Help! I need advice...

[Ioustinos]

...

 

[littlefishy]

Wow Justin, I must say I am very impresseed with your persistance. That in and of it'self I think must be pleasing to God. I wish I could help you, but the problem is I don't know what direction to go in because I would need to know the nature of what you are praying for, or at least the nature of your heart toward that thing. In order for anyone to give good advise, we probably need to rule out selfish intent, or a possible unwillingness to take no for an answer. This is probably not the case, maybe just an issue of God's timing. Do you mind sharing with us what you are praying for? I got the impression that maybe it was a wife.
Littlefishy

 

[desi]

God's probably quietly saying no.

 

[Ioustinos]

....

 

[littlefishy]

Well, here's the thing.
You already know I'm sure the importance of waiting on God to provide you a wife. It sounds like you've got that understood. Key word here is "waiting". You sound like you are ahead of your time in a lot of ways. You are discerning about your calling, you are very much a servant, and most importantly you WANT to please God, and oh how I wish I had your discipline. You may not want to hear this darlin, but you need to be patient. You ARE very young. I don't know God's plans for you, but they have got to be awesome because you are one of a kind. Don't think because God has told you what you want to hear when you want to hear it that he is ignoring you. I PROMISE he is not ignoring you. God is sovereign and you have got to learn to submit to that. It seems like this struggle to be in a relationship is kind of linked with your struggle with the season in your life. Let's face it, it's down right dry. Would I be right to say you are probably used to God speaking to you and giving you a keen awareness of His Presense, resulting in your great zeal. And that it is unbearable for you to be in the desert. Are you doing all this fasting because maybe you think it will provoke God to be pleased with you and give you what you are asking for. Have some grace for yourself. You were brought into a relationship with him by His grace. Now you need to allow grace to cover you, and don't work so hard. You MUST go into the desert. You can't stay in the midst of the Red Sea forever. Don't complain about the manna, do you follow? The longer it takes for you to submit to this season of hardship, the more time you will spend wandering around in it until you learn patience and realize that GOD IS IN CONTROL. Relax. Psalm 46:10 sais "Be still, and know that I am God..."
I have only been a Christian 7 years, and I am VERY familiar with this struggle.
Another quick thought: God doesn't have a girlfriend for you, he has a wife. Give Him a chance to prepare her. You'll be glad you did.
Hope it helps.
Oh, check out the thread in this forum from Justin, who is lonely also. You will be very encouraged I think.
Littlefishy

 

[grumish]

ther once was a man who lived out in the country by himself. oneday there was a flood and the water jusat kept rising and rising. after a while a few guys came by in a dingy and asked the man if he wanted to be rescued, he just smiled and said "no thanks, the Lord Jesus will save me". so they said ok and left him. after a bit longer the water got higher and higher and it was almost up to the roof and he was sitting on top. some more people came by in a boat and said you really should come with us the water level is really getting out of control, he just smiled and said "no thanks, the Lord Jesus will save me". after a little while the man had resorted to standin on top of his chimmny with his feet covered by the water, along came a helicopter and the people said you must come with us we won't be making another pass, the man just smiled and said politely"no thanks, the Lord Jesus will save me". eventually the water got to high and the man drowned, when he got to heaven he asked God why he didn't save him. God just looked at the man and said "i send you two boats and helicopter, what more did you want?"
i guess you just gotta wait man, i really wish i had your level of persistnce, i really do. every situation God has an answer for you. some times it's yes, sometimes no and sometimes just wait. maybe he's just trying to tell you to hold up for a bit. maybe he's given you an answer and you just haven't heard it yet. there's a million posibilities you never know mt friend just try to wait it out and don't get discouraged. he really does know just the right time for everything.

 

[bliz]

Our God would not be much of a God is we could snap our fingers like a rude patron in a restaurant and summon him to our tableside to do our bidding. God WILL always answer prayer. The answer can be YES, NO or WAIT. You seem to count as an answer only YES answers.

God will do as He pleases in any situation. If He does not wish to give you X, no amount of fervent prayer and dedication will change His mind. Yes, he wants us to always be in prayer and bring out petitions to Him but life in Christ is not a magic formula - "Pray fervently and you will get what you desire."

If God feels a million miles away, which one of you moved? Perhaps God does not want you obsessing about a young lady at this time. Maybe he wants your atention on something else. Do you really believe that God will supply all your needs? Do you think He does not know that you would like a wife, or this particular person?

It seems pretty clear that the answer right now is WAIT. But God never wants us to be idle as we wait. He w3ants us to be about building the Kingdom. So, get to work! If nothing else, it will make the time pass more quickly... but there are a lot of other benifits as well.

