Just believe - I can do that

lifewanderer · #1 2nd November 2009, 09:56 AM

This past Sunday I went to a class I am taking at a church called Starting Point. It's for people who don't know the bible and it's like a first bible class. In our homework I read about how God told Abram that all he asked is that Abram believe. God promised Abram that he would be the leader of a great nation, but for now, just believe.

Then I saw what I had been doing in this past year. I pictured Christians as knowing everything in the bible and people who turned to God for an answer to everything. I thought Christians trusted God whole-heartedly. In my eyes, turning to Christianity was an enormous leap of faith and I was afraid to be tricked and burned.

The day I read that passage (last Friday) I said, "I can do that. If all it takes for now is to just believe that God exists, then yes, I can do that." I was also able to believe that God has forgiven all of my sins - everything - so I can start over. Once I read that all God asked was for me to just take that baby step, then I took the step. I really believed that God was there and that everything would be as it was supposed to be.

The leader of the Starting Point group said that last Friday was the day I turned my life over to God.

I always thought that when people said they turned their life over to God some great miracle with angels and trumpets happened. They always made it sound that way. It was more like a whisper to me.

This promise I can keep. I've been learning to pray and made a collage of the promise. It won't upload but it is on my website at Inside - Lifewanderer .....The Effects of Abuse (the second on the right side).

I've also been making movies to God on Lifewanderer .....The Effects of Abuse - Lifewanderer (on the right side of the page)

357magnum · #2 2nd November 2009, 10:11 AM

I'm very happy that you took that first step. There is more, and it gets more precious as you grow in Christ. The experiences of each person are unique and they become more unique as our personal relationship with Jesus Christ develops. Much depends on how close we want to grow to God and invite Him into our lives. I'm also happy that you are taking classes and studying God's Word. I'll be praying that God richly blesses you as you grow stronger in Him.

Love In Christ

leveled · #3 3rd November 2009, 11:48 PM

We all believe something. The question is: what?

You believe in God, you do well.

But what was the message? What is it that God has declared to you, that you have believed?

Why have your sins been forgiven?

I ask genuinely, to spur to you a deeper confession, inwardly and outwardly.

Many blessing, my friend.

lifewanderer · #4 4th November 2009, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by leveled

We all believe something. The question is: what?

You believe in God, you do well.

But what was the message? What is it that God has declared to you, that you have believed?

Why have your sins been forgiven?

I ask genuinely, to spur to you a deeper confession, inwardly and outwardly.

Many blessing, my friend.

My sins are forgiven because Jesus died for my sins and God loves me even though I screwed up. I am now believing that God loves me and that God exists.

wayseer · #5 4th November 2009, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by lifewanderer

I'm asking God to help me hold on to that promise. I'm trying to be positive. I'm trying to hold on.

I'm interested in these sentences. Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'trying to be positive', by 'trying to hold on'?

lifewanderer · #6 4th November 2009, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by wayseer

I'm interested in these sentences. Could you elaborate on what you mean by 'trying to be positive', by 'trying to hold on'?

I'm sorry. I don't feel comfortable answering that.

357magnum · #7 4th November 2009, 01:03 AM

Originally Posted by lifewanderer

Sorry. I choose not to answer that. Online forums are not safe to me.

Sorry. I've been burned way too many times by people who pretend to be somebody else.

Thanks,

Cindy

I'll just say that I'm praying for you. Make public what you wish - keep private what you wish. Your personal relationship with Jesus Christ is just that - Personal. I will pray that God richly blesses you and you grow stronger in Christ.

Love In Christ,

wayseer · #8 4th November 2009, 04:00 AM

Originally Posted by lifewanderer

Sorry. I choose not to answer that. Online forums are not safe to me.

Sorry. I've been burned way too many times by people who pretend to be somebody else.

Thanks,

Cindy

OK - enough said.

However, could I suggest you might consider some professional counselling.

lifewanderer · #9 4th November 2009, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by wayseer

OK - enough said.

However, could I suggest you might consider some professional counselling.

Thank you for your advice although I am somewhat offended by the tone in which it which it was delivered. I do understand that my original tone for your answer was rude and I apologize. I have retracted my first statement. I apologize that my first answer came out rudely and I did not mean it to be. There are some things that I choose not discuss on an internet forum due to privacy issues. I will retract the statement in question because I realize that I should not have added those sentences.

Thank you.

DaLeKo · #10 4th November 2009, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by lifewanderer

I always thought that when people said they turned their life over to God some great miracle with angels and trumpets happened. They always made it sound that way. It was more like a whisper to me.

I don't remember angels and trumpets either, but when I realized how much I was being saved from and how much God must have loved me to have sent His only Son to pay the penalty for my sins for me, to say that I was elated would have certainly been an understatement ..

--David