Believing in God

[Boomygrrl]

Hello all. As I've mentioned before, I'm agnostic. I really am on the fence as to whether God exists or not. I know there really is no scientific way to prove one way or the other. If there is, it isn't very convincing. I read "The Case for a Creator" by Lee Strobel and didn't find it convincing at all. However, with that said, that still doesn't mean there isn't a God. I was hoping Strobel's book could help clarify this for me, but it didn't. So, I'm still left confused.
What I'm asking for is not scientific explanations. I'm not interested in "proving" God exists. What I want is personal experiences. Would you please share with me why you, as an individual, believe God exists? In other words, did anything happen in your life or did you witness anything that made you say "there's no doubt about it, God exists!" Please no bible scriptures that say God is real. I would expect no less from the bible but to declare that. There's no surprise that the bible says God exists. I am looking more for real life, current (within your lifetime), verifiable (at least in your mind, it doesn't have to be scientifically verifiable in a lab or anything like that) events that point to God.

Thanks,
Boomygrrl

 

[ukok]

My advice, if you really want to know if God exist's once and for all, then ask Him. I'm perfectly serious. Get down on your knees and focus. Don't be half hearted, take this perfectly seriously. Ask Him. No one here can prove to you that God exist's..you can't live out a conversion off of any one of our testimonies...the ONLY thing that is going to assure you one way or the other, is by your genuine request to God personally, to show you that he is real

There are many people, both non Christians and those who are Christian's who lose their way from time to time and ask "Are you there....then show me..help me to know you".

God Bless.


...feel free to pm me if i can be of any further help.

 

[Boomygrrl]

My advice, if you really want to know if God exist's once and for all, then ask Him. I'm perfectly serious. Get down on your knees and focus. Don't be half hearted, take this perfectly seriously. Ask Him. No one here can prove to you that God exist's..you can't live out a conversion off of any one of our testimonies...the ONLY thing that is going to assure you one way or the other, is by your genuine request to God personally, to show you that he is real

There are many people, both non Christians and those who are Christian's who lose their way from time to time and ask "Are you there....then show me..help me to know you".

God Bless.


...feel free to pm me if i can be of any further help.

I have asked and prayed, but I got nothing. I have been exploring this for almost 20 years now (I'm in my thirties) with praying, reading, and talking about it. I'm either left feeling confused, having doubts, or just frustrated. I would like to hear others' experiences, as the conclusion I'm getting is that there is either a God who doesn't care about me, there's a God who doesn't know how to reach me, there's a God who wants me to struggle, or there is no God. Still nothing conclusive.


Boomygrrl

 

[LegomasterJC]