 

[helmikaarina]

When Jesus was in anguish He prayed on the mount of olives: "yet not my will, but yours be done". He had taught his followers the same prayer: "Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

Whatever you pray it's very safe to say this prayer too, because God knows better. But it is also a risk to pray this prayer, because God will have his will done - and it can be totally something else than we think.

Faith is trusting in God. He is faithful, he is there for us, even if we don't feel anything. He has promised it. But He has not promised to do everything we ask. What should we do with a god who'll act just like we wish? He wouldn't be God.

In my life it has many times taken years or decades to understand why things were otherwise I hoped for. And there are some things I don't understand at all. But I know that God knows what He is doing also in my life. That's enough for me.

 

[wayfaring man]

Greetings Justin ,

Some good advice so far . Much of which you may already be familiar with .

But good words , don't lose their flavor , as long as we savor their meaning .

The fact that you're only 21 , says alot .

Are you in a position , spiritually , mentally , emotionally , and financially , to be a husband and a father ?

Do you put your desires for a woman/wife above seeking God's Kingdom , and His Righteousness ? ( See Matthew 6:33+34 )

Have you considered that God's will may be for you to remain unmarried , so that you may serve him without distraction ? ( 1st Corinthians 7:29-38 )

Just because something is difficult , doesn't mean it's not God's will .
Look to the struggle Jesus had in the flesh as he brought his flesh under subjection in the mount of olives <--> See Luke 22:39-46 and in The Garden Geth-sem'ane <--> See Matthew 26:36-46 [ Do a study on those places , what the names mean and symbolize ] Geth-sem'ane = oil press !

Yet , your youth may be the main factor ; but you should still know about the virtues of God's alternative .

Either way , whether we marry , or not , there will be times when we wish we were the other way . How then are we necessarily the better for choosing either one ?!

In your case , it sounds as if the sense of need consumes you ; and as such , it's likely you should expect to marry .

But God could also change that .

I've been single for 25 years now , and the longer I am this way the better I like it !

I probably , only wish I was married about 5% of the time now ; where as when I was closer to your age the rate was much higher .

Instead of continuing to pour out the same prayer over and over . Know that the Lord already heard you ; and pray for Him to help you to endure well this time of waiting , for His will / His choice to be made plain .

And prepare for the responsibilities of marriage / parenthood , while you're waiting ... if you haven't already .

For some reason the name Alice , or Allison , or Alyssa , or something similar sounding popped into my mind . But it may in regards to something else ?

Well Justin , You've done a good thing asking for advice .

I pray we also , have done you well by giving it !

Peace and Contentment , In The Beloved ,

wm

 

[TheMainException]

Dear brother, I think that if you continue to live a Godly life by following the commandments, the answer you seek with come...he won't leave you hanging, but maybe the answer you seek is just a little out of reach yet, keep reaching, keep seeking, this fasting may just be exactly what God wants from you, your dedication.

 

[Endure2]

jesaiah

you keep on praying, you keep on fasting, and you keep the faith. hell show up, whether you began in faith or not, if it fails, you dont get your miracle.

hold fast to the truth that whatever you ask of him in the name of Jesus, he will give it to you.
be reminded that daniel sought the lord with fasting, and the angel was sent but it took weeks for the angel to show up becuase he said he struggled with the prince of persia, there is spiritual power resisting you jesaiah, it doesnt mean God doesnt honor his word when he knock and it shall be opened, seek and you shall find, ALL good things come down from the father of lights, he has blessed us with ALL spiritual blessing, and he has given us ALL things that pertain unto life and Godliness.

God is never late, but he always shows up about 2 weeks after our flesh thinks he ought to. (thats just a number but the point is, get past the way of the flesh, and keep seeking him)

most peoples prayers go unanswered not because God didnt give them, but becuase they stop halfway.

the samaritan woman came and Jesus told her NO, she kept persuing and Jesus told her NO, but she would not take no for an answer and God said GREAT IS YOUR FAITH OR DETERMINATION, YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER YOUR PREFER.

these theories that sometimes God says no, for whatever reason, are all lies.



THE ONLY TIME, WE NEED SAY "NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE" OR THINK "HE KNOWS BEST..."
IS WHEN
1. THE FLESH MUST BE PUT IN SUBJECTION TO THE SPIRIT.
2. YOUR TRYING TO CHANGE THE WAY THINGS WORK IN THE KINGDOM.
3. YOUR SEEKING SOMETHING OUT OF A SINFUL MOTIVATION.

IT IS NEVER TRUE, ABOUT SIMPLE PRAYER REQUESTS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.
YOU CAN GET ANYTHING, OR MIRACLE YOU WANT FROM GOD.

God says "break up the fallow ground" that is ground that was broken up, but not seeded in time, so it has to be broken again.
it is AN UNFINISHED WORK.
most of the our failed attemps at a miracle, are really just unfinished works.

you have to seek him till he comes.