Newcomer and struggle with faith

[Richie1027]

hello
I’m a 65 y/o cradle catholic. I left the church in 1969, and found my way back 5 yrs ago after attending a couple retreats at the request by several Christian men I’ve met. Wonderful experiences, but despite church attendance and daily prayer, I can’t seem to feel any love for Jesus and I don’t experience the passion some of my friends feel and demonstrate in their lives. My life clock is ticking and I really would like to feel closer to my creator, and more importantly WANT to do His will.
Appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have. Thank you

 

[Serving Zion]

hello
I’m a 65 y/o cradle catholic. I left the church in 1969, and found my way back 5 yrs ago after attending a couple retreats at the request by several Christian men I’ve met. Wonderful experiences, but despite church attendance and daily prayer, I can’t seem to feel any love for Jesus and I don’t experience the passion some of my friends feel and demonstrate in their lives. My life clock is ticking and I really would like to feel closer to my creator, and more importantly WANT to do His will.
Appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have. Thank you

Welcome to the forums! .. it is written that faith is a gift from God, (in the context that grace is what saves us, through faith). I suppose that should bring a few questions to mind for you.

.. seeing as our choices in life can cause us to become more or less like a person that is useful for God, in producing such faith, it is important to be mindful of our choices. You are seeking out company with those who can encourage your faith to grow, and you haven't covered your transgressions, so that is all positive! It is treacherous though, and one can easily find those who make confession fearsome and inflate the ego to fruitlessness.. so I should suggest that you go looking around all the different churches in your area. The spirit of love doesn't belong to one church or another.. it is very much a culture that develops through individual and collective choices.

Here is a little booklet to help get you thinking about the real essence of Christianity, and that is, truly getting to know Him whom we worship, and to know how we can contribute toward His campaign in redeeming the world from sin.

 

[Ancient of Days]

Get a KJV bible and start reading his words intensely. Prayer.

 

[maintenance man]

I can’t seem to feel any love for Jesus and I don’t experience the passion some of my friends feel and demonstrate in their lives. My life clock is ticking and I really would like to feel closer to my creator, and more importantly WANT to do His will.

You faith comes alive when you serve God by serving others.

Look around and see where God is working in your neighborhood then join in the effort.

Actively pursue God - don't just sit around waiting for Him - He's already with you, waiting on you to get busy with Him.

 

[Thee Librarian]

hello
I’m a 65 y/o cradle catholic. I left the church in 1969, and found my way back 5 yrs ago after attending a couple retreats at the request by several Christian men I’ve met. Wonderful experiences, but despite church attendance and daily prayer, I can’t seem to feel any love for Jesus and I don’t experience the passion some of my friends feel and demonstrate in their lives. My life clock is ticking and I really would like to feel closer to my creator, and more importantly WANT to do His will.
Appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have. Thank you

God is seeking your Faith in Him.
That is His will.

 

[Soyeong]

hello
I’m a 65 y/o cradle catholic. I left the church in 1969, and found my way back 5 yrs ago after attending a couple retreats at the request by several Christian men I’ve met. Wonderful experiences, but despite church attendance and daily prayer, I can’t seem to feel any love for Jesus and I don’t experience the passion some of my friends feel and demonstrate in their lives. My life clock is ticking and I really would like to feel closer to my creator, and more importantly WANT to do His will.
Appreciate any suggestions that anyone might have. Thank you

Jesus loves you so much that he died for you, so you should be able to recognize how much he loves you regardless of how you feel about it. If you want to get closer, then I would suggest spending at least an hour a day reading the Bible and in prayer, which is how God makes His will known.

 

[Brotherly Spirit]

Richie I think love is more then what you feel, but never feeling it is an indicator needing to be addressed. We should do things like fellowship and pray, sometimes even when we don't feel the love for it. Except just as you give, it's in return of what's received from the Lord. It's a relationship of being thankful and considerate, everything you do try to have both in mind. Also helps to remember a relationship is supposed to be personal, it's not all about knowledge and work. Examples are singing praise to the Lord or sharing in fellowship something important to you about Him.

Thank you for joining the forum and sharing your faith with us. I hope you find the Lord in a way that's fulfilling. God bless!

 

[Richie1027]

Richie I think love is more then what you feel, but never feeling it is an indicator needing to be addressed. We should do things like fellowship and pray, sometimes even when we don't feel the love for it. Except just as you give, it's in return of what's received from the Lord. It's a relationship of being thankful and considerate, everything you do try to have both in mind. Also helps to remember a relationship is supposed to be personal, it's not all about knowledge and work. Examples are singing praise to the Lord or sharing in fellowship something important to you about Him.

Thank you for joining the forum and sharing your faith with us. I hope you find the Lord in a way that's fulfilling. God bless!

Thank you. I often wonder about just what you tapped into....what I see as the character or substance of what I think I should feel. Cognitively I understand the Trinity, the sacrifice of Jesus to atone for all our sins, and our need to love each other and Him (written very simply).
I’ll need to reflect a bit on your words, and try not to over analyze. Thanks so much

 

[Richie1027]

You faith comes alive when you serve God by serving others.

Look around and see where God is working in your neighborhood then join in the effort.

Actively pursue God - don't just sit around waiting for Him - He's already with you, waiting on you to get busy with Him.

Thanks Mike. Well said

 

[Richie1027]

Richie I think love is more then what you feel, but never feeling it is an indicator needing to be addressed. We should do things like fellowship and pray, sometimes even when we don't feel the love for it. Except just as you give, it's in return of what's received from the Lord. It's a relationship of being thankful and considerate, everything you do try to have both in mind. Also helps to remember a relationship is supposed to be personal, it's not all about knowledge and work. Examples are singing praise to the Lord or sharing in fellowship something important to you about Him.

Thank you for joining the forum and sharing your faith with us. I hope you find the Lord in a way that's fulfilling. God bless!

Thank you. Your post had me looking at. How “hard” I try to find faith through deeds, works and intellectual means.

 

[Southernscotty]

Welcome to CF Richie and I pray that you are blessed here richly :]
"Love is what one does, Not what one feels"
A hot cup of coffee and some intense book of Romans study is a great recipe for heart building :]