How did you know you were ready?

[berachah]

The soul and spirit is the same thing. We can kill ourselves spiritually by being unloving. EZiekiel 18. The soul is reconciled by turning from wickedness to righteousness. Ezekiel 18.

....."and I pray God you whole spirit and soul and body be preseved blameless.." 1 Thess 5:23. Clearly there is distinction much like there is distinction between the Father ,Word and Holy Ghost...

The body allows our soul to interact with this natural realm, while the spirit allows our soul to interact with the spiritual realm.

Our soul and spirit does not die. We 'die' spiritually when we are cut off from the God of life and that happens when we deny the will of God and yield to another. This happened in the garden of Eden.

We are reconciled to God throuh Jesus; "whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5) Our sins are washed away and we have a good conscience before God through baptism into Christ. (1 Peter 3:21) We are empowered to manifest Christ through the Holy Ghost baptism.

Jesus did not say we are reconciled to God by understanding why Jesus died. He said we are reconciled by God by loving others and being admited into the presence of God by Him. Matt 25:31 and following.

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory" Matt 25:31......not convincing....

We are only reconciled to God through accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour.....

 

[elman]

....."and I pray God you whole spirit and soul and body be preseved blameless.." 1 Thess 5:23. Clearly there is distinction much like there is distinction between the Father ,Word and Holy Ghost...

The body allows our soul to interact with this natural realm, while the spirit allows our soul to interact with the spiritual realm.

Our soul and spirit does not die. We 'die' spiritually when we are cut off from the God of life and that happens when we deny the will of God and yield to another. This happened in the garden of Eden.

We are reconciled to God throuh Jesus; "whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5) Our sins are washed away and we have a good conscience before God through baptism into Christ. (1 Peter 3:21) We are empowered to manifest Christ through the Holy Ghost baptism.



"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory" Matt 25:31......not convincing....

We are only reconciled to God through accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour.....

Why would the teaching of Jesus not be convincing to you? If our soul cannot die, why did Ezekiel say we can kill it? Ezekiel 18.

 

[berachah]

Why would the teaching of Jesus not be convincing to you?

Jesus is most convincing...your use of the Matthew 25:31 for your argument isn't.

If our soul cannot die, why did Ezekiel say we can kill it? Ezekiel 18.

In this context of the rest of Ezekial 18, God is clearly speaking of the physical life of the person..Even those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire forever.....(Rev 20:4 - 15 KJV)

 

[SkyWriting]

Originally Posted by elman If our soul cannot die, why did Ezekiel say we can kill it? Ezekiel 18.

In this context of the rest of Ezekial 18, God is clearly speaking of the physical life of the person..Even those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire forever.....(Rev 20:4 - 15 KJV)

If the soul is in hell, it is considered destroyed.
I think Life without God or hope is death, even if it still exists.

 

[SPB1987]

Baptism was given to help you. You have something wonderful happening to you in being changed into a new living creature. Water believer baptism helps you with a physical symbolic experience to feel what is happening inside of you. You are placing your life into the hands of another (the person baptizing you symbolizes this), you are going down into the cleansing water, you are baring you old self, you are rising wet with water washing your sins away, you come forth to a new family surrounding you and this reminds you of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. You don’t have to wonder “When, how, where, were my sins washed away?” Baptism helps with that assurance.

Don’t worry about that, move on, you are on a road.

God will only do what you allow Him to do (you have to quit trying to do it all yourself), but you cannot be “testing” God, so you have to believe He will.

So do you think water baptism is merely an outwardly symbolic experience of a spiritual change in yourself?

How can you believe without "testing". This is a major point I have a hard time with. If I were to pray right now and ask God to show me he exists, would that be considered testing? I have a hard time just believing without having a significant experience that justifies said belief.

 

[Nanopants]

How can you believe without "testing". This is a major point I have a hard time with. If I were to pray right now and ask God to show me he exists, would that be considered testing? I have a hard time just believing without having a significant experience that justifies said belief.

When I was converted, it was in response to my request to God to show me the truth.

 

[singpeace]

So do you think water baptism is merely an outwardly symbolic experience of a spiritual change in yourself?

How can you believe without "testing". This is a major point I have a hard time with. If I were to pray right now and ask God to show me he exists, would that be considered testing? I have a hard time just believing without having a significant experience that justifies said belief.

In Malachi 3 God says, "Try me and see if I won't bless you with more than you can hold." He was putting forth a challenge to us - 'just try me and see if I won't keep my promise to you.' So in that respect, we can test God - He will always prove his Word to be true. What we should never do is think we can tempt God with evil.

Some think that faith is simply some power or feeling that some people have and others don’t. That’s not true. Faith is neither a power, nor a feeling; it’s a choice you make concerning the facts or the promises that others make to you; like when a credit card company has faith in you - that you will be forthright with them. They need very little evidence to prove to them you are a real person. They believe it without ever meeting you face to face.

There is evidence all around you that God is who He says He is.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

You believe lights will come on when you flick a light-switch; yet, you cannot see the protons and neutrons interacting with atoms that cause the light to shine in the first place. You show your faith when you first flick the switch.

Why should faith in God be so difficult? Look at how He has blessed your life - at the mystery of just loving someone so much that there aren't words to describe it. That is just one way God gives you evidence of himself in your own heart.

 

[SPB1987]

In Malachi 3 God says, "Try me and see if I won't bless you with more than you can hold." He was putting forth a challenge to us - 'just try me and see if I won't keep my promise to you.' So in that respect, we can test God - He will always prove his Word to be true. What we should never do is think we can tempt God with evil.

Some think that faith is simply some power or feeling that some people have and others don’t. That’s not true. Faith is neither a power, nor a feeling; it’s a choice you make concerning the facts or the promises that others make to you; like when a credit card company has faith in you - that you will be forthright with them. They need very little evidence to prove to them you are a real person. They believe it without ever meeting you face to face.

There is evidence all around you that God is who He says He is.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

You believe lights will come on when you flick a light-switch; yet, you cannot see the protons and neutrons interacting with atoms that cause the light to shine in the first place. You show your faith when you first flick the switch.

Why should faith in God be so difficult? Look at how He has blessed your life - at the mystery of just loving someone so much that there aren't words to describe it. That is just one way God gives you evidence of himself in your own heart.

I think your analogy for the light switch only works for an individual who already has faith. An example being, I know from experience that the light switch will turn the light on. In this case, having faith is easy. When talking about my personal relationship or lack thereof with God, having faith is not easy. I am unsure if I have ever experienced God or how I would even know if I did.

There is a great mystery in loving someone the way I love my wife and kids. I do not understand how this pertains to being able to have faith. Can you clarify a little more?

Thank you for your response.

 

[singpeace]

Answer this question honestly:
How can you know that you really love your wife and children?

Now prove to me that you truly love them. What could you possibly say to me that would prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that you truly love them?

No matter what evidence you give me which "demonstrates" your love, no matter what you say, I can always find a different reason for your actions or intentions. I can interpret anything you tell me however I want.

The physical actions, manifestations, situations, consequences, or deeds of the world cannot prove your inner experience to someone else. But because it's a real experience for you, it's real. Your love is real. You believe that you love your children, but your conviction doesn't come from the belief. It comes from an inner experience that is beyond words, beyond proof, beyond empirical evidence and data.

It is the same with God. I know because I've experienced it firsthand. It's not a belief nor a thought that I hold in my mind that convinces me that God exists. It's an experience that is so real, so tangible, that it's impossible for me to deny.

Getting back to the light-switch; suppose you had never had the experience of turning on an electric light in your life? Suppose your only personal experience was that of oil lamps for light? If I tell you that flipping the switch will cause the room to be flooded with bright brilliant light, you'd be more than just skeptical. The choice is yours whether or not to believe me, but at some point, you know you will have to reach out and flip the switch and find out through your own experience if what I've told you was true.