I grew up in a Christian home and have believed in God ever since I can remember but I do have experiences that strengthen my faith that I will share with you.
when I was around 5 years old my pastor's wife was teaching sunday school and said to us that if we asked God for tongues and believed, then He would give it to us. I have had tongues ever since. This is a way of speaking to God through the Holy Spirit within me. I do not control my tongue's movements with my mind but I can determine to start speaking in tongues or stop. That is for another topic though so I won't go on about that.
I remember when I lived down south and I was still very young riding in my grandma's car and asking God to stop the rain. That happened. There have been numorous times when my prayers have been answered about the weather. One time when my dad and I wanted to play racket ball and it looked like some dark clouds were coming in, we prayed that it would stay nice for us to play. It was raining all around Fort Lauderdale that day all around us while we were playing racket ball in the sun for about 2 hours. We had fun and we thanked God. There are also other little things such as finding a perfect parking space when the parking lot is packed, kept safe in a storm whether in your home or driving, kept safe when you actually crash in your car through your own faults (I ran a red light because I was focusing too much on some story my friend was telling me) I totalled my family car but everyone was safe and now I have my own car. I could go on and on about all the car blessings my family has with 4 kids and my mom and dad... but I'm moving on.
I have also witnessed the healing of people when they are prayed for whether it be emotional, phisical or spiritual. (physical is the most evident)
My former pastor from where I live now became a full time missionary and sees so many people healed in meetings of more than 5000 people that he can not account for them all but some of the ones he has told my church are... One woman with a leg that was gnarled, he prayed for and the bones popped into place and the leg healed and the woman could walk. Many deaf ears have been opened as well as the blind seeing, fingers and ligaments growing out of nothing...
I personally went with him on one of the trips to Brazil while he was still our pastor and had not yet gone full time. I prayed for people there and such things as headaches and other bodily aches were healed. Also tumors, cancer, and lots of other diseases were healed. For me personally I was given a true heart of worship while I was down there. Before then I did not truely understand the power of worship. More on that some other time.
Most of the time I spent down there was praying for the youth. I am not one that is good with praying out loud with my own words. I type a lot better than I speak... anyway I was praying in tongues the whole time of the trip. I layed my hads on the youth. Some would get the laughter of the Lord, some the tears of Joy, some jerk... I jerk sometimes when I feel the presence of God. (It's not something you control)
side note:
Before this when I was younger I went to toronto with my parents... these same things were happening there but my brothers and I pretty much just slept under a table somewhere the whole time.
Later when I was a little older we went to another gathering in the US somewhere called "Catch the Fire" where these same things were happening. There my brothers and I were prayed for and fell out in the Spirit (no one pushes you or anything but the power of God blows you over, usually backwards) there are people who are there to catch you if you do fall out. My dad never falls out or does any of those manifestations of the Spirit but my brothers and I did fall out and felt so much peace from that. Durring that time we 4 brothers fought a lot and since then we have been much better about that. We still get on eachother's nerves sometimes but we don't fight anymore. My mom does a lot more of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit I don't exactly know why some people experience more and some don't but it may have something to do with the person's faith. My dad has very strong faith and doesn't need God to show him as much as my mom needs. I have a high amount of faith too but I've experienced almost as much as my mom.
Back to when I was in Brazil
I also prayed in a group over a young woman who had a demon. Mostly I just kept quiet and prayed silently in tongues the whole time while a more experienced person prayed for her. Some healings take time even days, months or years and some people are healed instantly... I think that this particular girl was prayed for around 4 hours. I stayed there for half an hour to an hour before I felt like God was leading me to pray elsewhere. The other people in the group reported later that she was delivered and had a whole new different and better countanance. She was not deathly sad anymore but rejoicing and praising God.
These things don't only happen in other countries but it is a lot more common since here we are so rich and rely on medicine and science and counselors so much that our faith in God is a lot lower. When we returned to my church we prayed for some people on ocasions and they would be healed but there weren't as many people there willing to come forward with problems (my church is small) and no dead were brought in to be brought back to life here either. That didn't happen the time I went to Brazil either but since then, the dead have been raised and it happens in other places as well.
We have a bunch of vidoes of testimonies of people. One in particular that interests me is Hidie Baker. She runs orphanages in some country... I forget the name. She sees food multiplied almost daily to feed the thousands of children there. She sees so much of God but I can't go on forever so I'll stop there... besides you mostly want my own experiences.

I just read the above posts that happened while I was typing all that up.
There is also another possibility. God has been hearing you and it just wasn't the time then. Perhaps now is the time. Perhaps my sharing with you will raise your faith more and perhaps you will need even more testimonies and some experiences of your own to finally except Jesus. The Lord's timing is best and I pray that you will keep striving to know him.

 

[ukok]

I have asked and prayed, but I got nothing. I have been exploring this for almost 20 years now (I'm in my thirties) with praying, reading, and talking about it. I'm either left feeling confused, having doubts, or just frustrated. I would like to hear others' experiences, as the conclusion I'm getting is that there is either a God who doesn't care about me, there's a God who doesn't know how to reach me, there's a God who wants me to struggle, or there is no God. Still nothing conclusive.





