Emotionally Convinced?

[Chris†opher Paul]

Hi, yet another question, but I'm sure you all can handle it, heh.

Ok, I am intellectually convinced in God's existance, and that He came down to earth in the form of Jesus to save us. The abundance of evidence in the historical, physical, and scientific realms gives me enough assurance beyond any reasonable doubt.

However, I think it is different to be emotionally convinced. I have a friend that says that he "just knows" through prayer to God. He tells me that one day, when I just let God enter my heart through deep prayer/meditation, that I will get the realization. Do you all agree with this? Has it happened?

I do get strong feelings, tingles, and chills when I am in church sometimes, but not really when I pray on my own...yet. Maybe because I am not worthy?

Thanks!

 

[VOW]

To Souljah:

Some people get knocked to the ground with a lightning bolt, a la Paul on his way to Damascus. Didn't work that way for me.

My journey was similar to yours, in that it began as an exercise in intellect. All that intellect led me to the door of the Catholic Church, for the Protestant mind-set didn't fit with what I had learned. I KNEW I was Christian, and it just made sense to go to the first Christian Church, yanno?

Opening the Bible to see Jesus establish His Church on Peter, the Rock, was what focused my attention on the Catholic Church. It was a family crisis that sent me to a priest, and I understood that there was an empty spot inside of me that needed to be filled with God.

I took an Inquiry class with that priest, and our family started attending Mass every week. The more I learned in the class, the more I understood what was going on in Mass. And I developed a HUNGER for Communion.

Once I was received in the Catholic Church through Baptism, was Confirmed, had my marriage blessed, and then received my first Communion, I STILL didn't get the lightning bolt.

I got a sense of peace, and of rightness. I was home.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[LilyLamb]

I grew up in a family that went to church every Sunday. As a young girl (around age 10) I understood the message of salvation and was baptised. As an adult I was converted into the Catholic faith.

It wasn't until last month after I turned 42 when I went through a horrible week of going off pain meds for my FMS disease (and literally wanted to kill myself) that God brought me face to face with the realization that I am a sinner and that Jesus died for ME. I have always thought of myself as a "good" person - but in clinging to Him and reading His word I realized in my heart (what I knew in my head) that I am a sinner in need of salvation. It was a very emotional three hours - with much of it spent on my knees - acknowledging God as sovereign and in control and thanking Him for His awesome love and the gift of salvation. I learned a lot of wonderful things that morning to help strengthen me along my journey to eternal salvation.

You've probably heard that it's not enough to just believe that you have to receive the Lord in your heart and that many will miss heaven by 18 inches (the distance from the head to the heart). There's some truth there cause even the demons believe and you can bet the devil is not on his way to heaven.

The connection between the heart and the head can be very simple with one commitment on your part - it can be emotional or unemotional - it's the commitment to let Jesus be LORD of your life. To turn it all over to Him and to fully obey Him - with that you are doing more than just believing in God - you are willingly giving Him not just your head but your heart.

One more thing - the emotional realizations of what you are doing may not come until years later - but don't depend on your emotions - cause they can be very misleading.