What's on your mind?

[GodDoesListen55]

I am so tired!

 

[Citanul]

I have a huge collection of books and it's just getting bigger. Is that wrong, fellow Christians? I'm an avid reader.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have a large collection of books and my pile of unread books never seems to get any smaller no matter how many I read.

 

[Tranquil Bondservant]

Where we arrange matter and bring into existence from non existence things that already exist; God "calls into being that which does not exist” (Romans 4:17). How good and awesome is God? Who is like Him?

I can't even wrap my head around making something exist while simultaneously creating, making and setting its parameters (the way in which something functions) exist; let alone creating something and all that makes it up from non-existence.

 

[RileyG]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I have a large collection of books and my pile of unread books never seems to get any smaller no matter how many I read.

same here!

 

[Plenipotent]

I'm sharing this not to seek sympathy, but to share the power of God within my life, in case anyone here has yet to experience this. I'd consider this a testimony of sorts. Perhaps some of you can relate. It was my first encounter with such a situation but I've never felt closer to God.

I was having a conversation about God with someone who holds significant importance in my life tonight. I had introduced them to God, brought them to my church once, and they are genuinely excited about becoming a believer. They shared their experiences and enthusiasm for learning more about God. They had downloaded religious apps, they were showing me their notebook full of notes they'd taken, and even showed me inspirational Biblical videos they had watched that inspired them. We were having an engaging discussion about how God was impacting our lives. Then in came a non-believer.

I explained the topic of our conversation and the positive effects God had on us. They began with probing questions, the kind meant to trip you up so they could smack you down. Initially, they remained civil, but their anger started escalating when I suggested they seek God themselves to experience what we were talking about. Their questions became more aggressive, and they grew increasingly agitated. They refused to let me provide answers, instead resorting to shouting over me instead of letting me answer. Whenever I attempted to respond, they would interrupt immediately by yelling, then claiming I had no answers. I told them I would answer them if they let me, and they'd respond with, "Well then !#$@ing answer the !@$# question!" So I'd try, and they'd start yelling again. I don't yell back, so when they start yelling I stop to let them yell till they're done, which then they reply with, "SEE?! You have nothing!"

This went on for at least an hour. I tried to convey my takeaway from my faith journey; that we need God in every aspect of our lives, not just when we can't handle things on our own. We think we can handle everything, and then when we can't, we turn to God, when really we should be turning to God for everything. They countered that this need for God was a sign of weakness on my part. I admitted to my weakness, stating that with God, I found strength. They argued that this very need for something external made me weak. They believed that true strength meant being self-sufficient, and if I was more like them, I'd have real strength and I wouldn't need to rely on some fairy-tale deity.

In an attempt to prove their point, they started slapping me across the face. They kept questioning my belief of the existence of God, asking why, if God loved me SO much, would he allow this to happen to me. According to them, an all-knowing and all-good God would not permit such suffering. They asserted that they were the one with real/actual power, because they were bigger and stronger, claiming that this was the reality of power and that my belief in God was crap.

In that moment, emotionally, I didn't feel an ounce of anger. Before finding God, that would have been the first thing I felt. I know I would have been livid. I would have started screaming at them or trying to hit them back. I would have thought, 'HOW DARE YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU!'. Instead, I felt fear and deep sadness. The fear stemmed from the realization that this person was physically superior to me, and even if I used my best self defense, they could have killed me with their bare hands easily. There's no doubt in my mind, that I would end up in the hospital or worse. The sadness came from knowing this person. They weren't a stranger to me. They're very important to me just as the first person mentioned is. It hurt because I recognized that, in that moment, they were so far from God's grace.

Despite the fear and sadness, I also felt a sense of pride. Not in myself but in my faith? I realized that I held such deep conviction in God that I was willing to endure physical harm for it. I refused to abandon my faith or turn my back on Him because I believe in Him so strongly, that agreeing simply to end the physical pain wouldn't be worth losing Him. They could have slapped me all night, beat me into the ground, and I would not cave. Not only was I willing to get beaten for it, I have been praying to God since then like Jesus called to him on the cross.