Boomygrrl

It isn't that God doesn't know how to reach you...but it may be that it is you who does'nt know how to receive Him into your life ? And who can blame you, i can't tell you how to do that, all i know is that when we are genuine and we truly seek, we will find. Perhaps the answers that you are seeking are not the answers that you really need?

Perhaps you are looking for a 'sign', when sign's are all around you but they are overlooked? sometime's when we take a step back and allow God to reveal thing's to us in His way and in His time, we come to an awareness that we as humans, rather frequently expect things to come in blatantly obvious messages...in my experience, God is often very subtle. May i ask, have you ever gone to a church? Have you ever sat in the stillness of a church and simply asked God to reveal himself to you..and i don't mean then and there, like a thunderbolt....

 

[LegomasterJC]

Keep praying for him to reveal Himself to you, Go to a church and learn, and of course keep coming here so we can see how you get allong and encourage you.

 

[Vigil]

Greetings and Blessing be upon you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.



You ask, Prove God, or Justify Him

Too often we surround ourselves with what Man Made, and forget to Look at what God Made.

So if you want to Find God, I suggest Walk into the forest, and just wait.

God Will come to you, and you will see him in all the life that surrounds you. For God is, and all that IS, is what God has made for us.

Stop in your life, and take a look at it. Look at what God Made just for You.

God Bless.

Vigil.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)

 

[All4THALORD]

There are many times in my life that the LORD has showed Himself strong. One particular time was my first day of first grade. We had just got a new car and my dad and sisters took it out to test drive it. They stayed out for awhile and me and my mom became worried. After awhile, they finally showed up. Me and my mom were in a hurry so as soon as they got home we jumped in the car. We got about two miles down the road and the unthinkable happened. We came around a curve and when we did, one of our rear tires came off. We flipped three times and finally landed upside down. And usually when you flip a car and land on the roof, the WHOLE roof is dented in. And being a little kid, I could fit under the dashboard. But I didn't know this at the time. So when we landed upside down the roof ON MY SIDEwas totally dented in. And my mom's side wasn't even touched. I was somehow positioned under the dashboard perfectly to where I was completely protected. I came out of that wreck completely untouched. As for my mom, she had a little blood on her hands, but it could've been worse. It was amazing because it wasn't me that put myself under that dashboard it was the LORD. He used His mighty hand to push me under that dashboard. He had His hand over us that day and every time I think of the wreck, it makes me want to praise Him. And if you think about it, God is God. He is omnipitent. His will always prevails. So when the devil tried to destroy me that day, the LORD said "no, he's one of mine, you leave him alone, satan". And praise the LORD, because i'm invincible until the LORD is done with me.I won't leave this earth until His will is done through my obedience. God Bless you and I hope and pray that the LORD will just show Himself strong to you!

 

[ChristianCandy]

What I want is personal experiences. Would you please share with me why you, as an individual, believe God exists? In other words, did anything happen in your life or did you witness anything that made you say "there's no doubt about it, God exists!"

There is no better way to find God or to prove to yourself that He exists except to watch Him answer your prayers. He has answered mine time & time again.

I have asked for healing. He healed me of cancer.

I have asked him for provision. He provided financially 2 yrs. for me while I was inbetween jobs.

When I was 12 yrs. old, I prayed that God would let this Christian boy talk to me who was avoiding talking to me for months, and the next this same boy spoke to me.

I have prayed for others, & saw those prayers of healing & protection get answered too.

There is no better way to prove His existence until you test Him. How? Pray (which is talking to Him) & watch Him answer your prayers.

 

[LegomasterJC]

Don't go too far with that wordage "test Him" because the Bible says directly not to test the Lord your God. But asking for him to show himself to you through answered prayers is a great idea. Just don't jump off a building to test if God will save you from death or injury. That is an extreme example but I hope you get the idea.

