Your first week with Jesus
"As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him." — Colossians 2:6
So you've said yes to Jesus — welcome to the family! Heaven is celebrating, and a brand-new life has begun (Luke 15:10). Now you may be asking a very honest question: "What do I actually do now?" The Christian life isn't a set of rules to memorize; it's a friendship to live. And like any friendship, it grows through simple, daily nearness. You don't need to do everything at once or get it all right. Here are a few gentle first steps for your first week — not a checklist to pass, just a way to begin walking with the One who already walks with you.
Talk to God — He's listening
Prayer is simply talking with God, and it is the heartbeat of your new friendship with Him. You don't need fancy words or a special posture — just honesty. Tell Him about your day, your worries, your thanks, your questions. Jesus said to pray in a simple, trusting way (Matthew 6:6-9), and Scripture invites you to "cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Try this for your first week: a few quiet minutes each morning to say good morning to God, and a few each night to thank Him and hand Him the day. He is never too busy, and you can never come at the wrong time. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (James 4:8).
Open the Bible — start with Jesus
If prayer is talking to God, the Bible is how He talks to you. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Don't feel you must start at page one or understand it all. A beautiful place to begin is the Gospel of John or the Gospel of Mark — short, vivid accounts of Jesus' life, so you can get to know the One you've just trusted. Read a little each day, slowly, and ask Him to help you understand. Even a few verses are enough; the goal is not to finish but to meet Him there. Over time His words become familiar friends, steadying you. This study itself will walk you, truth by truth, through what the whole Bible teaches.
Find your people — don't walk alone
You were never meant to follow Jesus by yourself. From the very first days, new believers "devoted themselves" together to teaching, fellowship, and prayer (Acts 2:42). We are stronger together: "two are better than one... if either of them falls, one can help the other up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10). So in your first week, reach out — tell one trusted person that you've given your life to Jesus, and connect with others who love Him. That's exactly what the family at CBA Orlando is here for: people who will pray for you, answer your questions, and walk beside you. You don't need to have it all together to belong; you just need to come, and you will be welcomed.
When it's hard, keep coming back
Be gently honest with yourself: this first week may also bring hard moments — old habits tug, doubts whisper, you may even stumble. That doesn't mean you did it wrong or that God has changed His mind. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies... are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22, 23). When you fall, you don't start over from zero — you simply come back, tell Him honestly, and keep walking; "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (Philippians 1:6). Growth is slow and that's normal. The aim of your first week isn't to be perfect — it's to keep turning toward Jesus, again and again. He is patient, and He is holding on to you.
Search the Scriptures
Col. 2:6; Ps. 119:105; Matt. 6:6-9; Acts 2:42; Eccl. 4:9, 10; Lam. 3:22, 23; Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter 5:7; James 4:8.
Reflect
Take heart: you don't have to master any of this in seven days. Pick just one small step for today — maybe a two-minute prayer, or a few verses of John's Gospel — and let tomorrow take care of itself. Walking with Jesus is a lifetime, not a sprint, and He sets the pace gently. As your friendship with Him grows, one beautiful next step is baptism — telling the world, in the water, what He has already begun in you. When you're ready, you don't have to figure it out alone.
One beautiful next step