How to give your heart to Jesus
Giving your heart to Jesus is the first step into experiencing the supernatural power of God!
Give your heart to Jesus!
Luke 23: 39-43
In Luke 23:39 – 43 we read this amazing story of the two thieves who were crucified next to Jesus;
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Romans 10:9-10
Romans 10:9-10 provides clear instructions for giving your heart to Jesus:
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord involves acknowledging His divine authority and surrendering your life to Him. It is an expression of faith, declaring that Jesus is the one true Lord and Savior.
Believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead signifies embracing His victory over sin and death. It involves placing your trust in His redemptive work, recognizing that through His resurrection, He offers forgiveness and eternal life.
Romans 10:13
Romans 10:13 provides a powerful promise:
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Salvation is available to all who genuinely and wholeheartedly call upon Jesus. It is an invitation to come before Him, seeking forgiveness, redemption, and a personal relationship.
Steps to giving your heart to Jesus
1. Acknowlede your need for salvation
The first step in becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is acknowledging that everyone has sinned, including yourself.
Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Sin separates us from God, preventing a deep relationship with Him. We need to recognize our need for forgiveness and restoration.
Sin carries a penalty—eternal death and separation from God.
Romans 6:23 reveals, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This may sound harsh, but there is good news. God offers a free gift of grace and eternal life through Jesus.
2. Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead
Embrace the truth that Jesus was raised from the dead, signifying His victory over sin and death. Place your trust in Him and His redemptive work on the cross.
3. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
Declare with sincerity that Jesus is Lord. Surrender your life to His authority, submitting to His will and guidance.
4. Call upon the name of the Lord
Pray a sincere prayer, expressing your repentance, faith, and desire to follow Jesus. Invite Him into your life, asking Him to be your Lord and Savior.
Pray this prayer to give your heart to Jesus
Dear Lord Jesus, today I recognize that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour, and therefore I repent of my sins and ask for forgiveness, I want to give my life and my heart to You, I want to be obedient to Your word in Romans 10;9-10 and confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I believe in my heart the God raised You from the dead.
Your word says in Romans 10:13 that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, and as the thief on the cross acknowledged You and You promised him that that same day he would be with You in paradise, I now also call on the name of the Lord Jesus and put my trust in You that one day I would also be with You in your kingdom.
Because I now gave my heart to You I now believe that I am saved by your grace as a free gift from God, and nothing I do can add or take away from the completed and perfect work you did on the cross.
What is the next step after you gave your heart to Jesus?
Ask God to baptize you in the Holy Spirit
After Jesus died and was raised from the dead he appeared to his disciples and told them to wait in Jerusalem for to receive the Holy Spirit, and ever since every believer has the privilige to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that he would send us the Helper, which is the Holy Spirit, which makes your relationship with Jesus real, so the Holy Spirit empowers you to hear God’s voice, and empowers believers to live out the great commission.
Read more about the Holy Spirit here!
Read your bible every day
Remember that the bible is God’s love letter to YOU!
If you read your bible every day you start understanding God and not only his eternal plan for mankind, but also for you personally, as Christianity is not about following a set of rules, but its about having a living relationship with Jesus himself, and one of the ways He speaks to you as a believer is through the word of God. As you study the bible the Holy Spirit will make it alive, and you will start living out the living word of God!
Read more about reading your bible here!
Pray every day
Being a christian gives us the privilege to speak to the creator of the universe on a daily basis. So although prayer is a discipline of many religions , for us us christians it is our primary mode of communication to God. Because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross we have the privilege of having direct communication with God the father.
Read more about prayer here!
Join a church
The christian faith is so much nicer if you do it with fellow believers, and joining a church family is part of God’s plan for your spiritual growth. Its the place where you can live out your christian faith, worship god with fellow believers, learn about God and His eternal plan for you, learn to serve and build relationships with fellow believers.
Read more about joining a church here!
