Becoming a follower of Jesus is referred to by many terms in the Bible. This life-transformation is described in such dramatic terms as becoming a “new creation,” being “born again,” and being “saved.”

For many, this conversion happens rather instantaneously; a lot of people can describe the place and time where they experienced this radical change. For others, it is more like a process — a conversion that is very real and life-changing, yet something that happens over time.

We must turn from those things in our lives that we know are harmful to ourselves and others and displeasing to God. The Bible calls those things “sin,” and “sin” is anything that doesn’t live up to God’s ideals. The Bible says that all of us have fallen short of God’s intentions for us and a relationship with God through Jesus usually begins with our acknowledgment that we are not who we ought and want to be spiritually. We must place our faith in Jesus, trusting our lives to Him and not to our own attempts at being good. This faith involves believing that Jesus is Who He claims to be — the Son of God who became human to demonstrate the love of God. We must believe that His death makes possible our forgiveness, and that His resurrection from the dead makes possible our abundant and eternal life.

This belief cannot be merely an intellectual decision. It must be a deep belief — belief so profound that we stake our lives, in this world and the next, on it. We must accept God’s gift of forgiveness — His unconditional, undeserved, unlimited love. A conversion experience depends upon our willingness to accept the new beginning that God offers us through Jesus. We must be willing to surrender our wills to the will of God. That means a humble willingness to follow the promptings of God’s Spirit, as best we can understand them, in both big and small decisions.

If it is your sincere desire to receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart.