Damaged Faith need help

[FrederickM]

My faiths been damaged as of recent, I need help.
I don't feel like talking about what happened but can anyone give any advice?

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

Without knowing what has damaged your faith - whether it is bad experiences in your life, unanswered prayer, or doubts that have crept in based upon atheistic/agnostic argument against the existence of God - I would suggest that you read books on apologetics - examples would be C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity and books by Lee Strobel. Also, read Psalms my friend - you will find there the doubts and questionings of David before you.

Praying for you.

You might also want to take a trip to the nursery in your local hospital and check out those babies. Hike somewhere and look around at the majesty and beauty you see and ponder whether in your heart you really believe it just poofed into existence all by itself.

 

[wonderwaleye]

My faiths been damaged as of recent, I need help.
I don't feel like talking about what happened but can anyone give any advice?

GOD LOVES you and left HIS WORD so you would UNDERSTAND your pain. For then it's up to you as to if your are going to give HIM your heart in FAITH.



" Psalms Chapter 119



67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I hold to your promise.



1 Peter Chapter 1:


6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,




7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ




James Chapter 1




2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,



3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.





4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.





5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.




2 Corinthians
Chapter 1:




3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement,




4 who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.





5 For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.




Hebrews
Chapter 12:




5 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him;





6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."





7 Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?





8 If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.




9 Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live?





10 They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.





11 At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.




12 So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. "






ALWAYS REMEMBER:

JESUS IS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AT!!! EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T SEE HIM!!!

( left click and hold over the above to see your personal message )

 

[Elijah2]

Faith becomes damaged by having far too much trust in other things.

Many have been hurt by pastors, friends at churches, and continual assault upon the soul by unbelievers.

Faith can only be restored, when the hurting and pain stops.

Therefore, to eliminate hurt and pain, we must confess, repent, and forgive. That is three Gos-pills we take each morning and night before the sun sets.

So, is your lose of faith due to unforgiveness, or just good old plain hurt, offence, anger, bitterness, and resentfulness?

Can you explain a little bit more why you have lost your faith?

 

[70x7]

Keep our focus on God. At times it seems as if things cant get worse and you ask the question "why me" but realize that although you may not have seen this event coming, God did. He already knew what was going to happen and how you would react.

(Deut 31:6) "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

You are not alone and He gives you nothing that you cannot handle. Use this to strengthen your faith and grow in the Lord. God can handle everything.

(Gen 18:14) "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?"

He knows the path that led up to this and He knows the way out of the darkness.

 

[jellybean99]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

 

[Sketcher]

If I don't know what damaged your faith, I can't give you meaningful advice.

 

[aldar]

FrederickM

Whenever something happens that you think pulled you away from who you really are, its always good to stop and take sometime to remember and focus on that person you ought to be. I don't believe who we are should be based on techniques or simple phrases. Look inside your heart and remember, becuase who we are in their is who we really are. And if you need educate yourself or reread something that really sparks you then good, but who you are is found inside and it will always be there for you to remember and find again.

 

[Bellicus]

Romans tell that faith comes from hearing the word of God. So if you ever lack faith, then all you need is the word of God, to read it or hear it.

 

[FrederickM]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I should talk about what I'm feeling lately, well consciously I believe in God and all, and I really do but now for some reason, I'm taking prayers less seriously, and its just becoming a 'yeah I believe' sort of thing. I know I can't have that because its going to go away. Its not that I'm turning to atheist ideas or whatever, but that I'm becoming less 'Christian' if you know what I mean.

 

[kellyc]

every relationship has an ebb and flow, so it's kind of understandable that sometimes we feel less close to God than other times. read psalm 96 tonight, maybe if you continue in the word you will feel better over time. sometimes you just have to push thru, know what i mean?

 

[Zebra1552]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I should talk about what I'm feeling lately, well consciously I believe in God and all, and I really do but now for some reason, I'm taking prayers less seriously, and its just becoming a 'yeah I believe' sort of thing. I know I can't have that because its going to go away. Its not that I'm turning to atheist ideas or whatever, but that I'm becoming less 'Christian' if you know what I mean.