 

[Boomygrrl]

Thanks for the responses so far. I do intend to pray more about this and perhaps have a "nature walk."
Please more responses about personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Boomygrrl

 

[BarbB]

Remember that Satan is the author of confusion and the father of lies. He'll try desperately to keep you from the truth! Pray that your confusion be removed that you may see Jesus as he is! God bless you!

 

[LegomasterJC]

I can't think of any of my personal experiences right now since I am still young, but I'll share about some testimony that I have heard.
I just got out one of the letters that have been sent to me from Global Awakening (the organization that I went to Brazil with) about something that happened to an intern, Jamie, during the recent Youth Power Invasion to Curitiba, Brazil. The following is Jamie's account in his own words. He calls it "Caught Up and Lit Up":

"We just took a trip to Brazil where we trained up hundreds of youths to do the stuff. What a powerful trip it was! I have traveled to a lot of places with Randy but this trip took me to a whole new level!

I had an experience that was out of this world! I was meditating on John 15:15 when all of a sudden I found myself in this place where I was light as a feather and being sucked up into the sky. I asked the Holy Spirit what was going on and I heard a voice say, "I am taking you to the third heaven." I am not sure where I ended up, but I remember that it was a room with thick dark clouds. It was so thick that it was very hard to see. All I could see was a Being of light behind the clouds. He was like living light behind those cloudsand bolts of lightning were shooting out from HIm. I just stared as power was coursing over my entire being... and when I came back I just wept and wept as the power of God continued to run through me. I have had many powerful experiences with Jesus but this wone takes the cake.

That very night I preached a message babout co-laboring with Jesus. About twenty minutes into the message the Lord showed me that there was a witch in the building. I broke the power of witch craft in the name of Jesus and declared that the spirit of witchcraft was not allowed here. When I did this it was like heaven opened up right there. Then all of a sudden people started pointing at me with utter amazement! I had no idea why they were pointing at me... all I know is that I was getting blasted and getting poured on by the holy Spirit. This went on for about ten to fifteen minutes.

Finally, a team member approached me and told me that I was lit up and glowing like a light bulb... there was a light forming all the way around me One person described it as though someone put a spotlight on me. I stopped the sermon and asked for all the terminally ill people to get up on the stage because there is a lot of power here tonight. I have seen a lot of amazing htings happen to me when traveling with Randy, but this was perhaps the most powerful day of ministry that I have ever been a part of.

The healings that took place that night were awesome! It was like the place blew up with the presence of God. We saw incredible things happen as the team prayed and testimony after testimony of God's healing, saving, and delivering power was told. Praise Jesus for His awesome love and power toward us all!"

During the Youth Power Invasion the youth ministry teams saw close to 5,000 healings, salvations, and deliverances! Almost 200 young people traveled to Brazil for training, equipping and impartationn to "do the stuff"

That is just one of the letters that Randy Clark (the founder of Global Awakening under God) has recieved.

 

[moosiz]

I think the thing that convinced me of God the most was trying to imagine a life without God. What would the world be like in the absence of god. I know looking at the world its far from perfect in fact it seems pretty much total darkness but what ive noticed is that there's a peace ignored. There is a warm presence that seems so still and quiet, yet if u tap into it, its so strong and passionate and overwhelming with power its just society is so noisy over it. God knows that u've been searching, and maybe the thing that is making it hard is the questions u have flowing through ur mind constantly. Uncertianity and doubt, maybe that marrs your prayers. The fact u dont believe God can talk to u back before u even go to pray. It says in the Bible to have faith and not to doubt. Just believe that today will b the day he reveals himslf to u. I feel u should also ask another christian to help u pray and pray with u. xx

 

[Serapha]

Hi there!

I really am on the fence as to whether God exists or not. I know there really is no scientific way to prove one way or the other. If there is, it isn't very convincing....


In other words, did anything happen in your life or did you witness anything that made you say "there's no doubt about it, God exists!"