I'm not angry, not at all, but my heart aches for them. I fear the consequences they may face from God. I've just been thinking about how far they are from God, how He could save them if they let Him, and what God said about persecution and thinking of his wrath. Every time I think of, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord." I start crying. I start praying to God, "Please forgive them Father. Don't be angry at them. Please show them mercy and love. Please help them find you. Please forgive them." I fear God's wrath for them. I know He will act justly, but I don't want them to be punished, I want them to be saved and loved, so I'm just crying and praying. It's 4am and I'm still crying because I just want nothing but the best for them.

Despite the physical pain, I maintained a smile. I wanted to cry because it definitely hurt, but I held back. It brought me genuine happiness to recognize the depth of my faith, so that helped me keep my smile. I didn't realize it was already that deep and all I want is more. I can attest that Holy Spirit was with me throughout, as I would have lost my composure otherwise. But I reminded myself that God told us we would be persecuted. People warned me that I would start losing people in my life. Just days ago, I had been content, thinking that I was handling things really well because no one has walked away from me. My ability to remain calm and smile likely prevented further harm, as responding with anger could have escalated the situation. I just started a devotional a few days ago about praying dangerously. Instead of praying carefully as I have been, "Thank you father for all you do, please bless and watch over this person, and that person. Help me find wisdom in your word." I started praying for God to test me, to make me stronger, to break my walls down. Well, I got what I prayed for.

This ordeal has only reaffirmed my faith and my willingness to stand firm in God. I now know without a doubt that I would endure anything for the sake of my faith in God. It has also answered the questions I've been pondering recently. Instead of pushing me away, this experience has only drawn me closer to God. It has shown me that with God, I possess a kind of strength I have never had. A strength that allows me to endure physical assault, ridicule, and mockery while still smiling and harboring no hatred in my heart. This strength is a testament to the transformative power of faith.

God is good, my friends, always.

 

[Plenipotent]

Eat the chocolates and put the flowers in a vase in your room haha. I'd be very confused if someone gave me that kind of gift. It's very thoughtful of you, but it would be odd to receive it

It was received very very well!

 

[Tranquil Bondservant]

I'm sharing this not to seek sympathy, but to share the power of God within my life, in case anyone here has yet to experience this. I'd consider this a testimony of sorts. Perhaps some of you can relate. It was my first encounter with such a situation but I've never felt closer to God.

I was having a conversation about God with someone who holds significant importance in my life tonight. I had introduced them to God, brought them to my church once, and they are genuinely excited about becoming a believer. They shared their experiences and enthusiasm for learning more about God. They had downloaded religious apps, they were showing me their notebook full of notes they'd taken, and even showed me inspirational Biblical videos they had watched that inspired them. We were having an engaging discussion about how God was impacting our lives. Then in came a non-believer.

I explained the topic of our conversation and the positive effects God had on us. They began with probing questions, the kind meant to trip you up so they could smack you down. Initially, they remained civil, but their anger started escalating when I suggested they seek God themselves to experience what we were talking about. Their questions became more aggressive, and they grew increasingly agitated. They refused to let me provide answers, instead resorting to shouting over me instead of letting me answer. Whenever I attempted to respond, they would interrupt immediately by yelling, then claiming I had no answers. I told them I would answer them if they let me, and they'd respond with, "Well then !#$@ing answer the !@$# question!" So I'd try, and they'd start yelling again. I don't yell back, so when they start yelling I stop to let them yell till they're done, which then they reply with, "SEE?! You have nothing!"

This went on for at least an hour. I tried to convey my takeaway from my faith journey; that we need God in every aspect of our lives, not just when we can't handle things on our own. We think we can handle everything, and then when we can't, we turn to God, when really we should be turning to God for everything. They countered that this need for God was a sign of weakness on my part. I admitted to my weakness, stating that with God, I found strength. They argued that this very need for something external made me weak. They believed that true strength meant being self-sufficient, and if I was more like them, I'd have real strength and I wouldn't need to rely on some fairy-tale deity.

In an attempt to prove their point, they started slapping me across the face. They kept questioning my belief of the existence of God, asking why, if God loved me SO much, would he allow this to happen to me. According to them, an all-knowing and all-good God would not permit such suffering. They asserted that they were the one with real/actual power, because they were bigger and stronger, claiming that this was the reality of power and that my belief in God was crap.

