So, you’ve chosen a church or someone else has chosen one for you by inviting you. You might be going on your own or maybe you finally said “yes” to your mother’s weekly invitation to church. Whatever your reason might be, it doesn’t matter because at the end it’s not your will rather God’s will that you’ll be attending church.
Your First Visit
I still remember the first time I went to a Christian church as an adult and on my own will. I was so nervous! I didn’t really know what to expect, what to wear or even what to take! Having an idea of what to expect might help ease any type of nervousness you might feel. As you enter church there are probably going to be a few greeters. An usher will probably guide you to a seat if the church is already full. If there is still a lot of space, you’ll be allowed to choose on your own. In some churches someone might come to give you a sheet to write your name, phone number and any prayer requests. I’ve seen other churches where leaders will introduce themselves to you and present you to the pastors. Others will have an area for newcomers.
The Service
Now, what can you expect from the service? Most Christian churches are similar in the way they structure their service. It usually starts with worship with a few songs being played for about 30 minutes. They might also have screens with the lyrics so you can sing along. Then they will collect tithes and offerings. This is optional especially if you’re a visitor. Then they will jump into the sermon for about an hour. After the sermon you can expect an altar call where you are invited to the front part of the church where you pray and others can pray for you, too. Many brothers and sisters might touch your shoulder or head as they pray. Some will pray aloud so you’ll hear them while others will pray quietly. Some will even tell you a message from God. After the altar call there is usually a closing prayer. I will say that the usual service is around 2 hours. If you have kids, ask about their children’s class so they can get God’s message in a fun way!
The Beginning of my Spiritual Life
About 4 years ago one of my cousins from Los Angeles invited me to a church in my city. I wasn’t looking to go to church, and I didn’t want to go either. I didn’t take the invitation so seriously, but little did I know that this was the beginning of something big. A few weeks afterwards I started to feel a nudge in my heart. I had church in my mind. After several days I had convinced myself that I was going to go to take my children. I had attended church before but it didn’t work for me or so I thought. I told myself well maybe I should go so my kids can be introduced to God and a church. Maybe it will work for them. Before going I prepared myself mentally. By this time in my life, I had a few years of college and I had learned about the importance of having an open mind when introduced to something new. I had learned how we need to break our little world in our mind and accept that there are other ideas and beliefs beyond what we were shown growing up. How we need to be willing to give other people an opportunity for them to share what they believe and understand why they believe it. Now this does not mean we need to accept it or agree but rather give them a chance to show us their own little world. In the end we will decide if we agree or disagree with them but always respect their beliefs. This is exactly what I did when I decided to go to church.
I took church as another new thing in my life. I had decided to go with an open heart and mind. I was willing to give them an opportunity even if I encountered several things I didn’t like or agree with. I had decided that I would go for at least 2 months. I told myself I would leave that church knowing what they believe in and why they believe what they believe. Only then would I decide whether I agreed and if I would continue going to church. Despite what I believed or what I decided to do, I would respect their ways. And that’s what I did. I took my kids and myself with an open heart and mind my first time I attended my church. The Carmen that entered church that day, died, a whole new Carmen came out from church that day. I was transformed! Praise God the Lord for His mercy and never-ending love!
As I stood in church, I started to feel an urge to cry. I started to tremble. At another point in my life, I would have ignored it, I would have felt embarrassed but not this time. I was so broken, so tired, in a deep, deep black hole, in need of so much love and forgiveness that the moment I felt God, I instantly let myself go into His love. Nothing mattered to me at the moment, it was like it was only me and God in that room. I felt how He hugged me, how He lifted the weight I was carrying off my shoulder, how He whispered that everything will be okay, that He was there with me, how He comforted me. I felt for the first time in my life His love. I felt how He pulled me out of the dark hole into His light. I had found what I had longed for, for so long. I accepted God into my life from that day on.
The Beginning of Your Spiritual Life
What can you expect on your first time at church? Expect to be touched by God. Expect to experience His peace, love, and almighty power because you will experience it, I have no doubt, but you must believe. So, my question to you is, do you believe? Do you believe that you will be touched by God? In John 11:40 we can read about how Jesus told Martha that in order to see God’s glory she needed to believe first. Today I tell you that if you want to see God’s glory you must believe. Only those who believe will see God’s glory. So, I ask you again, do you believe?
Remember that you must believe and be willing to have an open heart and mind. Don’t look for God with your human eyes but rather your spiritual eyes. Don’t look for God like how you look for people, instead look for him with your spirit. Whatever you might feel at that moment just let yourself go, let yourself loose, nothing else matters but only you and Him. Ignore the outside world, what others might think or feel, rather maintain your focus on God and only Him. Keep in mind that there are no coincidences in life. If you are going to church, it’s because God is calling you and has put in your heart a desire to go. May God bless you greatly!
Still in God 
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