Born Again!
Hello Idelle,
As rizen1 has pointed out, you or anyone else for that matter, is saved once and for all the first time you come to Jesus with a penitent heart and seek his forgiveness. Then starts the journey in the new life and it has been likened to "a NEW BIRTH". Just as a baby is born out of the confines of it's mother's womb so are we born out of the perishing world of sin into the blessed kingdom of God. A new born baby has the full potential to grow into a strapping youth with a healthy body and mind, but it takes time to grow into that. Similarly it takes time for our spiritual growth, things don't happen overnight or in an instant. You start and sustain your growth by filling yourself up with God's Word - 1 Peter 2:1,2 - " Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby".
As you mature, God leads you to the service He has in mind for you - Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" and teaches you accordingly - Psalm 25:8,12 - "Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way;Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses".
How you grow in the Lord depends upon how much time you spend with Him and His Word. It is about the choices you make in the use of your time. God is not a tyrant to forcibly make you do anything. He will give you the pros and cons of the matter - the blessings and the poor consequences - it is for you to make the right choice and take the blessing or make the wrong choice and suffer the consequences.
aksd