In that moment, emotionally, I didn't feel an ounce of anger. Before finding God, that would have been the first thing I felt. I know I would have been livid. I would have started screaming at them or trying to hit them back. I would have thought, 'HOW DARE YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU!'. Instead, I felt fear and deep sadness. The fear stemmed from the realization that this person was physically superior to me, and even if I used my best self defense, they could have killed me with their bare hands easily. There's no doubt in my mind, that I would end up in the hospital or worse. The sadness came from knowing this person. They weren't a stranger to me. They're very important to me just as the first person mentioned is. It hurt because I recognized that, in that moment, they were so far from God's grace.

Despite the fear and sadness, I also felt a sense of pride. Not in myself but in my faith? I realized that I held such deep conviction in God that I was willing to endure physical harm for it. I refused to abandon my faith or turn my back on Him because I believe in Him so strongly, that agreeing simply to end the physical pain wouldn't be worth losing Him. They could have slapped me all night, beat me into the ground, and I would not cave. Not only was I willing to get beaten for it, I have been praying to God since then like Jesus called to him on the cross.

I'm not angry, not at all, but my heart aches for them. I fear the consequences they may face from God. I've just been thinking about how far they are from God, how He could save them if they let Him, and what God said about persecution and thinking of his wrath. Every time I think of, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord." I start crying. I start praying to God, "Please forgive them Father. Don't be angry at them. Please show them mercy and love. Please help them find you. Please forgive them." I fear God's wrath for them. I know He will act justly, but I don't want them to be punished, I want them to be saved and loved, so I'm just crying and praying. It's 4am and I'm still crying because I just want nothing but the best for them.

Despite the physical pain, I maintained a smile. I wanted to cry because it definitely hurt, but I held back. It brought me genuine happiness to recognize the depth of my faith, so that helped me keep my smile. I didn't realize it was already that deep and all I want is more. I can attest that Holy Spirit was with me throughout, as I would have lost my composure otherwise. But I reminded myself that God told us we would be persecuted. People warned me that I would start losing people in my life. Just days ago, I had been content, thinking that I was handling things really well because no one has walked away from me. My ability to remain calm and smile likely prevented further harm, as responding with anger could have escalated the situation. I just started a devotional a few days ago about praying dangerously. Instead of praying carefully as I have been, "Thank you father for all you do, please bless and watch over this person, and that person. Help me find wisdom in your word." I started praying for God to test me, to make me stronger, to break my walls down. Well, I got what I prayed for.

This ordeal has only reaffirmed my faith and my willingness to stand firm in God. I now know without a doubt that I would endure anything for the sake of my faith in God. It has also answered the questions I've been pondering recently. Instead of pushing me away, this experience has only drawn me closer to God. It has shown me that with God, I possess a kind of strength I have never had. A strength that allows me to endure physical assault, ridicule, and mockery while still smiling and harboring no hatred in my heart. This strength is a testament to the transformative power of faith.

God is good, my friends, always.

Thank you for sharing your experience and I pray The Lord comforts you and gives you His peace . Regarding your friend being far away from God; I used to be a hardcore Atheist for 8ish years who looked down on believers and used the weak emotional arguments that the person who abused you fellas did. From the outside you would think there was no way I would ever become a Christian or someone who loves God. My Nan (who I used to argue with about her belief in God) kept praying for me and well... yeah. They got answered . Another example would be Paul, a man who persecuted the saints unto death and you would think would be last person on Earth to follow Christ; "And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him" (Acts 22:20). So don't lose hope regarding them because their deep hatred for God can be transformed into a deep love. Such is His power. If they did convert in the future they may even look back on the experience and it would be a testimony to God in the same way Paul who beat and persecuted the Church was a testimony to His grace, mercy, power, forgiveness and love.

P.s. There's a thread that's personally my favourite and I believe doesn't get enough attention (I actually think it's one of the best on here). It's a really encouraging thread and it would be awesome if you could post your story in there too if you'd be willing .

The Goodness of God

It has been years since I started a discussion in Singles. I was hesitant to share this post, but I was thinking this could be helpful or edifying for someone. I know the title sounds so simplistic and painfully obvious, but I believe that one of the keys to unlocking contentment is to meditate...

www.christianforums.com

 

[DragonFox91]

Wow potent. What a story. What a witness! I was just lamenting the other day I'm tired of all the threads in the other sections being theological debates & we needed more testimonies, how God's working in their life, etc.