I grew up automatically believing that The Holy Bible was absolute truth, and then I met the "world" and all the discouraging words against the infalliblity of the Bible. I believe in God because of the personal relationship and personal walk that I have through Jesus Christ. But I believe the Bible more and more each day because of all the research and studies into archaeological evidences and supports, historical evidences and fulfillment of prophecies.

I recommend reading a book, "The Archaeology of the New Testament" by E. M. Blaiklock. I have probably read 100+ books and magazines on Bible archaeology and this book gives magnificent evidences of some the most minor details of the Bible.


If you find the Bible to be absolute truth concerning the most minor details of the Bible passages, the people, the places, the customs, the geographic and historic references.... then I can certainly believe that God exists according to His Word. And I consider each of the people in the Bible to be a personal eye witness to the words and works of an Almighty God.



~serapha~

 

[Reformationist]

Hello all. As I've mentioned before, I'm agnostic. I really am on the fence as to whether God exists or not. I know there really is no scientific way to prove one way or the other. If there is, it isn't very convincing. I read "The Case for a Creator" by Lee Strobel and didn't find it convincing at all. However, with that said, that still doesn't mean there isn't a God. I was hoping Strobel's book could help clarify this for me, but it didn't. So, I'm still left confused.
What I'm asking for is not scientific explanations. I'm not interested in "proving" God exists. What I want is personal experiences. Would you please share with me why you, as an individual, believe God exists? In other words, did anything happen in your life or did you witness anything that made you say "there's no doubt about it, God exists!" Please no bible scriptures that say God is real. I would expect no less from the bible but to declare that. There's no surprise that the bible says God exists. I am looking more for real life, current (within your lifetime), verifiable (at least in your mind, it doesn't have to be scientifically verifiable in a lab or anything like that) events that point to God.

Thanks,
Boomygrrl

Hello again. Boomygrrl, the most concrete evidence that God exists, at least for me, is that I believe in Him. I know this will do little to dispel the feelings of doubt that you experience but I do want you to know that true faith in God is not the product of something specific we experience. It is a realization we come to by means no less than divine intervention. I understand that this same type of reasoning could be applied to any number of beliefs. However, despite that I can only tell you that I am a believer. And, knowing and understanding what I know and understand about God gives me proof positive that God is real and He has saved me from the wrath that I so richly deserve.

Another point of interest is that we can look at the world around us, the created order, and its magnificence speaks loudly of divine origin. There are many who are more than comfortable attributing our existance, and the existance of all things we can tangibly take in, to nothing less than cosmic coincidence. I imagine we could all assume as much. However, if one stops trying to prove the non-existance of God they are so completely inundated with the proof of His existance in the world in which we live that our denial becomes nothing more than self-righteous nonsense.

The bottom line, Boomygrrl, is simply that a true belief in the reality of a sovereign God is actually a whole lot more believable than the idea of millions of events coinciding to create the world we live in. Look at the complexity of our environment. Look at the complexity of the human eye. Could this truly be the work of anything less than the hand of a divine Being? It seems readily apparent to believers that the idea of a single celled amoeba ever evolving into the breathtaking miracle that is the human body is nothing more than nonsense. We do not have a single verifiable example of species to species evolution yet, ironically, more non-believers are ready to embrace such an idea than even consider the possibility of a divine Creator.

As to my personal faith, well, again I can only credit the Lord with that. I know that before He came into my heart, unbidden, to do His will by rescuing me from the pit of my consciousless hedonism to that of His beloved child I was, without a doubt, more than pleased to wallow in my depravity.

My conversion to one who seeks to do His will and obey the Law He has so mercifully given us is proof, at least to me, of the divine intercession of none other than a sovereign God.

I pray that the Lord will give you true faith in Him that manifests itself in an undeniable desire to do His will.

