How can I start spiritual conversations with my family?

[pinkjess]

I am at the end of my rope here. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I am the only Christian in my family (Not a very good one by the way but that's not the point...).

There are people in my family who say that they believe in God but I know in my heart they do not truly know Him as Lord because their lives do not appear to be "changed" or "active" if that makes any sense. I just know in my heart they do not know Jesus. And that worries me to no end. I want them to know Him like I have come to know Him. I don't want them to be lost.

I guess I am the black sheep of the family. I am known for trying to bring God into my family's lives (though not often or effectively) by periodically asking them what they think about God. It always almost ends in them joking or laughing it off and walking away. I laugh and walk away too and feel sad that I failed. I have major social anxiety and have trouble speaking due to a nervous stutter so you can see I am not very secure in my ability to talk to people, not even my own family.

All conversations I have tried to make have ended in an uncomfortable awkwardness that always makes me want to kick myself in the mouth. I go back to my room feeling mad at myself because I know I am probably the only person God can use to bring the gospel to my family members. I shudder at that thought. Why can't He use someone more...eloquent or less scared? I want to be the one God uses, but I can't. I'm too scared. I'm scared of offending my family because, in the back of my mind, I think "what if I push them farther from God?" and then on the other hand I think "I may be the only hope God has at making Him known to them, I have to do this no matter what".

Everyday I worry about something happening to me or my family...what if they get in a wreck, what if I die etc. and never have the chance to really talk to them about Jesus. Why is this so hard for me?

I am tired of being scared. I am just so intimidated when it comes to this.My family does not know the real me. I keep any interaction between us as pleasant as possible and never bring up God...but lately I feel as if I am going to explode. I want to reach out to them so bad..but how? Please give me advice.

Give me one-liners or conversation starters for a shy person like me to gravitate towards Jesus with my family. Pray that I stop being scared and show courage and be the person God is calling me to be. God has been calling me to do something for three years now...I keep putting it off because I am too scared and because I don't know how or what to say.

 

[bottledwater]

I am at the end of my rope here. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I am the only Christian in my family (Not a very good one by the way but that's not the point...).

There are people in my family who say that they believe in God but I know in my heart they do not truly know Him as Lord because their lives do not appear to be "changed" or "active" if that makes any sense. I just know in my heart they do not know Jesus. And that worries me to no end. I want them to know Him like I have come to know Him. I don't want them to be lost.

I guess I am the black sheep of the family. I am known for trying to bring God into my family's lives (though not often or effectively) by periodically asking them what they think about God. It always almost ends in them joking or laughing it off and walking away. I laugh and walk away too and feel sad that I failed. I have major social anxiety and have trouble speaking due to a nervous stutter so you can see I am not very secure in my ability to talk to people, not even my own family.

All conversations I have tried to make have ended in an uncomfortable awkwardness that always makes me want to kick myself in the mouth. I go back to my room feeling mad at myself because I know I am probably the only person God can use to bring the gospel to my family members. I shudder at that thought. Why can't He use someone more...eloquent or less scared? I want to be the one God uses, but I can't. I'm too scared. I'm scared of offending my family because, in the back of my mind, I think "what if I push them farther from God?" and then on the other hand I think "I may be the only hope God has at making Him known to them, I have to do this no matter what".

Everyday I worry about something happening to me or my family...what if they get in a wreck, what if I die etc. and never have the chance to really talk to them about Jesus. Why is this so hard for me?

I am tired of being scared. I am just so intimidated when it comes to this.My family does not know the real me. I keep any interaction between us as pleasant as possible and never bring up God...but lately I feel as if I am going to explode. I want to reach out to them so bad..but how? Please give me advice.

Give me one-liners or conversation starters for a shy person like me to gravitate towards Jesus with my family. Pray that I stop being scared and show courage and be the person God is calling me to be. God has been calling me to do something for three years now...I keep putting it off because I am too scared and because I don't know how or what to say.

Jess, You are doing exactly what God would expect of you. Don't carry the burden of this responsibility on your own. Jesus said that He came to cause division. families will turn against one another.
I love my family also. I even broke down at my parents kitchen table once, while telling them that I was afraid for them. That they might go to Hell when they die, without Jesus. They told me that there are two things we don't talk about. Politics, and Religion. They throw that line at me all of the time. I try and explain that christianity is a faith, and not religion. They are not interested. They look at each other smirking, and look at me like I'm nuts. I tell them that the man that came up with that stupid saying is someone that has no faith, and is giving advice from a debased mind. My mom is a British Jew. We never practiced Judaism, but, she isn't hearing anything about Jesus. She refuses. Her reaction is sometimes demonic, or at least it seems.
I, like yourself, find it so frustrating, and carry this burden in the back of my mind.
Honestly, I am getting to the point where I have to just let them go. I mean, it's between them and God.
When I became a christian, I was really evil. I was even going to kill a man, right around the time when Jesus saved me. When I was saved. I was in the midst of sinning against God. In fact He was the last thing on my mind. I remember how I went from one day being what I was, to waking up the next day with a new train of thought. And that train of thought had me thinking really hard on getting a bible to read. So I did.
So, when God decides to change their train of thought. He will.
I hope this was a little comfort to you Jess. Again, just trust that the Lord has it all in hand, because He really does.
Hey Jess. I love you. Keep up the good fight.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