So what did we learn from the non-believers testimonies........A pride issue. Not that he allows suffering like they tried to tell you, but that that they find weakness in going to him - that's what it really is, that's what triggered them, that's what they dwelled on. Mmmmm.

I agree - it's not weakness, for what shall they do when their strength fails them? The strong he makes weak, the weak he makes strong. I know who we have!

Where did this take place, that they'd get violent?

Truly you have the Spirit of God in you that causes the demons to tremble they got violent! The trust you have with God, he is able to do powerful things thru you.

& You will have to tell us more BondServant!

Lately, I've found myself increasingly compelled to get gifts on behalf of others, even though it's not my business to do so.

That's great! I'm trying to get better at surprise gift-giving.

I guess I'm used to people wanting to over-giving me stuff so just don't have that spirit, but I'm trying.

 

[Tranquil Bondservant]

I was just lamenting the other day I'm tired of all the threads in the other sections being theological debates & we needed more testimonies, how God's working in their life, etc.

You will have to tell us more BondServant!

The Goodness of God

I got my current job despite several people trying to sabotage it. It would take a long time to explain the backstories and the political backstabbings going on in the background, but I'll shorten it to this: I begged God to save me from the job I had, and then I interviewed, hoping it was an...

www.christianforums.com

 

[Plenipotent]

Thank you for sharing your experience and I pray The Lord comforts you and gives you His peace . Regarding your friend being far away from God; I used to be a hardcore Atheist for 8ish years who looked down on believers and used the weak emotional arguments that the person who abused you fellas did. From the outside you would think there was no way I would ever become a Christian or someone who loves God. My Nan (who I used to argue with about her belief in God) kept praying for me and well... yeah. They got answered . Another example would be Paul, a man who persecuted the saints unto death and you would think would be last person on Earth to follow Christ; "And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him" (Acts 22:20). So don't lose hope regarding them because their deep hatred for God can be transformed into a deep love. Such is His power. If they did convert in the future they may even look back on the experience and it would be a testimony to God in the same way Paul who beat and persecuted the Church was a testimony to His grace, mercy, power, forgiveness and love.

P.s. There's a thread that's personally my favourite and I believe doesn't get enough attention (I actually think it's one of the best on here). It's a really encouraging thread and it would be awesome if you could post your story in there too if you'd be willing .

The Goodness of God

It has been years since I started a discussion in Singles. I was hesitant to share this post, but I was thinking this could be helpful or edifying for someone. I know the title sounds so simplistic and painfully obvious, but I believe that one of the keys to unlocking contentment is to meditate...

www.christianforums.com

Amen. I genuinely value your response and your willingness to share your story and insights. It's truly beneficial when someone challenges you the way you described, because it highlights areas where you might need to dedicate some time to learning and growth. If the notion of "you need God due to your own weakness" is a recurring theme, seeking guidance from Him on this can be immensely valuable for everyone. Thus, I am deeply grateful for you sharing your thoughts.

I'll definitely give that thread a read and copy my post to there. Thank you so much! I would love to hear more about your experience if it's not already in The Goodness of God thread!

Wow potent. What a story. What a witness! I was just lamenting the other day I'm tired of all the threads in the other sections being theological debates & we needed more testimonies, how God's working in their life, etc.

So what did we learn from the non-believers testimonies........A pride issue. Not that he allows suffering like they tried to tell you, but that that they find weakness in going to him - that's what it really is, that's what triggered them, that's what they dwelled on. Mmmmm.

I completely agree, which is why I also shared my thoughts on this matter. While discussing God with the first person, witnessing how He is working in their life filled me with immense happiness and joy. Their smile as they described their connection with Him and how He's drawing them closer was truly heartwarming. They mentioned that what brings them closest to God is the fact that, among all the strategies they've tried to improve themselves, He is the only one that truly works. Despite suffering from ADHD, they find remarkable focus when it comes to their relationship with God. When life gets tough or they feel overwhelmed by anger or sorrow, they turn to God because they know He can provide the help they need. It was a beautiful experience that brought me great happiness.