I know what you mean. Recently, I've fallen out of actually having prayer time for more than a minute or two at a time. I do, however, praise God a lot, and He knows what's going on with my life because I invite him into everything I do. It's kind of hard to explain, but I've sort of opened my heart to the Holy Spirit to the point where God is always walking with me. I go to church, I listen to Christian music, I read my Bible, and I chat in the forums. I keep my faith sharp, but prayer is just one area where I don't feel like I'm communicating with God. I can't just sit down and talk with Him, I have to spend time with him. If that includes comments here and there, great, but most of the time it doesn't.

Also, my relationship with God tends to go up and down sometimes. It's natural. Not wanting to pray doesn't make you less Christian, it just means that you probably communicate better with him through other means.

 

[X=?]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I should talk about what I'm feeling lately, well consciously I believe in God and all, and I really do but now for some reason, I'm taking prayers less seriously, and its just becoming a 'yeah I believe' sort of thing. I know I can't have that because its going to go away. Its not that I'm turning to atheist ideas or whatever, but that I'm becoming less 'Christian' if you know what I mean.

Don't let 'religion' consume your 'relationship' with God out of pratice. This is what seperates Christianity from Religion in that we can have a relationship with God.

God looks at our hearts and we are saved by Grace and Love, we do things because we love God not to earn his Love. He loves you dude as you are.

The very fact you posted your thread shows you care about your relationship with him. Its not about how we are feeling its about our stance with God in our life. A little faith can go a long way

 

[capnator]

Romans tell that faith comes from hearing the word of God. So if you ever lack faith, then all you need is the word of God, to read it or hear it.

So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God Romans 10:17

you need the word and lots of it!

 

[yureru132]

Spiritual apathy?
Take a hike. Literally. Try a mountain or something..or the beach. Look around you, look around you and see how beautiful the world is. And standing in awe is worship to God.
I think listening to Christian songs that you don't know can help too, because then you think more about the lyrics.

I know how you feel.. I'm going through something similar.. or well, i feel like ive hit a block or barrier and that I can't see or hear God.

Listen to some good sermons on the internet... conviction. Get those speakers that take you on a roller coaster in their messages--those are the best. [lol dont choose a boring one otherwise ur not gonna pay attention]. What you need is a passion for God.. and if you honestly seek it, if you ask God for it in prayer, you will get it. God listens when we pray, but when we cry out in pure honesty, he REAALLLY listens.

 

[jroland]

just pray try being involved in your church it helps alot i promise

 

[Elijah2]

Thanks for all the advice, I think I should talk about what I'm feeling lately, well consciously I believe in God and all, and I really do but now for some reason, I'm taking prayers less seriously, and its just becoming a 'yeah I believe' sort of thing. I know I can't have that because its going to go away. Its not that I'm turning to atheist ideas or whatever, but that I'm becoming less 'Christian' if you know what I mean.

So what you are saying is that you might becoming a back-slider?

Now mate, do you really know who you are and who are you in our Lord Jesus Christ?

Have you ever had good Biblical foundation in His Word?

Are you born again?

If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, then have you been baptised?

It's all about HIM mate, not you. It's all about being CHRIST-CENTRED!

When you give your life to our Lord Jesus Christ, you become a follower of HIM and a believer in HIM and then fight a good fight of faith.

Faith comes from reading His Word, doing HIS WORD, obeying HIS WORD, and most of all abiding in His Word.

Which ones don't you do?

 

[monmon]

Spiritual apathy?
Take a hike. Literally. Try a mountain or something..or the beach. Look around you, look around you and see how beautiful the world is. And standing in awe is worship to God.
I think listening to Christian songs that you don't know can help too, because then you think more about the lyrics.

I know how you feel.. I'm going through something similar.. or well, i feel like ive hit a block or barrier and that I can't see or hear God.

Listen to some good sermons on the internet... conviction. Get those speakers that take you on a roller coaster in their messages--those are the best. [lol dont choose a boring one otherwise ur not gonna pay attention]. What you need is a passion for God.. and if you honestly seek it, if you ask God for it in prayer, you will get it. God listens when we pray, but when we cry out in pure honesty, he REAALLLY listens.

this was really good advice thankyou.

 

[suzybeezy]

I would suggest getting involved in a church youth group or Bible study where you will find some fellowship with others who can support you and help you in your walk with the Lord.

 

[l0v3n]

Only good things come from God. The other stuff Satan used us to damages our faith how ever he can. All we need now is Gods word and reassurance that he will bring us out of the wreck.