“And while it is not perfect now, I can safely say that I understand that God will always be there for me no matter what and that if I put my full trust in his plan, life will work out for me.”
Photo Credit: Zachary Myers
10/22/2026
Zachary Myers, Editor-in-Chief
When I first approached the idea of going to church and becoming a Christian, I was fairly skeptical. For years, I had been agnostic, which essentially means that I acknowledged that there could be a God, but with how much negative and bad stuff happens in the world, how could the ever-loving almighty let that happen? But once I got integrated with a local church in Farmington and got acquainted with the faith, I can say it was one of the best decisions I have made in my twenty-one years of life. That is not to say that it has been easy to have full faith in Jesus. There have been times along this wonderful journey where I have fallen back into previous sins and vices; I would swear off doing those things, then go right back to them not even days later, and I would feel horrible about it and would think, “How can God accept me back?” And while it is not perfect now, I can safely say that I understand that God will always be there for me no matter what, and that if I put my full trust in his plan, life will work out for me. This article is for anyone who is considering exploring the Christian faith, or for people who are looking to convince others. I will be writing five tips to live a life in Christ and how doing these simple things will bring so much more joy into your life than you could possibly imagine.
#1: Reading the bible for thirty minutes to start the day:
The central point of the Christian faith is the Bible. It is without question the complete word of God the Creator, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, organized from the creation of Earth to the life of Christ. While I can acknowledge that some books of the bible can be a drag (especially Numbers), all stories are essential to understanding why God chose humanity to save. I also think that when people say the Bible is boring to read, they are reading it wrong. Everyone reads the Bible differently, but if you are reading it as if it were a JK Rowling book, you are not exactly going to have a good time. This is because the Bible is not merely a book; it is a collection of stories about God.
The best way I have found to read and interpret the Bible is actually first thing in the morning. After I get dressed and ready for the day, I sit down at one of my desks in my dorm, and with my little bible study setup, I read the Word for thirty minutes before I do my daily life. This ensures that I have the word of our Savior fresh in my mind during my hectic day, and it gives me peace in the morning. How you choose to study the Bible is up to you; I personally do it through the lens of the Pixar movie Inside Out. Each marker I have for highlighting represents the color of the emotions in the movie, and I highlight the verse I choose based on how it makes me feel or what it can help me overcome. In terms of picking a verse, I have a randomizer wheel of all the Bible books, so I do not have to spend so much time picking a prophet reading or a Psalm. At the end of the day, reading the Bible and actually taking in what you read is a critical point in your faith journey.
#2: Praying. Seriously praying
As of now, God is not simply a physical being on Earth (like he was through Jesus Christ). He is a metaphysical being up in the heavens that guides the Earth through his choosing. To an atheist, there is no possible way to talk to God if he is not present on Earth, but there is. The best way to talk to God is through prayer. Prayer can take on many different forms, too many to list at once, so I’ll name the best that I know. The first one that comes to mind is praying the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. The concept of praying the Rosary is to say a simplified version of the Creed, an Our Father, three Hail Marys, a Glory Be, and then to pray different decades of mysteries in the life of Christ. Doing this requires focus and calm, and it is a good way to retain focus and practice calming oneself after a stressful day or moment.
Another way of praying is simply sitting in silence. People underestimate how much God hears us in silence, and all the things he can address when we just don’t talk. Find a comfortable position, whether it is sitting up in a chair or lying down in bed, close your eyes and your mouth, and sit in silence. Your thoughts from the day will come to mind, and in turn they will be offered to God for his thoughts and reflection. No matter how you pray, the point is to feel closer to God and to have a genuine connection to him. If you joke about praying to God, he likely will not be as responsive, so seriously consider what or who you are praying for before settling in. That way you’ll have more to talk to God about, and he will be more receptive to your call.
#3: Finding a good church
“A house divided against itself can not stand” is one of my favorite lines from Jesus, coming in both the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Unfortunately, in modern times in the church, there is lots of divide. There are so many denominations of faith within the Christian life, which include Presbyterian, non-denominational, Orthodox, etc. I personally am a Catholic; my opinion on this topic will be geared towards my specific faith, but a big thing about being a Christian is finding the perfect church. This will be a process, as there are a differing number of churches in certain areas of where you live. For instance, there are plenty of churches within walking distance here at UMF, but if you live in the city, you might have to travel a little more to find a good church. I personally go to Saint Joseph Parish in Farmington, as it is a Catholic church which fits with my beliefs; the community there is warm and supportive, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer with the Parish either in Farmington or at its sister parish in Jay, and the pastor, Paul Dumais, prophesies in a way that I haven’t been able to connect with anywhere else. If this is not for you, that is perfectly fine; you might need different things in a church. The key things you should look for are how the church talks about the Gospel of Christ. If they do not make it a point of emphasis, I would avoid it, as all churches, regardless of denomination, should make the word of the Savior the number one priority in their teachings. Also, find a church that does sacraments like Baptism and Confession, as these are two important ways to spiritually connect with God.
#4 Listen to good music:
If you have ever been to a church service, you have likely heard worship music several times. In a Catholic setting, it comes in the form of Hymns, Psalms, and alleluias, but it can differ depending on the denomination. In any scenario, finding a good mix of songs to listen to about God will really strengthen your faith, as nothing is as uniting as a good tune. The great thing about this is that the music you find does not necessarily have to be worship music. While singers like Chris Tomlin, Jamie Macdonald, and Brandon Lake are great for anyone looking for real worship music, I particularly like some artists and songs that aren’t necessarily worship but have references to faith and God. Some of these songs I listen to if I may be mad at God, if I am sad, or if I am happy but don’t want to listen to gospel music.
The main artist I think of when it comes to this umbrella is the 2000s rock band Linkin Park, who have some of the best-selling albums in the genre of all time. While each lead singer of the band, Chester Bennington, Mike Shinoda, and Emily Armstrong, is not outwardly religious, a good number of Linkin Park songs have elements of the faith in them. Some of the best ones are What I’ve Done (especially the middle chorus), The Catalyst (pretty much the whole song), and New Divide (most of the song). These are great examples of songs that have hidden elements of the faith if you really listen to the lyrics, and are great ways to connect with people who may be unsure of the faith.
Other artists I associate with non-gospel Christian music include Imagine Dragons and NF. The lead singer of Imagine Dragons, Dan Reynolds, grew up Mormon and has Christian elements in songs like Second Chances and Lonely, but is very progressive and likes to share his faith in a more modern way. NF is technically stated as a Christian rapper, but does not claim to be one, and his music somewhat reflects that. His take on Christian singing is the point of view of someone trying to trust in God but who finds difficulty. His songs I’ll Keep On with Jeremiah Carlson and Oh Lord perfectly showcase this. Whoever you listen to, finding good music about God is a great way to connect with his message.
#5 Find a supportive community:
This one can lean into finding a church, and oftentimes both are interconnected. This tip, though it is separate, can, if anything, lead to finding a church more than vice versa. Christianity, no matter how much it gets attacked in the news or by political organizations, is the most diverse religion in the entire world. It is also the most loving, as no matter your sin, we will do our best to forgive you for your sake and for the mercy of the Lord. Because of this, no matter what Christian group you join, the people you find and connect with are critical. A good example at UMF is the Intervarsity Club. While I am not a part of it, I know a few people in the club, and I can tell how much of a positive social impact it has on them. Being involved with a group of nice men and women to talk about God makes everyone happy, and if you find this group, you are doing alright.
Hopefully these tips and tricks help any prospective Christian. I want to end this by saying I love you all, and God bless. Amen.