Ah, I appreciate that perspective as well! It's something I'm definitely going to ponder more. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. It's clear that by focusing on this aspect, we can better understand how to support them.

I agree - it's not weakness, for what shall they do when their strength fails them? The strong he makes weak, the weak he makes strong. I know who we have!

AMEN!

Where did this take place, that they'd get violent?

I was inside the first person's home. I went there after my church meeting. I consider myself fortunate that the incident didn't occur outside because I believe if the neighbors had witnessed or heard what transpired, they might have called the police. While the police would have handled the situation appropriately, it might not have had the same impact on both me and everyone involved. I think it was crucial for all of us to experience that, even though it wasn't pleasant. I believe that through me, God showed His power and love to them, and I also believe that if we allow Him to use us, we can all serve as reflections of God's power and love. So it was actually a wonderful thing that happened, which is also something I would not have thought before.

Truly you have the Spirit of God in you that causes the demons to tremble they got violent! The trust you have with God, he is able to do powerful things thru you.

& You will have to tell us more BondServant!

Amen once more! I feel incredibly blessed. It's quite remarkable because I remember when I first embarked on my spiritual journey, my thoughts were quite selfish. I recall praying to God, asking Him to bring me closer to Him and to help me become less self-centered. I even questioned whether it was selfish of me to praise God simply because I believed He would bring positive changes into my life. I stumbled upon a video that discussed the idea that we should desire the rewards God offers, and I wrestled with reconciling that notion with my own selfishness. How could God help ME? Give ME His blessings. I want those rewards. I believe! And last night, my prayers were answered. I now fully comprehend that His rewards are not about what He can do for me, He CAN do ANYTHING for me. It's about what I can do for Him, and that, in turn, provides me with the most profound and powerful rewards. Serving Him, fulfilling His purpose, following Him, and nurturing a relationship with Him ARE the rewards. I struggled to grasp this because I was initially focused on myself and what I could gain, without realizing that His purpose, His will, His glory, grace, and love are the true rewards. The greatest rewards. It's not about me having or obtaining this or that. It's not about Him answering my prayers exactly as I want. His way fills you so profoundly that all I desire now is to serve Him. I no longer want what I want. I want what God wants. I wholeheartedly yearn for His rewards now. I understand the video now. Everyone should long for the rewards of God because they are truly magnificent. It's mind blowing!

When I woke up today, I thought, "Let's go, God. I'm ready. What do you want from me? What do you want me to do? How can I serve you?" And I echo your sentiment to BondServant! Let's hear that testimony!!!

That's great! I'm trying to get better at surprise gift-giving.

I guess I'm used to people wanting to over-giving me stuff so just don't have that spirit, but I'm trying.

I believe the others are correct in their advice about gift-giving. I should definitely focus on giving more FROM myself rather than trying to prompt others to give by buying things and saying 'Hey... Give. It's good.'. I highly recommend following their advice on this matter. I think it went over very well for me because the person understood that my intention was simply to bring joy to both of them. They know me well and recognize that I genuinely want people to be happy, with no ulterior motives.

As a funny anecdote, when we were in the parking lot, I had also bought some Tamarinds. I'd never tried them before, but a coworker had recommended them to me, so I bought a box to try. I offered him a couple for him and his girlfriend to try as well, and when I handed them to him, he looked me dead in the face and busted out laughing and asked, "What is this? Is this a dookie? Are you giving me a dookie?" They REALLY do look like pieces of poop, which led us both to burst into uncontrollable laughter. He even placed one on top of the flowers and gave me a mischievous look, and said, "Should I give it to her like this? Think it'll go over well?" We both couldn't stop laughing, and it turned out to be a delightful and memorable moment. So, all in all, it was a great success.

Edit: Just saw the link Bondservant posted. OOT OOT!!!

 

[DragonFox91]

I’m glad you agree we need more people sharing testimonies! The Christian experience isn’t limited to theology, which is great & needed b/c the foundations need to be there, but if Christians are only discussing that, we may be limiting what we know. How do we apply it. Share it!

I find it revealing your friend said they find he helps him with ADHD………..A common every-day problem a lot of people seem to have......has a simple solution like God????? No way! Sounds too good to be true.............It's not!

