Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Brian Tome's new book, Welcome to the Revolution: A Field Guide for New Believers, (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008).

Now that you’ve begun a relationship with Jesus Christ, you’re excited about your newfound salvation and connection with God. But where do you go from here?

Living the Christian life may seem overwhelming to you right now. If you take it one step at a time, though, you’ll grow in your faith.

Here’s how you can start growing as a new Christian:

Recognize the difference between religion and revolution. You don’t have to worry about trying to keep up with lots of religious rules. Instead, God calls you to something simpler yet more profound – inviting Him to transform you through the power of love. God isn’t concerned just about your external behavior; He wants to change you from the inside out, so you’ll not just do the right things, but you’ll want to do the right things. God isn’t a killjoy who wants to stifle your freedom with rules; He wants to give you freedom from sin that can destroy you. God’s kingdom isn’t a culture of its own that’s isolated from the mainstream culture; it’s a powerful force that shapes people in all cultures. Take your place in God’s revolution that’s already at work changing the world for the better.

Discover God’s purposes for your life. You weren’t created to live an aimless, unfulfilling life. God designed you to fulfill specific purposes during your lifetime. So stop looking for ultimate fulfillment in lesser things – like your job, your relationships, or activities you enjoy. Instead, ask God to reveal His purposes to you, and order your priorities around those purposes. Evaluate where you’re really placing your faith by asking yourself: “Do I feel close to a specific God, or is mine a general spirituality?”, “Do I have a deep inner satisfaction that isn’t fading?”, “Am I praying for things and actually seeing answers or feeling a response?”, and “Do I know people who have been following this path for 20 or 30 years? Do they have the kind of life I aspire to have?”. Make sure that you’re ultimately trusting in Jesus above all else. He alone will empower you to live a significant life.

Participate in spiritual disciplines. Some key spiritual disciplines will help you grow more and more into the person God wants you to become: prayer, Bible reading, community, and mission. Be patient, recognizing that growth is gradual and there aren’t any shortcuts to becoming more like Jesus. Every day, stay in the flow of what God is doing in your life and in the world.