Faith Without Works is Dead!!!!!

What do you do when you are Saved? I've had so many discussions about this with some of my friends, and I ask them why they do some of the things they do. I'm not trying to preach to anyone because we're all sinners and have room for improvement. I have done things that weren't pleasing to God, but when I did something wrong, the people who I thought were there for me would look at me in shame, and the first thing that would come out of their mouths was, "I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAVED". I would feel so convicted, and I would just cry to myself because I felt like I couldn't do anything without being judged, but I had to realize that REAL friends pick you up rather than put you down. After I gained a closer connection with God, I felt as if I could talk to Him on a more intimate level, and suddenly, the opinions of others no longer bothered me. Now I know that I have an advocate who I could go to and that's Jesus Christ. Moving back to the topic, many of my friends feel that because they've accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they can continue doing all the things they were doing before and still go to Heaven. It is, indeed, true that we are saved once we accept Christ, but when we make that choice to become a part of the Lord's Army, we have to go all the way and prepare ourselves for the battle that's yet to come. We must endure vigorous training, exercise regularly to get fit, and study the Word so that we may know what God requires of us. When we say we want to be saved, there is power in that statement because when we say it and really mean it we are a new creation in Christ. To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing! It's impossible to live and not breathe, which is the same concept with being a Christian. Once we have spoken the words and are REAL about it then we must show it by doing the Will of God. If we have to shy away from old friends to get where we need to be then let's do just that. Remember; don't let anyone stand in your way of getting your blessings because in the end, YOU will be held accountable for your own actions! Live your life accordingly people and see how God shows his favor upon your life!! Be blessed!!!