 

[Resha Caner]

My apologies for interrupting the conversation, but I didn't really see the Lutheran answer to "How do you know you're ready for Baptism?" So, I thought I would add that.

The Lutheran answer would be: it doesn't matter if you're ready or not. Baptism is an act of God, not of a person. Even more than that, Baptism is not a one time event, it is a mark of the Spirit that lasts a lifetime.

 

[bling]

So do you think water baptism is merely an outwardly symbolic experience of a spiritual change in yourself?

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Good question. In Act 2:38 Peter says the Holy Spirit will come to those at the same time. This can get to be a lengthy discussion on the Holy Spirit, but briefly the indwelling portion of the Holy Spirit seems to come to these convicted Jews at the time of their baptism. The same can happen with us, but just because the Holy Spirit is available to us we may not recognize Him or involve Him in our lives.

[/FONT]

How can you believe without "testing". This is a major point I have a hard time with. If I were to pray right now and ask God to show me he exists, would that be considered testing? I have a hard time just believing without having a significant experience that justifies said belief.

I do not thing I have ever been “successful” at “testing” God or the Spirit. What I have done is look back at my life and I have seen the Spirit at work in very powerful ways and also I have seen the Spirit not at work because I was selfishly wanting to control (I still have free will and can take control with bad results). I then see what He really can do and realize how great He really is and that He does exist and is available to me.

If I say “OK Spirit, keep me from sinning.” It does not work and I think about all kinds of ways to sin and waste my time lingering on these thoughts.

If I really pray for a solution to a heart filled opportunity (tragedy) that has confronted me that seems almost impossible for me and do not let the consequences of failure blind me, the results are wonderful and beyond my greatest hopes. I look back at that experience and realize the Spirit had to be with me, since I was not involved in sinning at the time and what was accomplished was way beyond my ability.

 

[SPB1987]

[FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']Good question. In Act 2:38 Peter says the Holy Spirit will come to those at the same time. This can get to be a lengthy discussion on the Holy Spirit, but briefly the indwelling portion of the Holy Spirit seems to come to these convicted Jews at the time of their baptism. The same can happen with us, but just because the Holy Spirit is available to us we may not recognize Him or involve Him in our lives.

[/font]


I do not thing I have ever been “successful” at “testing” God or the Spirit. What I have done is look back at my life and I have seen the Spirit at work in very powerful ways and also I have seen the Spirit not at work because I was selfishly wanting to control (I still have free will and can take control with bad results). I then see what He really can do and realize how great He really is and that He does exist and is available to me.

If I say “OK Spirit, keep me from sinning.” It does not work and I think about all kinds of ways to sin and waste my time lingering on these thoughts.

If I really pray for a solution to a heart filled opportunity (tragedy) that has confronted me that seems almost impossible for me and do not let the consequences of failure blind me, the results are wonderful and beyond my greatest hopes. I look back at that experience and realize the Spirit had to be with me, since I was not involved in sinning at the time and what was accomplished was way beyond my ability.

What are you referring to when your refer to the indwelling portion of the holy spirit? How can one go about recognizing the holy spirit? How can you be sure it is the holy spirit and not just a feeling or intense emotions?

Do you think it would be possible for someone like myself to pray asking God to reveal himself to me?

 

[bling]

What are you referring to when your refer to the indwelling portion of the holy spirit? How can one go about recognizing the holy spirit? How can you be sure it is the holy spirit and not just a feeling or intense emotions?

Do you think it would be possible for someone like myself to pray asking God to reveal himself to me?

Wow! That is not easy to explain.

To begin with you are really a novice Christian (this is great and not a lowly position). Our gift including heaven is the same as Paul’s, so we are not striving for a position. You can grow extremely fast and are encouraged to do so, but also realize Christ spent over 20,000 hours with His 12 to make 11 mature disciples, so this could take time and mentoring.

If you had an outward obvious sign so others could see and verify that God is with you than they would have “knowledge” of God and not need “faith” in God’s existence. Since faith is needed that is not going to happen.

