Following Jesus is really not as complicated as many people make it. While it is a lifelong journey — and Jesus said only those who endure to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13) — often the hardest part is just getting started.
So in this article, we want to look at five practical steps you can take today to begin truly following Christ.
1. Act
The first and maybe most important step is simple: take action.
In many branches of institutional Christianity, faith is spoken of as if it has nothing to do with our actions. Some even suggest that taking action to obey Jesus is unnecessary or wrong — that Christ does everything for us, and our role is only to ‘believe’.
But when we read the four Gospels, we see something different. Jesus consistently gave people practical instructions to follow:
- “Sell what you have and give to the poor” (Luke 18:22)
- “Call no man on earth your father” (Matthew 23:8–10)
- “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44)
The teachings of Jesus are full of real-life commands. And being His disciple only has meaning to the extent that we do what He said.
That is why Jesus asked,
“Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46)
To follow Christ is not merely to admire Him or ‘praise’ Him — it is to act on His words. Now mind you, it’s pretty hard to act on His words if you don’t even know what He said! So maybe a sub-point to “act” is for us to listen to what Jesus said, and then act on what we’ve heard after listening. But definitely, if you are going to follow Jesus, you are going to need to take action. And anyone suggesting that our actions are not directly related to our personal walk with Christ is simply telling you lies. Don’t fall for them!
2. Don’t Delay
Another important key is this: don’t delay.
It is easy to postpone obedience. We tell ourselves, “Later I’ll take this seriously,” or “Once things settle down, then I’ll follow Jesus full-time.” But delay keeps us stuck.
Some of Jesus’ teachings can feel challenging — like giving up possessions or radically changing our priorities. But others are very simple and can be practiced immediately: treating others as we want to be treated, forgiving those who hurt us, speaking truthfully, and showing compassion.
Jesus taught us to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:26–28), but He also warned against putting off obedience until some future time. He said not to wait for a later season by saying “in 4 months”, then we’ll follow God. (John 4:35)
The Bible reminds us:
“Today is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
If God is showing you something to do today, the best response is not tomorrow — but now.
3. One Day at a Time
Many people become overwhelmed because they look too far into the future.
Jesus gave some of the most practical advice ever recorded when He said:
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)
So much anxiety comes from fear of the unknown and concern about what lies ahead. But Jesus calls us to trust God like a child trusts their parents — one day at a time. That is what living by faith really means.
When we stop worrying about tomorrow and focus on obeying God today, we discover that He gives us enough grace for each day. Following Christ becomes something we live out step by step, not all at once.
4. You Don’t Need All the Answers First
Another common obstacle is the belief that we must understand everything before we begin.
But that is not how faith works.
Abraham, often called the father of faith, did not know where he was going when he left his homeland. Scripture says he simply trusted God and went. (Genesis 12:1–4; Hebrews 11:8)
The same pattern appears again and again in the Bible:
- Israel in the wilderness
- Jonah sent to Nineveh
- Gideon facing the Midianites
- The disciples leaving everything to follow Jesus
None of them had all the details in advance. They acted on what they knew, and God guided them as they went.
You do not need perfect understanding to start following Jesus. You only need to begin with what you already know — and take the next faithful step.
5. Don’t Walk Alone
Finally, following Jesus was never meant to be done in isolation.
Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs. (Luke 10:1) He promised His presence where two or three gather in His name. (Matthew 18:20) And He said the world would recognize His followers by their love for one another. (John 13:35)
Walking with others provides encouragement when faith feels weak. It creates opportunities for real service and practical love. (Galatians 5:13) And it shows the Kingdom of God through a sample, not just a sermon.
A very practical step you can take today is to connect with others who are also trying to follow Jesus.
If you are interested in working together with other believers, please feel free to write to us.
And to be clear: it does not have to be with us specifically that you serve God — but it is spiritually important that Christians seek fellowship with others who want to follow Christ sincerely, for mutual support and encouragement.
Final Thoughts
Following Jesus does not require having everything figured out. It begins with:
- taking action
- not delaying
- living one day at a time
- trusting God without knowing everything
- and walking with others
These simple steps can change the direction of your life.
Thank you for reading, and may God bless you as you seek to follow what Jesus says — not just in words, but in daily life.
Reclaiming The Way 