1. Acknowledge that you are a sinner. 

A brief reading of the Bible makes it clear that all of us have sinned against God in a variety of ways. The Bible summarizes mankind's condition with these words, "There is none righteous, no not one....all have sinned" (Romans 3:10, 23). John the apostle said, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8). The first step to experience God's forgiveness and have your relationship restored with Him is to acknowledge (or confess) your sinfulness to Him. Click here if you think you are a "good person."

2. Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you.

The Bible says, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved" (Romans 10:9). Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

3. Change direction. Turn away from your sinful way of life.

The Bible says, "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent [repent means to change direction, i.e., turn away from your sins], because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:30-31). If you are willing to repent, God will begin to change you and help you live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Do you want to know God? Do you want to experience the kind of life He designed for you to live? Do you want your sins forgiven? Do you want to spend eternity with God when you die? You can have your sins forgiven right now and begin experiencing a relationship with God today. Pray something like this:

"God, I confess that I am a sinner. I realize that I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You, Jesus, paid the price for my sins on the cross. I believe that You rose again from the dead and want to have a relationship with me. Thank You. Come into my life. Forgive me of all my sins. Be my Lord, be my God. I want to turn away from my sins and begin to follow You. Help me to do that. Change me. Empower me with Your Holy Spirit to live my life for You. Amen."

If you prayed that prayer with a sincere heart, you have begun a relationship with Jesus Christ, and God has forgiven you of your sins.

We encourage you to...

A. Begin reading and obeying the Bible. Try starting out with the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament, and follow that up by reading the Book of Acts, and then the rest of the Bible. (If you have questions about the trustworthiness of the Bible click here).

B. Begin praying. Simply put, talk to God. He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you.

C. Begin going to a church that teaches through the Bible and where the people love to worship the Lord. If they have a new believer's class, sign up to attend.

D. Make friends with other believers who can encourage you and be a blessing to you in your new relationship with Jesus. If you have a friend or a family member who is a Christian, call them and let them know of the decision you have made.

http://www.alwaysbeready.com/

My favorite Corrie Ten Boom Quotes:

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."

"Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart."

"What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul."

 "Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself." 
                                         

"(on forgiveness) Didn't he and I stand together before an all seeing God convicted of the same murder? For I had murdered him with my heart and my tongue."

"This is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."

"There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no placess that are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety - let us pray that we may always know it!"

Betsie Ten Boom's dying request to her sister:

"...(we) must tell them what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here."

"O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know! I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night-- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

from Psalm 139