that He paid the debt you owe for your sin but could never pay yourself.

Salvation in Jesus is a totally free gift, and receiving it is as easy as saying, "Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and Your payment for it on the cross. I now ask You to be my forgiver and my God." But you must respond personally and deliberately, or the gift will remain unopened and unenjoyed.

Some Practical Helps Keeping in mind the previous questions, here are some practical ideas to guide you in your spiritual search:

• Ask God to reveal Himself if you're not sure He's there.
  
• Read the Bible—start with the New Testament books of John, Acts, and Romans.
  
• Talk to people who display a genuine relationship with God—those who obviously love Him and who live by a different set of principles.
  
• Spend time in nature, observing and experiencing God's creation.
  
• Question things everybody seems to take for granted—be a lover of truth.
  
• Ask God-followers why they believe what they believe and how they know their beliefs are true.
  
• Recognize that following God must make sense: truth may go beyond reason, but not against it.
  
• Scour the shelves at a Christian bookstore or church library for credible authors, or ask your Christian friends for a list of authors who have inspired them in their walk with God.
  
• Write down your questions, especially about what you read in the Bible, and take them to a knowledgeable Christian who respects your seeking process.
  
• Know your presuppositions—the things you already believe—and try not to let them interfere with your quest for the truth.
  
• Stay open to actually finding what you're looking for: fear of commitment and change can keep you from finding the truth.
  
• Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings during your search.
  
• Know your personal issues: your past will profoundly influence your present ability to be objective.
  Remember that you don't have to know everything to know something.
  
• Determine to seek for a specific period of time, and continually evaluate your progress. Then try to reach an appropriate conclusion.
  
• Act on what you decide.

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