God bless

 

[crossrunner]

Boomygrrl...
My heart hurts for you. I wish I could bring comforting and convincing words to you but only God can do that. I will be praying for you. I can also assure you that we all have periods of doubt and uncertainty in our faith. Our Holy Book says that if you will seek Him you will find Him so I encourage you to continue seeking God.
During church today, our pastor gave his testimony. He had doubts too. He studied all the world's religions and even read the Bible from cover to cover. He could find no peace. It wasn't until he became involved in a singles group at a church that he began to hear and understand the gospel of the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. The singles pastor told the group one week that he wanted them all to bring a friend to the next week's meeting...as he was going to extend an invitation for these people to give their lives to Christ. Chuck (my pastor) decided that he would do the best he could to be there. However, he was in Dallas at a convention for the business he was in. He decided that he would fly back home and get to the singles meeting. The plane was delayed and he had to rush as fast as he could to the church. He got to the meeting just as the pastor was getting ready to pray for those who were coming to Christ. He dedicated his life to the Lord at that moment and his life was changed forever.
Changed lives are the best proof of God's existance I can give you. My life was changed so much! I have been a Christian for over 20 years and I can tell you that I was once like you. Uncertain and searching. I decided that I would take a chance on God and I surrendered myself to Him. I have never once regretted it. My live has not been perfect. I still suffer, have moments of anger and sadness and I still fall....but the big difference is that I no longer walk alone and when I do fall, the Lord is there to help me up! Praise Him!!
Please take a leap of faith...a chance on God. Pray to give Him your life, repent of your sins and ask Him for forgiveness. Even in your uncertainty and doubt....He will bless you and come through for you!
God bless you dear. And keep posting to let us know how you are doing!
cr

 

[Reformationist]

My life was changed so much! I have been a Christian for over 20 years and I can tell you that I was once like you. Uncertain and searching. I decided that I would take a chance on God and I surrendered myself to Him.

Why did you take a chance? There had to have been something that made you think that your desire to be a child of God would be answered. You weren't just blindly shooting in the dark hoping that a God who might or might not exist would answer you, right?

Please take a leap of faith...a chance on God. Pray to give Him your life, repent of your sins and ask Him for forgiveness. Even in your uncertainty and doubt....He will bless you and come through for you!

I certainly agree that God answers our prayers but I am all to often confronted with Christians who give non-believers the advice to "take a leap of faith." I find this to be personally lacking as an evangelistic approach because it seems to be a bit of odd advice for someone who has no faith, don't you think? A "leap of faith" must be spawned by faith, wouldn't you say? If a person already has faith then they're not actually a non-believer, right?

Please understand that I ask only out of curiosity. I am not attempting to discredit your view.

Thank you for any insight you may offer.

God bless

 

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

Reformationist - please don't link faith in God with creationism, especially if you do so with things that aren't entirely true - amoebas did not evolve into men according to evolutionary theory; "believers" do not automatically reject evolution - indeed many don't - they are not in opposition; and species to species evolution is extremely well documented.

It doesn't do to associate something you want someone to believe with things they may well already know aren't true. Evolution is not a problem to evangelism unless you set it up as one.

 

[LegomasterJC]

Reformationist, I had the same problem with that wording of an unbeliever taking a leap of faith. First you must believe, then you have faith for faith is the belief for what is to come, unwavering belief in God's promise fully persuaded that God has the power to fulfill it, and being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (I've been doing a study on faith recently)
Faith makes possible according to the Bible:
Mathew 21:22 answered prayer, Romans 15:13 Hope, Joy and peace, Ephesians 3:12 Access to God, Ephesians 6:16 Protection from the flaming arrows of saten.
Faith is a Spiritual Gift from God. Without it, you can not see the work of God... even if you did see all the miracles that God does, if you do not have faith, you will not truely see them for what they are. Just as the pharasies did not have faith even with all that Jesus did. And now even greater things than those are being done and some still do not believe.
Ask God to give you faith and we pray also for you to recieve it.