Applying God's Word????

[PACSUN]

Hi there!! I would consider myself a new Christian. I came to God last January after a long time of God leading me down the road that brought me here. Well, when I was first experiencing God, I was *totally* on fire for Him. I was reading in my Bible and praying a lot, doing Bible studies/devotionals, I was trying to memorize verses, and I was going to Bible studies at my church! It was all so great!! I rememeber how amazing I felt! Well, as of lately, I have stopped doing all of those things. I read in my Bible a little bit, when I make time for it... and I don't pray as much as I want or need to. I want to get back to being on fire for God so so much!!! I know that we all have our ups and downs... but I feel like this down has lasted waaay too long and that it has been WAY TOO down!!! Also, even if I don't feel like pursuing God, I KNOW I WANT TO AND NEED TO!!! I just am not doing it...

I have been learning so many great things at the church I attend now, and I am just having a hard time APPLYING GOD'S WORD!!! The Pastor is teaching it SO well, and I LOVE it, and I feel on fire for God while I'm at church, and for a little while afterwards, BUT I still don't take action! Can anyone help?!?!!??

Please...

 

[rogsr]

All that I can say is that God is in the process of turning you into a saint. This takes many years, and sometimes there is a lull in the action. I have expierienced the same feelings, and I have actually just gotten through one recently. No ones brain can be saturated with anything forever without there being a devastating flood. Look at it like this...You offered your soil to God so that He could plant a mustard seed. So God planted His mustard seed and it was good. Then he made it rain for a time to foster the fledgling mustard plant. God then made it stop raining for a time so the mustard plant would not drown. After a period, God made it rain again. God did this until the mustard plant reached its full potential...Get it, its a process not an unorganized event. Give yourself to God and be patient. There are many levels to this journey, and each of them is exciting.

Peace-

 

[PACSUN]

All that I can say is that God is in the process of turning you into a saint. This takes many years, and sometimes there is a lull in the action. I have expierienced the same feelings, and I have actually just gotten through one recently. No ones brain can be saturated with anything forever without there being a devastating flood. Look at it like this...You offered your soil to God so that He could plant a mustard seed. So God planted His mustard seed and it was good. Then he made it rain for a time to foster the fledgling mustard plant. God then made it stop raining for a time so the mustard plant would not drown. After a period, God made it rain again. God did this until the mustard plant reached its full potential...Get it, its a process not an unorganized event. Give yourself to God and be patient. There are many levels to this journey, and each of them is exciting.

rogsr, Wow... thank you!!! That is very insightful, and I haven't ever thought of it in that way. I am looking forward to this journey God has for me, and I want to try my best to stay on God's path for me while I continue to move forward. I feel ready for the next step, and I am definitely willing to wait on God's timing for it... though I am getting frustrated that it's not happening in the time *I* want it to... Sometimes patience is hard. I just *know* how amazing it feels when I am on fire for God, and I want that amazing joyfulness back in my life. I have nothing that should make my life not joyful... but sometimes I ignore the blessings He has already given to me. I want to keep those in mind as I am traveling in this journey.

I am going on my first retreat next weekend (the weekend of September 24th - 26th). I have never been on a retreat or church gathering before... and this is a college retreat. I am new to this church, so I don't know anyone either. It's a bit scary, and nerve-racking, but I *know* God is going to work with me and through me in amazing ways!!! I have a *great* feeling about it.

I only have one friend here in Georgia. I have lived her all of my life, and when I came to God, He led me away from those other people in my life and brought me to my friend. She's a great friend, BUT I really feel like I need more than one friend... hopefully on this college retreat, I'll meet some new people I can hang out with. My best friend, he lives in Colorado... and well, we can't hang out. The next time I get to see him is December, and that is *if* my Daddy allows me to go out there to see him. He came to visit me 2 times this past summer, and it was great!

I am thinking a lot about what you said, rogsr. Thank you!

 

[2Timothy2]

I know exactly what you are going through. The best thing I can suggest is for you to find an older lady in your church to whom you can be accountable for things. Someone you can discuss what God is teaching you and can give you sound advice and instructions. Meet regularly with her and pray with her. It is easier, not necessarily easy, to remain consistant in our daily walk with Him when we are not alone on the journey. But two things about this: 1) you will have to be able to open up to her completely, maybe not at first, but as your relationship grows, you will; 2) she definately needs to be someone you can trust, not a gossip or busybody. Ask your pastor for advice on who would be a good fit for you. God bless, and keep the Faith.