In regards to wanting gifts from him – it’s okay! We know he’s good & he gives good gifts. His good gifts are good, & the bad gifts are good even though we don’t recognize they are good at the time we have them. Giving good gifts is what he does! That’s his character! He gave us Jesus just for us to be upset & not want things? Of course not. But be warned!: This doesn’t mean we abuse good gifts, recognize everything & anything as good, or act like spoiled brats when we don’t get what we want.
This stems from a 'God is mean' 'God doesn't want me to have anything good' 'he only wants us to have good in heaven, for now we suffer' 'the world he made is evil' that traps many people.' t's not true. What's a fruit of the spirit? Joy! What do we know about him? He's good! Is God not good! All the time!

Yeah, about the police. I’ve been thinking about ‘turning the other cheek’ a lot. How do you apply that. Is it ok to ever not. Examples where I can apply it. Where I know I’ve not applied it. You did it absolutely right.

By wanting to over-giving me stuff, I mean, I’m usually the recipient of gift-giving & people want to give me gifts & over-give me gifts. It’s selfish not to give, yes, but it can also be selfish to say no to people wanting to give you gifts, ‘I don’t want it’. No, I need to be joyful when they want to over-give me. Even if I don’t want it, don’t care for it, wish they wouldn’t. It’s like rejecting Jesus’s gift.
So I'm turned off by gift-gifving maybe b/c I need to work on grattitude for rec'ving gifts. As I've gotten better that, I need to work on surprise gift-gifting myself.

 

[peaceful-forest]

I did not have a good day at work. Yesterday was bad too. I want to quit. I can't stand it where I work anymore. I don't know where I would go. Will you all pray for me?

 

[DragonFox91]

I did not have a good day at work. Yesterday was bad too. I want to quit. I can't stand it where I work anymore. I don't know where I would go. Will you all pray for me?

I can.

Maybe give it time? A couple bad days isn't worth quitting over.

But your coworkers sound so far from Christ it would depress me.

It's mostly coworkers & not the work itself, correct?

 

[Tranquil Bondservant]

I would love to hear more about your experience if it's not already in The Goodness of God thread!

I personally don't like sharing my testimony but seeing as both you and Dragonfox have requested it and it glorifies God to do so, I will. It's not going to be going into details because I don't like thinking about it and talking about myself isn't something I enjoy doing with folks I'm not close with, in public or on a public forum. Plus remembering the feelings I had isn't fun either. I'll give enough information though and it should be plenty to give a good outline. Also please forgive the serial use of brackets as it's hard to tell the story without annotations.

When I was a kid people tried to violently murder an immediate family member by stabbing them 16 times. This experience caused me to have debilitating PTSD for over a decade and caused 3 depressions (each lasting at least a year minimum) by the time I was 20 and one after then. After 3 and a half years one of the people who tried to murder my family member got out of Jail and it nearly broke me as a person worse than the actual event did. When I was 16 I came across Dawkins & Hitchens, apostatised and became an Atheist. At 24 The Lord brought me back to Himself and for another year and a half I still suffered from debilitating PTSD. Some time around when I was 25 and a half The Lord miraculously healed my debilitating anxiety that came with PTSD (anxiety causes depression too so that's healed also). I still have some behaviours that flow forth from the PTSD (the meticulous writing is just one) but they're likely habits from pretty much spending a decade constantly in fight or flight.

I'm essentially a different person now and I hate the black, hate filled, vengeful creature that I used to be. I unfortunately intimately understand the hate demons feel when they look at men and I understand the heinousness of sin and why that which does the opposite of God is heading for Gehenna. On the flip-side to that the absolute immense, immeasurable and unfathomable grace, mercy and love God has for His children and His gift of eternal life with Him forever blows me away.

I'm grateful for the peace I have every day in God and also for the ability to live, eat and breathe Him every single day. He is my entire life now and I don't want any other. He is my peace when I rest my head on my pillow at night and He is the reason I wake up every morning. I love Him so much.

If the notion of "you need God due to your own weakness" is a recurring theme, seeking guidance from Him on this can be immensely valuable for everyone.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

 

[LoveDivine]

I'm sharing this not to seek sympathy, but to share the power of God within my life, in case anyone here has yet to experience this. I'd consider this a testimony of sorts. Perhaps some of you can relate. It was my first encounter with such a situation but I've never felt closer to God.

