If you’ve been journeying with us over the past few weeks—or even if you’re just stepping in—you might be asking, What exactly is a Jesus-shaped life? How do I get there? What are my next steps? You’re not alone. That question isn’t the mark of failure—it’s the starting point of faith.

The world around us can feel overwhelming. Confusing. Loud. And when everything feels out of step, it helps to find a rhythm that centers us. Paul’s letter to the Philippians offers that kind of rhythm—a simple, repeatable pattern that anchored the early church and still speaks to us today.

Here are three simple steps that help us step into the Jesus-shaped life.

Step One: Exclaim

Cry out to God. That’s it. Just start there.

Paul says in Philippians 4:6, “In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

It’s not about getting the words right. It’s about being honest. Real faith often begins in moments of raw anxiety, confusion, or need. Paul and Silas were in prison—singing. Not because they felt great, but because they knew where to turn.

When life shakes us, our first move isn’t to fix everything—it’s to exclaim. To say, “God, I need you.” Sometimes that’s all it takes to shift our posture from panic to prayer.

Step Two: Encounter

Here’s the beautiful part: God meets us.

Yes, we practice spiritual habits like prayer and reading Scripture—but God doesn’t wait for us to earn His presence. He comes to us. In the middle of our confusion, our waiting, our exhaustion—He shows up.

Paul puts it this way in Philippians 4:7: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes His peace breaks through like an earthquake. Sometimes it’s a whisper. Either way, we don’t force it. We just stay open. We stay expectant. God loves to respond to the cry of His people.

Step Three: Eat

Seriously. Celebrate.

In Acts 16, after God shows up in the jail, what happens? The jailer gathers his family—and they eat. Hannah does the same thing in 1 Samuel—before she even knows how God will answer her prayer, she eats.

Why? Because joy doesn’t wait for circumstances to change. Joy flows from trust. When there’s confidence that God is with us and for us, celebration becomes a natural response. Eating together, sharing stories, rejoicing in the moment—it’s all part of a life rooted in grace.

For many people, step one feels the hardest. Crying out to God doesn’t always come naturally—especially when life feels chaotic or uncertain. Step two can feel like waiting in the quiet, unsure if anything is really happening. But step three? Most can get behind a good meal. There’s something about sitting down to eat, together or alone, that speaks of trust, comfort, and joy.

That’s the rhythm of a Jesus-shaped life.

It’s not a ladder to climb. It’s a way to live:

• Cry out to God.
• Trust that He’ll meet you.
• Celebrate that He’s near.

And if you’re asking today, What must I do to be saved?—the answer is still the same: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn toward Him. Cry out. Let Him meet you. And don’t forget to eat.

So—are you ready to take the exit ramp off the highway of noise and hurry and step into a different way of living?

A way of trust, of peace, of joy?