• What Will I Need to Do After Baptism?—Part 1: Keep Up Your Activity
    Young People Ask
    • A teenage boy coming out of a baptism pool. Collage: Activities that the boy continues to engage in after baptism. 1. He reads the Bible. 2. He prays. 3. He does cart witnessing. 4. He comments at a congregation meeting.

      YOUNG PEOPLE ASK

      What Will I Need to Do After Baptism?—Part 1: Keep Up Your Activity

      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

      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.

      The same teenage boy reading his Bible.

      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?

      Keep praying to Jehovah

      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.

      The same teenage boy praying.

      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?

      Keep sharing your beliefs

      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.

      The same teenage boy doing cart witnessing.

      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?

      Keep attending Christian meetings

      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.

      The same teenage boy commenting at a congregation meeting.

      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?

  • What Will I Need to Do After Baptism?—Part 2: Maintain Your Integrity
    Young People Ask
    • A teenage girl who was just baptized is smiling. Collage: The course that she maintains after baptism. 1. She prays while in a hospital bed. 2. She offers a jw.org contact card to a classmate. 3. She rejects a boy’s offer at school.

      YOUNG PEOPLE ASK

      What Will I Need to Do After Baptism?—Part 2: Maintain Your Integrity

      The Bible says that “Jehovah will not hold back anything good from those walking in integrity.” (Psalm 84:11) What does “walking in integrity” mean? It means living in a way that shows you are keeping the promise you made to Jehovah when you dedicated yourself to him. (Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5) How can you walk in integrity after your baptism?

      In this article

      Keep enduring problems

      Key scripture: “We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.”—Acts 14:22.

      What it means: Realistically, all Christians will face challenges in life. Some of the problems you will face, such as ridicule or opposition, directly result from being a Christian. Others, like money problems or sickness, can affect all of mankind.

      The teenage girl shown earlier praying while in a hospital bed.

      What to expect: Now and then, your circumstances in life will change, and sometimes in ways you don’t like. The Bible says that bad things can happen to anyone—Christians and non-Christians alike.—Ecclesiastes 9:11.

      What you can do: Since you know that you will have challenges, you can prepare to face them. View challenges as an opportunity to strengthen your faith and to rely more heavily on Jehovah. (James 1:2, 3) In time, you will be able to say from experience, as did the apostle Paul: “For all things I have the strength through the one who gives me power.”—Philippians 4:13.

      TRUE STORY. “Soon after I got baptized, my brothers abandoned our Christian beliefs, my parents got sick, and then I got sick too. It would have been easy for me to give up—to forget that when I dedicated myself to God, I promised to make his worship the most important thing in my life. Yet, my dedication is precisely what helped me deal with those challenges.”—Karen.

      Tip: Get to know Joseph. You can read about his life in Genesis chapters 37 and 39 through 41. Consider: What unexpected hardships arose, and how did he deal with them? How did Jehovah help Joseph?

      Need more help?

      Keep resisting temptation

      Key scripture: “Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire.”—James 1:14.

      What it means: At times, all of us are tempted by desires that if not controlled can lead us to do what is wrong.

      The teenage girl shown earlier rejecting a boy’s flirtations at school.

      What to expect: After baptism, you will still experience “the desires of the flesh.” (2 Peter 2:18) You may even feel tempted to have sex before you are married.

      What you can do: Make up your mind now—before you are tempted—so that you will not let your desires make your decisions for you. Remember, Jesus stated: “No one can slave for two masters.” (Matthew 6:24) You can choose who your master will be. Let it be Jehovah. No matter how strong a wrong desire might be, you can choose not to act on it.—Galatians 5:16.

      Tip: Learn to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Choose friends who bring out the good qualities in you. Avoid people, places, and circumstances that make it more difficult for you to do what is right.—Psalm 26:4, 5.

      Need more help?

      Keep strengthening your zeal

      Key scripture: “Show the same industriousness . . . down to the end, so that you may not become sluggish.”—Hebrews 6:11, 12.

      What it means: One who doesn’t focus on his work can easily slow down and become sluggish.

      The teenage girl shown earlier offering a jw.org contact card to a classmate.

      What to expect: You were likely excited and full of zeal after you got baptized. You were full of love for Jehovah. But after a while, you may find it difficult to continue obeying Jehovah in everything, and that can discourage you and cause your zeal to diminish.—Galatians 5:7.

      What you can do: Continue to do the right thing, even if for a time your heart doesn’t seem to be in it. (1 Corinthians 9:27) Meanwhile, draw closer to your heavenly Father by getting to know him better and by talking to him in prayer often. Also, continue to build close friendships with those who love serving Jehovah.

      Tip: Remember that Jehovah loves you very much and is ready to help you. Do not conclude that he is upset with you if you have a temporary lack of zeal. The Bible says: “He gives power to the tired one and full might to those lacking strength.” (Isaiah 40:29) In time, he will bless your efforts to regain your zeal.

      Need more help?

      The bottom line: If you walk in integrity, you will make Jehovah’s heart rejoice! (Proverbs 27:11) He will be happy that you choose to be on his side, and he will give you everything you need to resist Satan’s attacks.