Valuable possessions, such as a home or a car, need to be well-maintained. The same is true of your friendship with God. How will you maintain that friendship after your baptism?

In this article

•  Keep studying God’s Word

•  Keep praying to Jehovah

•  Keep sharing your beliefs

•  Keep attending Christian meetings

 Key scripture: “Go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God.”—Colossians 1:10.

 What it means: After baptism, you’ll need to keep reading the Bible and meditating on what you learn.—Psalm 25:4; 119:97.

 What to expect: At times, you won’t feel motivated. You might conclude that you’re just not the “studying type.”

 What you can do: Dig deeper into Bible subjects that interest you. Develop your own personal study program—one that does not become a burden. Your goal is to grow in love for Jehovah and for his Word. That kind of study is both beneficial and enjoyable.—Psalm 16:11.

 Tip: To get the most out of your study, try to find a quiet place free of distractions.

 Need more help?

•   Read:

   “How Can the Bible Help Me?—Part 2: Make Bible Reading Enjoyable”

   “How Can I Learn to Focus?”

•   Watch:

   What Your Peers Say—Bible Reading

•   Download:

   “Bible-Reading Plans”

 Key scripture: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.”—Philippians 4:6.

 What it means: Communication with God is two-way: You listen to him when you read his Word; you talk to him when you pray. Note that your prayers can include requests for your needs and thanksgiving for the blessings you have received.

 What to expect: At times, your prayers could start to feel mechanical. You might even begin to doubt that Jehovah is really listening or that he wants to hear from you.—Psalm 10:1.

 What you can do: Throughout the day, think of things you can pray about. If your circumstances don’t allow you to pray at length right away, make a mental note to pray about the matter later in the day. Besides your own concerns, think about the needs of others.—Philippians 2:4.

 Tip: If your prayers ever seem mechanical, pray to Jehovah about that. He wants to hear about all your concerns, including those involving your prayers.—1 John 5:14.

 Need more help?

•   Read:

   “Why Should I Pray?”

•   Download:

   “How to Improve Your Prayers”

 Key scripture: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. . . . By doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”—1 Timothy 4:16.

 What it means: When you share your beliefs with others, you strengthen your faith too. As a result, you may save the lives of those who listen to you as well as your own life.

 What to expect: At times, you may not feel motivated to share your beliefs. You might even be fearful about doing so, especially at school.

 What you can do: Resolve not to let negative feelings, such as fear, govern your decisions. The apostle Paul wrote: “Even if I [declare the good news] against my will, I still have a stewardship entrusted to me.”—1 Corinthians 9:16, 17.

 Tip: With your parents’ permission, find someone who can be your mentor—a fellow believer who is a good example in the ministry.—Proverbs 27:17.

 Need more help?

•   Read:

   “Why Am I Afraid to Share My Faith?”

 Key scripture: “Let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together.”—Hebrews 10:24, 25.

 What it means: We go to meetings primarily to worship Jehovah. But attending meetings has two additional benefits. First, you gain encouragement from your fellow believers. Second, you encourage them when you attend and participate.—Romans 1:11, 12.

 What to expect: At times, your mind could wander, which may cause you to lose out on valuable instruction. Or you might feel tempted to allow your attendance to become sporadic or to let other pursuits, such as schoolwork, get in the way.

 What you can do: While not neglecting your schoolwork, resolve to attend meetings regularly, and make it a goal to get the most out of them. Get involved by volunteering to comment. After the meeting, commend at least one person for his or her participation.

 Tip: Prepare in advance. Download the JW Library® app, and use the “Meetings” tab to see what will be discussed at each meeting.

 Need more help?

•   Read:

   “Why Go to Christian Meetings?”