What steps do I need to take in order to start living for god?

If it is the Holy Spirit drawing you to faith (trust) in God, then you will be led to see your need to be 'covered' by what Jesus did to atone for your sins. His sacrificial death and resurrection form the foundation of Christianity. Conviction about that has to come first, before you can become a Christian.

We have to take in the bad news, that we are lost in sin and degradation and that even our most righteous acts are as filthy rags in God's sight (Isaiah 64:6-9 - dealing with God's chosen people, mark you!)
Only when something of the extent of our lostness dawns on us will we seek God. Until then, people just keep trying to do more and more 'good' things, imagining that they will accumulate enough merit to satisfy God. That is a total dead-end that leads to the pit. Only after God has saved us can we then begin to do the good works that He planned for us to do, before creation. And we will then do good things, not for merit, but to bring honour and glory to God.

God has, in Christ, done everything to secure the removal of the sins of the world (John 1:29). When Jesus cried out on the cross, "It is finished!" that meant that nobody and nothing in all creation could do anything further regarding salvation. It is a finished work of Christ. We are asked to believe that and to accept it as a free gift. But it's not "easy" to do that, because we have to humble ourselves and confess our sin, and then simply receive with awe. No sinner can do that because our pride prevents us! That is why the Holy Spirit has to do a work of grace in us, bringing us to that point which marks coming to life, spiritually. That is the new birth that Jesus spoke of in John chapter 3. That is EXACTLY what is required to be saved. God has to save us.

You will only find this in the Bible and you have to believe it. That has to be your starting point, but once you start, the Holy Spirit will lead you on as you search, with all humility, to learn how to please your Saviour and to live for Him. You have to learn how to walk before you can run! One step at a time. Believe God, trust Him and accept, and only then will you get confirmation that you have done the right thing. The world expects experience before commitment. It's the other way around with God. That's what faith is. "And without faith, it is impossible to please God" Hebrews 11:6. But the Holy Spirit gives us that saving faith! It all depends on whether our hearts are humble and sincere. May God bless you! AiH

Step 1: You must convince yourself that magic is real.

Step 2: Choose which magical things to accept and which to reject.

Step 3. Select a deity. There are a great many things that are worshipped as deities by people including trees, snakes, rats, cows, cats, the entire universe and various imaginary entities labeled as spirits. Some even worship dead humans.
Take your pick.

(I know that rational arguments don’t usually work on religious people. Otherwise there would be no religious people.)

Get into church activities and find a good church home. read the bible. Any questions you have is in there and if you can't find it, talk to your preacher. And when your ready to ask God into your heart. Pray with other people in your church :)

Good luck!

Dude, if you are on the level with what you are saying, you already started. You are being led to Christ; to trust in him. Trust in Christ is your bread and butter in all this. It plugs you into the way God works with people. Some people use the word "faith", and that is right, but in order to dig the word out of all it's other meanings which might not clarify it enough, Faith is trust. Trust him, and in any of the promises of God, and you will be connected to him.

And don't think you can do it all in one day.

God isn't interested in your own form of perfection. This is NOT a moral pissing contest. So stay away from the Christians who sound like Pharisees. If you don't know what the Pharisees are, read the Gospels. Read the Gospels anyway.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had hard things to deal with. Often those who've had tough times turn to religion because they feel a need for hope. Often when we WANT to believe in something we will ignore its irrationality. Consider for example are you being totally honest with yourself to believe in something like the Ransome doctrine. The ridiculous concept that God could only forgive humanity of its sins by sending his alter-ego to earth to die so that his own blood could later be presented before himself and poured out on his symbolic heavenly alter. Really this teaching, which is laughable is at the heart of Christianity.

meditating on this words in the bible is great start. Try to think deeply on his message and pray for help.

One and only one - Believe in Jesus the Holy Spirit and God - and what they can do for you -

How to grow in your faith.
1.Thank God for every good thing because all good things come from God
2.Praise God for everything. Example God I love you for changing my life and directing my path. Even when things are bad praise him. He can change your life quickly.
3.Worship God. The one and only God is the only one we should worship. He is worthy
4.Confess your sin, repent of your sin. Do not voluntarily or repetitively sin.
We show our love for God by being obedient and keeping his commandments
5.Ask God to provide you for needs, like food, shelter, a job, not winning lottery, getting rich or unholy things
6.Pray for the salvation of all your family, friends and neighbors
7.Pray unceasing. Pour your heart out to God and watch him work.
8.Don’t worry if you feel unworthy when you pray we are all unworthy but God wants to hear from us and he will answer. God wants us in relationship with him
9.God talks to you in your thoughts so ask him questions satan also talks to you.Godly thoughts come from god, evil thoughts come from satan. Do what God says and reject what satan says. You have a choice
10.Read your Bible daily. Don’t believe atheistic claims the Bible is fairy tales. The bible is foolishness to those who are perishing Bible is our life instruction manual.
11.Go to a Godly, Biblical church. We backslide quickly when we don’t go to church
12.Give God an offering in church. Not because he needs your money but the church does and you need to become a cheerful giver for your own good.
13.Get involved in church ministry. If your church has no evangelism, youth group, weekly activities, do you need to find a new church. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
14.Listen to Christian Radio VCY America KLOVE 105.3FM Listen to Unshackled on the radio on 107.7FM daily at 430pm
15.Watch VCY TV or the Bible channels on Cable
16.Go to week day church or Bible study. Do a Bible study in your home. Start your own. Get a few people together to answer each others questions. Have worship music ready to get you in the right frame of mind
17.Read and hand out Bible tracts. Witness and tell others about Jesus.
18.Get all addictive or unholy things like tobacco drugs alcohol porn out of your house and keep them out. Don’t let anyone bring the stuff back in.
19.Don’t have parties or go to parties where people are doing drugs alcohol or smoking
20.Don’t go to bars, clubs, casinos, beer festivals, rock concerts
21.When you get saved the Holy Spirit will convict you when you do sinful things. Do what he tells you. Refrain from sin, become more like Jesus.
22.Get new friends, if they won’t get saved you don’t want to be around sinning people
23.Tell others you got saved, tell them how you did it
24.Pick up your cross and follow Jesus daily. Be a mentor to someone or get a mentor
25.Fellowship with other believers. Spend time with your kids. Pray for others healing
26.Be a Christian example, not a hypocrite. Grow each day in your faith. Always do the right thing. Grace is not a license to sin. Love God and your neighbor.
I hope this helps. God bless you.

Why can't you just live out your life as a drone like the rest of humanity that is not impinged by religion. What's this quest for more? Do you seem to not have all you want in your life? That's your fault, no god should help you overcome your own regrets. There your own problems, work them out with real people not some mythological figure. This is my advice to you.