Grace and Peace
2T2

 

[Rafael]

Times of testing or trying the faith we already have come and are not always pleasant experiences, but they are vital to growth in the Lord. If we are patient and faithful, we move on to the next lesson and build precept upon precept, changing from glory to glory as we overcome by the blood of the lamb and our testimony of how the Lord's faith brought us through the fire.

1Peter 1:7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

2Peter 1:5 So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.
6 Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.
7 Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.
8 The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.
10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away.

2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

[All4one]

Careful... God takes His presence away to see if we live for Him in spite of the high. Also beware of anything that may be hindering you. Maybe a sour relationship with someone.. a parent, friend...e.t.c. Don't push yourself to do anything you don't want to though... You want to seek God so stand firm and do what you know is right, the cloud will pass over.

In Love,
All4one

 

[2Timothy2]

God takes His presence away to see if we live for Him in spite of the high.

I think this deserves some Scriptural support, if you can, please. I do not believe God ever takes His presence away from us.

<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (2) Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (3) Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (5) Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (7) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. (19) Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. (20) For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. (21) Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? (22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. (23) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

MQ, let these last two verses be your heart's cry to God. He loves you with an everlasting love and wants you to grow in your relationship with Him. He will help you to apply what He is teaching you.

 

[eviltangerine]

psalm 27 1 the lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall i fear? the lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall i be afraid? 2 when evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will i be confident. 4 one thing i ask of the lord , this is what i seek: that i may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the lord and to seek him in his temple. 5 for in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. 6 then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will i sacrifice with shouts of joy; i will sing and make music to the lord . 7 hear my voice when i call, o lord ; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 my heart says of you, "seek his face!" your face, lord , i will seek. 9 do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. do not reject me or forsake me, o god my savior. 10 though my father and mother forsake me, the lord will receive me. 11 teach me your way, o lord ; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12 do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence. 13 i am still confident of this: i will see the goodness of the lord in the land of the living. 14 wait for the lord ; be strong and take heart and wait for the lord .

I really dig the last line....waiting for the lord. It doesn't say it's going to be easy, but it does say that in all situations, the good and the bad, God is there for you. While he doesn't always show his face, and it might seem like you're low on it, he'll be on his way soon enough.


Also: I'm going on my first retreat the 24-26th too! Going with my college's intervarsity group. Hope to come back knowing the Lord even more than I do now

 

[PACSUN]

Hey there all!!

Thank y'all so so much for all of the responses!!! 2Timothy2, what you've said has really hit my heart in a deep way. I am new at the church I am attending, but I will try to find the woman you are talking about. I think it is an amazing idea, and I hope God reveals that person to me soon.

MQ, let these last two verses be your heart's cry to God. He loves you with an everlasting love and wants you to grow in your relationship with Him. He will help you to apply what He is teaching you.

Thank you for your kind words T2T. What you're saying makes me want to cry (a joyful cry). I absolutely *love* the advice and help you are giving to me... I hope to hear more from you!! Also, I am going to highlight these verses in my Bible so they can always stand out to me as I am reading God's loving words.

raphe, Thank you very much for the verses. They also have spoken to my heart. I am going to mark these verses as well in my Bible so I may always remember them! You guys are going to make me cry here!! Thank you so so much! I love that you and T2T are using scripture to show me what is in your heart to say. It really helps me a lot! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

You want to seek God so stand firm and do what you know is right, the cloud will pass over.

All4one, I am very much looking forward to the cloud passing over! I definitely want to always live for God through the joyful times, and through the rough/difficult times. This morning, when I woke up, I read a devotional in the book "Seeking His Face" by Charles Stanley. It was a great devotional. Then I read in my Bible a bit, and prayed to God. It felt so great to pray and talk with my Father again!! It definitely started my day off so wonderfully!

eviltangerine <-- Cute name!! I love tangerines! Though, I'm not sure if I've ever met or eaten an evil one! I hope not! You're totally right how it's not going to be easy! Again, even though I can't see God working in my life right now, I know He is here, holding me in His loving arms. I want to always worship and praise Him, and always be bringing Glory to His Precious Name!

Also: I'm going on my first retreat the 24-26th too! Going with my college's intervarsity group. Hope to come back knowing the Lord even more than I do now

That's so awesome!! I hope to come back knowing the Lord even more also!! I am very much looking forward to it! I know it will do my heart some good!!!

Thank you everyone again so so much for the advice! Please continue to write me! I love talking with all of you!

In His Love,

MQ