cannot pray anymore

[hannahmaniac]

edited

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

Han, it sounds to me like you need a hug or three . I’d also like to share something with you that I was reminded of at Church last Sunday. One of our elders was speaking and he asked us where we thought God was. Was He sitting in a throne a thousand light years away? Did He stay in the Church building and leave us when we left every weekend? Did He accompany us on our journey every day?

We ended up remembering that God is with us wherever we go. He’s there holding our hand or holding us up. More than that though, He surrounds us and saturates us in His mercy and grace. We’re completely covered from head to toe in pure passion and love. It’s the same passion we hear talked about when people talk about the Saviour dying on the cross. He didn’t die because He had to – He died because He loved us with such a powerful love and no matter how hard we may sometimes try, we cannot erase the deep truth that He goes to extreme measures just to tell us He loves us.

Somebody who loves you so very much is not out to punish you are every turn. Yes, there are risks involved in having sex with your boyfriend and I do not know of any contraception that is 100%, but I don’t believe God is sitting on a throne somewhere just waiting for the right moment to pounce and destroy your life. It doesn’t necessarily mean that He likes you doing it, but as Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.”

What’s more is that you are allowed to be angry at God. I don’t believe He always expects us to be the ‘happy-go-lucky’ Christians that others sometimes think we are – He would rather that we were honest with Him. If you are angry at Him then tell Him so. Yell and scream and break sticks and punch your pillow - but know that nothing you do or say will stop Him loving you. He went through an awful lot to save us in the first place – He’s not about to give up on us because we stumble and fall.

I would also suggest that you talk to your boyfriend. It’s not his fault, but your faith is something of importance to you and should be talked about if possible.

If you ever want to PM me Han, I’m online quite a bit.

Shalom,
Steffi

 

[hannahmaniac]

edited

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

thank you very much for your help steffi. I really appreciate it. I feel like God is very far away, the image was of him sitting on a throne, I have never really been able to feel like he is always here and I dont know why. I wish I could. I am worried because of the latter half of my post. I prayed that me and my boyfriend would split up, and I meant it, but now I dont mean it and I dont want God to split us up, I just want him to make things easier between us, I am going to talk to my boyfriend next time I see him

Han x

I know it can be difficult to feel God's presence. It always seems the head knows the logical reasons why God loves you, but sadly the heart can be a little argumentative. I cannot tell you why it happens this way, but trust me when I tell you that I know what it's like. I call it a period of silence and for me it has been going on for close to four and a half years now, but I choose to follow my head because I know that I cannot always rely on my emotions.

I will continue to pray for you and your boyfriend Han.

 

[seajoy]

Hannah,

The first thing I'd like to say to you is that God understands ocd...every type there is, every thought that's been thought. There is the verse "there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The Lord has heard it all. He knows everything about you. He knows what you mean, even when you don't know what you mean!

A verse that has always helped me in my ocd is "Be still, and know that I Am God." (Psalm 46:10). Even when you can't pray, the Holy Spirit prays for you. I too, was in the depths of dispair, unable to pray sometimes with my ocd being so bad. God keeps His promises and will not give you more than you can bear. (it doesn't always feel that way, I know).

God is not pleased that you are sleeping with your boyfriend, but the Lord loves you just the same. He doesn't want us to do things that are sinful. Ask Him for help with your relationship with your boyfriend. God cares about that, also.

Jesus lived and died, and rose again. Even if you were the only person that ever lived, He would have done this for you...His love is that great.

seajoy

 

[mbrob]

Hi,

I have obsessed about nearly anything and everything catastrophic. Obsessions seem to manifest themselves in our worst fears (e.g., getting pregnant at a young age).

Have you seen a doctor? My life was falling apart because of OCD. My thoughts and prayers had gotten so disturbing that I was depressed and anxious. The Doctor, my pastor, and a therapist all helped significantly. Although I have lived with OCD for as long as I can remember, I have been taking meds for 4 months and can say now that I have more good moments than bad.

In addition to the meds, some encouraging scripture based ideas have kept me in prayer (even though sometimes the prayer goes completely wrong with OCD thoughts):

1. God knows what we need before we ask.
2. The Spirit intercedes (for our infirmities) for us while as we pray "for we don't know how to pray as we ought"
3. God is all knowing and searches our hearts.

The sneaky thoughts that pop into your head ARE NOT TRUTH about you. If they were, they wouldn't bother you. Therefore, try not to let them get the best of you. Getting anxious over those thoughts, gives them value. Devaluing the thoughts took months for me and I still have a ways to go. I hope this is helpful.

Don't give up!

Marc

 

[seajoy]

Hi,

I have obsessed about nearly anything and everything catastrophic. Obsessions seem to manifest themselves in our worst fears (e.g., getting pregnant at a young age).

Have you seen a doctor? My life was falling apart because of OCD. My thoughts and prayers had gotten so disturbing that I was depressed and anxious. The Doctor, my pastor, and a therapist all helped significantly. Although I have lived with OCD for as long as I can remember, I have been taking meds for 4 months and can say now that I have more good moments than bad.

In addition to the meds, some encouraging scripture based ideas have kept me in prayer (even though sometimes the prayer goes completely wrong with OCD thoughts):

1. God knows what we need before we ask.
2. The Spirit intercedes (for our infirmities) for us while as we pray "for we don't know how to pray as we ought"
3. God is all knowing and searches our hearts.

The sneaky thoughts that pop into your head ARE NOT TRUTH about you. If they were, they wouldn't bother you. Therefore, try not to let them get the best of you. Getting anxious over those thoughts, gives them value. Devaluing the thoughts took months for me and I still have a ways to go. I hope this is helpful.

Don't give up!

Marc

Marc has some great words of wisdom here! Everything he's saying is right on track. I did all those same things to get better...you can too !

seajoy

 

[seajoy]

How are you Hannah? Just checking in.

seajoy

 

[CavFan]

I've had similar problems with my thoughts during prayer. I think God can tell the difference between something you really mean and something that just pops into your mind.

 

[unpardoned1]

Sorry this is a double post. I posted the same thing 2 times accidentily, (it wasn't OCD I promise) The second post is better...its on the next page.

 

[unpardoned1]

I've had similar problems with my thoughts during prayer. I think God can tell the difference between something you really mean and something that just pops into your mind.

I have the same prayer issues. It is "mechanical" prayer.
This is very hard for me as well. I feel God gets angry about it or doesn't take me seriously.

Seajoy is right...The Holy Spirit will pray for you, He knows the inner longings and desires of your heart.