I was having a conversation about God with someone who holds significant importance in my life tonight. I had introduced them to God, brought them to my church once, and they are genuinely excited about becoming a believer. They shared their experiences and enthusiasm for learning more about God. They had downloaded religious apps, they were showing me their notebook full of notes they'd taken, and even showed me inspirational Biblical videos they had watched that inspired them. We were having an engaging discussion about how God was impacting our lives. Then in came a non-believer.

I explained the topic of our conversation and the positive effects God had on us. They began with probing questions, the kind meant to trip you up so they could smack you down. Initially, they remained civil, but their anger started escalating when I suggested they seek God themselves to experience what we were talking about. Their questions became more aggressive, and they grew increasingly agitated. They refused to let me provide answers, instead resorting to shouting over me instead of letting me answer. Whenever I attempted to respond, they would interrupt immediately by yelling, then claiming I had no answers. I told them I would answer them if they let me, and they'd respond with, "Well then !#$@ing answer the !@$# question!" So I'd try, and they'd start yelling again. I don't yell back, so when they start yelling I stop to let them yell till they're done, which then they reply with, "SEE?! You have nothing!"

This went on for at least an hour. I tried to convey my takeaway from my faith journey; that we need God in every aspect of our lives, not just when we can't handle things on our own. We think we can handle everything, and then when we can't, we turn to God, when really we should be turning to God for everything. They countered that this need for God was a sign of weakness on my part. I admitted to my weakness, stating that with God, I found strength. They argued that this very need for something external made me weak. They believed that true strength meant being self-sufficient, and if I was more like them, I'd have real strength and I wouldn't need to rely on some fairy-tale deity.

In an attempt to prove their point, they started slapping me across the face. They kept questioning my belief of the existence of God, asking why, if God loved me SO much, would he allow this to happen to me. According to them, an all-knowing and all-good God would not permit such suffering. They asserted that they were the one with real/actual power, because they were bigger and stronger, claiming that this was the reality of power and that my belief in God was crap.

In that moment, emotionally, I didn't feel an ounce of anger. Before finding God, that would have been the first thing I felt. I know I would have been livid. I would have started screaming at them or trying to hit them back. I would have thought, 'HOW DARE YOU! I'LL SHOW YOU!'. Instead, I felt fear and deep sadness. The fear stemmed from the realization that this person was physically superior to me, and even if I used my best self defense, they could have killed me with their bare hands easily. There's no doubt in my mind, that I would end up in the hospital or worse. The sadness came from knowing this person. They weren't a stranger to me. They're very important to me just as the first person mentioned is. It hurt because I recognized that, in that moment, they were so far from God's grace.

Despite the fear and sadness, I also felt a sense of pride. Not in myself but in my faith? I realized that I held such deep conviction in God that I was willing to endure physical harm for it. I refused to abandon my faith or turn my back on Him because I believe in Him so strongly, that agreeing simply to end the physical pain wouldn't be worth losing Him. They could have slapped me all night, beat me into the ground, and I would not cave. Not only was I willing to get beaten for it, I have been praying to God since then like Jesus called to him on the cross.

I'm not angry, not at all, but my heart aches for them. I fear the consequences they may face from God. I've just been thinking about how far they are from God, how He could save them if they let Him, and what God said about persecution and thinking of his wrath. Every time I think of, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the lord." I start crying. I start praying to God, "Please forgive them Father. Don't be angry at them. Please show them mercy and love. Please help them find you. Please forgive them." I fear God's wrath for them. I know He will act justly, but I don't want them to be punished, I want them to be saved and loved, so I'm just crying and praying. It's 4am and I'm still crying because I just want nothing but the best for them.

Despite the physical pain, I maintained a smile. I wanted to cry because it definitely hurt, but I held back. It brought me genuine happiness to recognize the depth of my faith, so that helped me keep my smile. I didn't realize it was already that deep and all I want is more. I can attest that Holy Spirit was with me throughout, as I would have lost my composure otherwise. But I reminded myself that God told us we would be persecuted. People warned me that I would start losing people in my life. Just days ago, I had been content, thinking that I was handling things really well because no one has walked away from me. My ability to remain calm and smile likely prevented further harm, as responding with anger could have escalated the situation. I just started a devotional a few days ago about praying dangerously. Instead of praying carefully as I have been, "Thank you father for all you do, please bless and watch over this person, and that person. Help me find wisdom in your word." I started praying for God to test me, to make me stronger, to break my walls down. Well, I got what I prayed for.