Share your testimony
Every believer received the same mandate from Jesus to tell the whole world about Him and what he did on the cross, and to bring our friends and family into a living relationship with God, and for them to experience the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit! The easiest way is through sharing your testimony, as your testimony is proof of the transformative power of Jesus!
Read more about sharing your testimony here!
Frequently asked questions about giving your heart to Jesus
Why do we say we "give our heart to Jesus"?
The phrase “give your heart to Jesus” is often used metaphorically in Christian contexts to describe the act of surrendering one’s entire being and life to Jesus Christ. It encapsulates the idea of submitting oneself to His lordship, love, and guidance.
Here are a few reasons why this phrase is commonly used:
Total Surrender: “Giving your heart to Jesus” implies offering your entire being—your thoughts, emotions, desires, and actions—to Him. It signifies a complete surrender of your will to His authority and a willingness to follow His teachings and commandments.
Relationship and Devotion: By giving your heart to Jesus, you are expressing a deep desire for a personal relationship with Him. It conveys an intention to love, worship, and serve Him wholeheartedly. It represents an acknowledgment of His love for you and a commitment to reciprocate that love.
Transformation and Renewal: “Giving your heart to Jesus” signifies a desire for inner transformation. It symbolizes a willingness to allow Jesus to work in your life, transforming your character, renewing your mind, and guiding your actions. It reflects an openness to the Holy Spirit’s leading and an eagerness to become more like Christ.
Trust and Dependence: When you give your heart to Jesus, you are placing your trust in Him as your Savior and relying on Him for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. It reflects a recognition of your need for His grace and a decision to depend on Him for spiritual guidance, strength, and provision.
Intimacy and Communion: The phrase also emphasizes the desire for a deep, intimate connection with Jesus. It reflects a longing to know Him intimately, to experience His presence, and to commune with Him in prayer, worship, and fellowship.
While “giving your heart to Jesus” is a metaphorical expression, it encompasses the essence of a personal and transformative relationship with Him. It signifies a decision to make Jesus the center of your life and to align your thoughts, desires, and actions with His will.
Is repentance from sin a requirement for salvation?
Repentance from sin is indeed an essential component of the salvation process, Jesus made a way for us to overcome sin by the enabling power of Holy Spirit. It plays a significant role in a person’s decision to turn away from a life of rebellion against God and to instead embrace a life aligned with His will.
Throughout the Bible, repentance is emphasized as a necessary step in seeking a restored relationship with God. Here are a few key points to consider:
Acknowledging the Need for Repentance: The first step in the salvation journey is recognizing our sinful nature and acknowledging the separation it creates between us and God. Repentance involves understanding that we have fallen short of God’s standards and genuinely desiring a change in our hearts and lives, that we ourselves cannot change and that we need the power of Holy Spirit to overcome sin.
Biblical Teachings on Repentance: In numerous passages, the Bible encourages repentance as an essential response to God’s love, grace, and forgiveness. For example, Jesus proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), and Peter urged people to “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).
Repentance as a Turning Point: Repentance involves a genuine change of mind and heart, leading to a turning away from a life of sin and turning toward God. It entails not only acknowledging wrongdoing but also having a sincere desire to live in accordance with God’s commands and follow His ways through the power of Holy Spirit.
God’s Response to Repentance: The Bible assures us that God is gracious and merciful, ready to forgive those who repent, and that He sent His Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome sin. In Luke 15:7, Jesus says, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
While repentance is necessary for salvation, it is important to note that it is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. As believers, we continue to grow in our relationship with God, constantly turning away from sin and pursuing a life of righteousness empowered by the Holy Spirit.
In summary, repentance is an integral part of the salvation journey, demonstrating a sincere desire to turn away from sin and align our lives with God’s will. It is through repentance, coupled with faith in Jesus Christ, that we receive God’s forgiveness, grace, and the gift of eternal life and the empowering presence of Holy Spirit which enables us to overcome sin.