When you were New in Christ.

[CupOfMilk]

How did you start making changes when you first came to God? What are some scarfices you had to make and what are the things you had to do in order to change?

[karenoka27]

I was saved in March of 1984. I didn't find I had to make sacrifices as much as I did find that I no longer had the same desires.
I smoked pot,drank and did some other things with friends. The day I got saved, I no longer had a desire to do those things. My friends didn't get that so one thing I did have to let go was them.
I did try to share the gospel with them and let them know what had happened in my own life,but they didn't get it or didn't want too.

I think of the song, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back,no turning back....."

[My_King]

The biggest thing God changed in my life was my attitude. My heart was wicked, arrogant, conceited, prideful, etc.... The Lord humbled me in ways that ripped my life apart and I only had one way to go, on my knees to HIM.

Of course I am ever changing all of the time, becoming more Christlike, my attitude is probably one of the most difficult things for me to hand over to HIM.......

[TrophyofGrace]

How did you start making changes when you first came to God? What are some scarfices you had to make and what are the things you had to do in order to change?

I started noticing, and then observing the way the Christian ladies at my church dressed and acted. The Holy Spirit led me to make changes in my wardrobe (more dresses, less time in jeans. I didn't own any dresses then; I still wear jeans occasionally) to be more like them because they were Godly examples.

I also started becoming more aware of my language. I used to swear like a sailor; anyone in the automotive field will tell you that that's what the industry does to you, but that's not true. Gradually I cleaned up my language through the prodding and reminder of the Holy Spirit.

I wouldn't say I made any sacrifices because as Karenoka said, my desires also changed.

[tt1106]

I stopped cussing first. God gave me control over my mouth.
I then staretd paying attention to what I was subjecting the Holy Spirit too, through my ears and eyes. No Sacrifices, the Spirit guides you through that and then he lets you know what's ok and what is not.

[Lynne]

I surrendered my illusion of self-control to Him and moved my will out of the driver's seat. My self-will had made a huge mess, but it screamed for control. I had to trust Him. It wasn't an easy thing for me. I was very frightened until I started to get to know Him as the loving, wonderful, and trustworthy Lord. So, I'd say it was surrender rather than sacrifice at the very beginning.

James 4

13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

[crossnote]

For about 6 years before my conversion I was on an intense search to find the 'answer' to this life. That sent me on a search through psychology, drugs,communal living, the occult etc. etc. When Christ broke through and turned my life right side up...I had to give up searching for the 'answer' because He and His Word Answered my deepest questions/needs.

[PilgrimPastor]

I often say that when I came to Christ I became a full blown Jesus Freak! I passed out tracks at my high school, carried my Bible everywhere, and saw God's hand at work in EVERYTHING...

I remember there was this car commercial a few years ago where the guy in the commercial was going around telling everyone what a great deal he got on his car and how great the car was. One guy he told asked him if he was now a spokesmen, paid to advertise the car, he said, "No, I'm just a satisfied customer!" I was that guy for Christ...

Now, I have more theological degrees than a thermometer and you know what, the passion of that initial conversion experience fuels my ministry to this day. It was a starting point; a launching place. God's activity in the begging, in the beginning of our journey with the Lord is often powerful so as to lay a strong foundation of trust; then begins the work of discipleship, thus laying the strong foundation of His Word in our lives!

[jackief]

The first thing that was the hardest thing was to just believe!
1. As in believing that God is real starting out.
2. Then to take that next step of faith to believe that Jesus really is the son of God and that he really did die for me and he really is the only reason I can receive the free gift of eternal life.

that was the first thing I gave up(unbelief and doubt in the existence of God, and in the blood of Jesus): To take that first step of faith and just believe.
Then from there I had to keep on taking bigger steps of faith as faith was given to me by God I had to walk it out step by step.
Don't get me wrong I have only been saved for 4 years, I consider myself a new Christian, I still have a lot to learn and a lot of sacrifices to make.

[LiterateCulinarian]

I find the hardest thing for me to let go of is my mouth. I am married to a sailor and as much as I would like to blame being a sailor's wife for my mouth that is just not true. I have noticed a drastic decline in my cursing however. I do also notice when I speak to my sister and even my husband on the phone their language is atrocious! Everytime I do say a bad word I apologize to God...is that silly?

[judi<>><]

Not silly at all...
Cup of milk... are you seeing the pattern? Sacrifice is something that we all fear before we become Christians. Actually, the only "sacrifice" involved in Christianity was made by Christ. We all receive a gift, instead--the gift of a changed life, as you have read. And God will lead you in those changes.

Me... I'm getting to be an old Christian. My conversion experience was a very simple one. I came from a church-going family with high standards and strict controls, so there weren't many external changes to be made, and I really can't count any "sacrifices" among them.

I guess for me, the change was not only internal, but almost invisible... I was already very involved in the youth program at my church, already read and knew my Bible well, already led in worship through the choral program... So what was the big difference?

I tell people, it was changing from "head knowledge" to "heart knowledge," but even that is a bit of "Christianese." So let me put it this way--

Before I met Christ, I was a bit of a loner who chose to spend most of her time in church circles, because my interests in life focused there, and even if the other youth didn't accept me, the adults did. After I realized that God wanted to be my Friend...well, the only thing that really changed is... now I am NEVER ALONE!

No sacrifice there. Only a quiet and eternal joy!

[mcnumps]

Cup, I was saved last November, so I'm new at this too, but I also have seen a big change in the outward expressions in my life. The cussing stopped almost immediately, with the exception being using the Lord's name in vain in simple conversation, but now I say things like "OH Gosh" instead of the other. I noticed that when it happened the Lord immediately brought it to my attention, and I asked forgiveness immediately. So that also has now stopped completely. I used to smoke 2 packs a day, but the Lord took that from me as well recently, about 2 months ago. The urge to drink was almost immediate. I, like others, didn't feel any of it was sacrifice, just sort of happened and felt right.

So the Lord has now delivered me of most of my bad habits, now I think He's got me focusing on increased patience and kindness, etc, the fruits of the Spirit. That will probably take much longer!

[tango]

How did you start making changes when you first came to God? What are some scarfices you had to make and what are the things you had to do in order to change?

The first changes in me, and the most noticeable changes, weren't voluntary ones in the sense of me constantly thinking "I shouldn't be doing ... any more". The first things that disappeared were things I just didn't want to do any more, and my outlook on many things changed.

Generally speaking when we walk with God bits of us need to be broken off over time. It's very easy to cling onto those bits of us, because they give us some sense of security. But if we want to walk ever-more closely with God we need to surrender everything and let God teach us what we need and when we need it.

[danm]

Hi all,
I think I started looking at the bigger picture,thinking outside the box so to speak.
Getting through the day was just a routine,get up,dash to work,do what I had to do,go home,eat,sit and watch TV.
Reflecting on the day was easy,weather was fine,Job was OK,finances are sorted out,kids are well,Everything is OK.
Now I look back on the day and ask myself what have I done for God and what have I done to help build his kingdom here on earth.
Hope I've explained what I mean OK .

God bless.

[heleadstheway]

Lynn, I loved your response! At the end of the day that battle with self control really is the key, at least in my eye's! Our human nature, at least before salvation, is so focused on getting what it want's, and making decisions from a totally different frame of mind, that it does take conscious effort at first to relegate our "self" to the back seat and start seeing and thinking like Christ! That was wonderfully put.

To answer the question, all I can say is I echo the answers that it's not about sacrifice, but whole hearted acceptance of God's direction in our life. I can honestly say anything that I've changed in my life that might look like a sacrifice has brought rewards that are ten times greater!