6 Things You Should Say While Following Jesus

By definition, a disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more Christ-like. Discipleship is not knowing more information about Jesus, but knowing Jesus and being transformed into His image through the constant exposure of the Gospel of grace. Discipleship calls us to live by faith in Him in the everydayness of life by the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus made disciples by spending time observing potential disciples. Before calling potential disciples into development, He interacted with them in a variety of settings and situations. He didn’t provide a syllabus, a PowerPoint guide or a template to follow. Jesus taught discipleship along the way and gave them a mission to complete. He challenged the disciples to embrace a life fulfilling God’s call. Here are six things you should say while following Jesus.

“I want to influence the world around me.”

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One of the key elements of Christianity is being open and willing to share your faith with others, but the practical way of doing that is often a struggle. Many Christians don’t share their faith out of fear of being ridiculed, disapproved and persecuted by the world. We hesitate to share and fear-based thoughts begin to show up. How do we tell others about God in a way that is effective? Some people think of sharing their faith as a commandment enforced by knocking on doors and throwing Bibles. Fortunately, this is not what God commands. Someone following Jesus wants to influence the world around them. A disciple is unapologetic about witnessing and influencing the world around them. We serve a loving God who didn’t design sharing your faith as a way to condemn others. We can witness to others by spreading God’s love and approaching witnessing with the right attitude and state of mind.

“I treat people the way they want to be treated.”

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We all know the Golden Rule: do unto other as you would have them to do unto you, or in other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated. A Jesus follower lives a life that reflects the Golden Rule. Jesus Himself says that this simple rule captures all of the Law of the Prophets. Interestingly enough, He follows up the Golden Rule by reminding us that it is a path that few take; but it does lead to life. Jesus followers also practice the kindness virtue, where they give people the same respect we’d like given to us. Matthew 7:12-13 says, “So whatever you wish that other would do to you, do also to them for this is the Law of the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” We exhibit love and kindness through generous acts of service. People who practice this are not only compassionate and considerate, but have the ability to see the best in others.

“I trust Jesus.”

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Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours” (Matthew 11:24). As Christians, we know that prayer is a key part of our relationship with God but it isn’t always a part of our regular practice. Many Christians struggle with making adequate time for God, through prayer and communication. We live in a fast-paced world and while many Christians say Jesus is most important their life, many struggle with fitting God into their daily agendas. But a someone following Jesus always has time for God because their lives center on Him. They trust on Jesus fully. Too often, our lives don’t always reflect that God is at our center. What’s special about a solid relationship with God is that when we face struggle, we know where our help comes from.

“I depend on Jesus.”

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A follower of Jesus depends on Him. The promise of good to come helps us endure what may be a not-so-good present. The Bible tells us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knock it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-11). The more mature in faith we are, the bigger God will be for us. As our vision of God becomes clearer and we understand His enormity, we learn to rest in Him. We grow in our ability to depend completely on Him and know that with a God as competent as the God we find in the pages of Scripture, the universe in which we find ourselves is truly a safe place for us.

“I believe God’s Word.”

A follower of Jesus abides in His Word daily. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31). The word “abide” is simply the word “remain.” This doesn’t mean that you can’t lay your Bible down and go to work. No. Abiding in the word of Jesus meaning remaining in that force field of the Word. It means not leaving it. Abide means not ceasing to be persuaded by its truth, and never elevating any other truth above it. Abide means not ceasing to rest in its grace and power – never turning away as though greater peace could be found anywhere else. And abide means never ceasing to eat and drink from the Word as the bread of heaven and living water, as if life could be sustained anywhere else.

“I believe in the power of prayer.”

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Followers of Jesus actively pray and trust in its power. Prayer is a powerful tool for communicating with our Heavenly Father. It is an opportunity to become one with the Creator and Giver of all things. Prayer helps us to find strength for today and hope for our future. We should actively pray and trust in its power to change our circumstances for good. Your faith life directly correlates to the quality of your prayer life. Prayer has the power to change not only the people and things around you. Prayer also has the power to change you from the inside out. Today, instead of turning things over in your mind, turn them over to God in prayer. Instead of worrying about your next decision, ask God to lead you and guide you along the way. Nothing’s too big or too small to pray about. God is listening and cares about your life. Trust Him to transform it!