1Ki 19:12-18 KJV
(12) And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
(13) And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
(14) And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
(15) And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
(16) And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
(17) And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
(18) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Elijah was distraught, because in his eyes he was the only one in all of Israel who had remained faithful to God. He just couldn't see with his eyes that there was any reason to believe that anyone else was faithful to God.

1Sa 16:6-7 KJV
(6) And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.
(7) But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

There is a powerful lesson here, and that lesson is that only God can see what's in someone's heart. None of us can look at another person and know if they have been reborn in Christ. Consider David, who God called a man after his own heart; if you got to know him during the time that he was committing adultery and plotting to kill his mistress' husband, you likely wouldn't see any indication at all that he was a man after God's own heart.

Pride is like a stick; on one end is arrogance, and on the other end is shyness - a shy person is simply a proud person who does not see that they have anything to be proud of at the moment. All pride is rooted in self focus; true humility is not debasing one's self, as this is actually a form of self focus; true humility is believing what God says about you as a reborn believer whether you see any evidence of that in your life or not. A bold and effective witness is not one based on the cleverness of one's own words; but one that is based on the words that God gives you to say at the time he wants you to say them to the person he wants you to say them to. You can't try to be a good witness; you can only try to yield to the leading of the Lord and speak through your mouth the words that he would have you to say.


Let God be the savior; trust him that he loves your family more than you do; have faith that he will be successful at drawing them to him. Practice focusing on God when you're around your family, and when he knows that you're ready to yield your mouth to him, the words will come.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Ask them about what they believe. First seek to understand. They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

 

[BFine]

Diligent prayer, faith and agape breaks down barriers.
.. you've talked to them about God already, now
Trust the Holy Spirit to do his job...you continue to show
them agape, keep them in diligent prayer and witness
by how you live out the faith each day in your own life.

Many have been won to the Lord by how a Christian
lives out his or her faith.

 

[nucity]

To start spiritual conversations is not difficult, i suggest relating some that happen to the Bible. However I also think don't overdo it. Dont try to turn too many conversation into a spiritual one or try too hard to relate it to bible. Otherwise they get bored. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing

 

[aChildOfMary]

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.

-Francis of Assisi

 

[Emmy]

Dear pinkjess. Jesus gives us good advice in Matthew 22: 35-40: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself."
Jesus points out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God is Love, and God wants loving sons and daughters.
In Matthew 7: 7-10: We are told: " ask and you shall receive," we ask God for Love and Joy, then we thank God, and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends. We keep asking for Love and Joy, then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. We might stumble and forget at times, but then ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring.
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," we change our selfish wishes and wants into Loving and Caring. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve and bless us. Keep doing this, pinkjess, and you will find that your loved ones and others also, will treat you the same as you treat others.
Do this for a time, show your loved ones how much you care, and you can then start conversations about Jesus and His Love for us. The Holy Spirit
will help and guide you, and Jesus our Saviour will lead you all the way:
JESUS IS THE WAY. I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Cyprezz]

I may not have any sound advice to help you talk to your family about God and absolutely everything wonderful about Him, but I do have a little thing for you to ponder about yourself.

I guess I am the black sheep of the family.

I am too. But why do we have to be the black sheep? It always carries negative connotations. We can be any color we want to be, or even different patterns! Today I decided I was an orange with pink polka dots sheep.
Don't let your hardships and feelings get in the way of the truth; that you are wonderfully made, and loved beyond what you can imagine. When you feel down about your family, just remember who you are in God, and try try again !

 

[insurchoftruth]

When you are on the end of the rope, God will give you another, or will extend the one you use. He often waits for us to use our own resources, before he gives us his supernatural provision and help. That is why Paul said; 'When I am weak, I am strong', because the grace of God comes more to us, when we are out of our own ability, strength and resources.

First, try to create a pleasant and nice conversation about anything, it does not need to be spiritual. When you feel that you have created a pleasant atmosphere and conversation, then you can drop a few words, about the Gospel. The reason is that, when people are in a nice pleasant conversation with someone, they naturally feel more open to listen, than when they are not.

But first of all, pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you what to say, because Jesus said that He will teach us about all things.