This ordeal has only reaffirmed my faith and my willingness to stand firm in God. I now know without a doubt that I would endure anything for the sake of my faith in God. It has also answered the questions I've been pondering recently. Instead of pushing me away, this experience has only drawn me closer to God. It has shown me that with God, I possess a kind of strength I have never had. A strength that allows me to endure physical assault, ridicule, and mockery while still smiling and harboring no hatred in my heart. This strength is a testament to the transformative power of faith.

God is good, my friends, always.

I'm sorry you had to endure that. Your patience and self- restraint in that situation is remarkable. I wanted to share a verse with you that I read the other day in 2 Thessalonians:

 

[Plenipotent]

I'm sorry you had to endure that. Your patience and self- restraint in that situation is remarkable. I wanted to share a verse with you that I read the other day in 2 Thessalonians:

View attachment 336580

Thank you so much for this.

I read 2 Timothy today, and I intend to delve deeper into it during my Saturday study session. I believe it holds valuable insights related to what I've experienced, and I'm eager to learn from it. I'm going to make sure to include this in my list of topics to explore further. Your input is greatly appreciated! God bless you!

 

[SarahsKnight]

I did not have a good day at work. Yesterday was bad too. I want to quit. I can't stand it where I work anymore. I don't know where I would go. Will you all pray for me?

I hear that for sure, Miss Forest. Will pray.

 

[peaceful-forest]

I can.

Maybe give it time? A couple bad days isn't worth quitting over.

But your coworkers sound so far from Christ it would depress me.

It's mostly coworkers & not the work itself, correct?

It's multiple things that have happened over time. The company continues to decline. It's been this way for under two years now.

There's certain people they need to fire. Their performance is low. But they're not going to fire them.

I know some of my co-workers are godless. I'm aware a few of them practice satanism.

I want like-minded co-workers. I'm not sure if that will ever happen.

 

[GodDoesListen55]

I hate days that go by quickly and then the night drags on, like, is it time for bed yet? LOL!

 

[Plenipotent]

Received my Bible journals today! I decided to start better organizing my notes because keeping everything in regular notebooks was becoming a challenge to keep orderly. I wanted to preserve my Bible's condition, you know... Not covering it in endless notes, highlighter marks, and pen? In my quest to find effective Bible study methods and note-taking approaches, I found that people have purchased Bible journals specifically for writing in. The one below is for the New Testament. The old testament one I've yet to open, but I wanted to see what they looked like. Nevertheless, they are beautiful!

I wanted the plain black journals due to their larger size and simpler appearance, they're more similar to notebooks in that regard. However, the black ones were roughly $100 more expensive and I couldn't justify spending more money on something which serves the same purpose. They are really lovely though! Super shiny! Additionally, I bought some leather Bible tabs to make it easier to navigate my Bible during study sessions, eliminating the need to open to a general area and then flipping through the pages one by one. Save a little time.

I want to just dive in right now, but it's really late and that's a bad idea because I won't sleep if I do. But along with these journals, I also purchased two small books. One provides guidance on how to study the Bible, which I believe will be beneficial. The other book breaks down the individual books of the Bible, offering concise summaries, authorship information, historical context, key verses, and sometimes intriguing facts about each book.

I'm interested in finding more books like these, but ones that explore various approaches to reading the Bible. I'd like to find at least one that helps me gain fresh perspectives on the texts. I remember someone telling me that sometimes the scripture is meant to be poetic but we fail to read it as such, however reading it as if it's poetry will help highlight things that may have been overlooked. I also find it amazing how everyone sort of interprets things differently and I'd love something that offers different perspectives so that I can continue to gather knowledge, cross reference between the different versions, to help better my understanding. Just something that gives you different ways to engage the Bible. If anyone knows of such books, please let me know! Either way, I'm looking forward to my Saturday study session!