If you have “knowledge” of God how does that help you witness to others to have faith in God?

Briefly on the indwelling portion of the Holy Spirit:

You are still in control of your life with free will, so you can quench the Spirit and take control doing it on your own.

You need a Spiritual being to fight off spiritual demons, since you are flesh and blood.

The Spirit does not do “nothing” very well and want to partner with you in doing good stuff.

The indwelling portion of the Holy Spirit is not the same as the outward miraculous portion of the Holy Spirit. The outward miraculous portion was needed in the first century extensively (much longer explanation would be needed). The indwelling portion is much more valuable and all we really need today. This does not mean miracles are not happening, because they very much do, but you will not be able to scientifically proof these miracles, since that would mean (again) the nonbeliever would be able to depend on scientific knowledge for the existence of God and not need faith.

Let me also say: “Be careful what you pray for.” God has reveals Himself in every tree and in Godly type Love seen in true Christians. To suggest you want a more powerful revelation could mean allowing a huge tragedy to happen so experience Godly type Love flowing through your body (exciting, challenging, awesome but also very frightening).

 

[SPB1987]

Wow! That is not easy to explain.

To begin with you are really a novice Christian (this is great and not a lowly position). Our gift including heaven is the same as Paul’s, so we are not striving for a position. You can grow extremely fast and are encouraged to do so, but also realize Christ spent over 20,000 hours with His 12 to make 11 mature disciples, so this could take time and mentoring.

If you had an outward obvious sign so others could see and verify that God is with you than they would have “knowledge” of God and not need “faith” in God’s existence. Since faith is needed that is not going to happen.

If you have “knowledge” of God how does that help you witness to others to have faith in God?

Briefly on the indwelling portion of the Holy Spirit:

You are still in control of your life with free will, so you can quench the Spirit and take control doing it on your own.

You need a Spiritual being to fight off spiritual demons, since you are flesh and blood.

The Spirit does not do “nothing” very well and want to partner with you in doing good stuff.

The indwelling portion of the Holy Spirit is not the same as the outward miraculous portion of the Holy Spirit. The outward miraculous portion was needed in the first century extensively (much longer explanation would be needed). The indwelling portion is much more valuable and all we really need today. This does not mean miracles are not happening, because they very much do, but you will not be able to scientifically proof these miracles, since that would mean (again) the nonbeliever would be able to depend on scientific knowledge for the existence of God and not need faith.

Let me also say: “Be careful what you pray for.” God has reveals Himself in every tree and in Godly type Love seen in true Christians. To suggest you want a more powerful revelation could mean allowing a huge tragedy to happen so experience Godly type Love flowing through your body (exciting, challenging, awesome but also very frightening).

Well I am not sure that I can really call myself a Christian anymore. I seemed to be making progress and I seem to have backtracked this past week. I have been talking to my wife a great deal about this. She has expressed to me that she would like me to take the lead in the family and become active in church. This is something that I am wanting to do(for myself not just for her).

I have hard time grasping your point about having faith with no physical evidence. I fully understand what you are saying but have a hard time with having faith without some form of physical evidence.

Were you ever at a point where you had difficulty with these issues? If so, what has helped you overcome them?

 

[oi_antz]

Well I am not sure that I can really call myself a Christian anymore. I seemed to be making progress and I seem to have backtracked this past week. I have been talking to my wife a great deal about this. She has expressed to me that she would like me to take the lead in the family and become active in church. This is something that I am wanting to do(for myself not just for her).

I have hard time grasping your point about having faith with no physical evidence. I fully understand what you are saying but have a hard time with having faith without some form of physical evidence.

Were you ever at a point where you had difficulty with these issues? If so, what has helped you overcome them?

The bible is extraordinary evidence. Watch this presentation about how it survived 2,000 years, especially the first 300 years of persecution! It's a bit hard to appreciate how special this gift is to us until you know the facts. This guy knows the facts. Put some time aside to learn from Dr. White, or just skip through to my favorite part at 35 minutes where he speaks about P-52 the 52nd documented Papyrus scroll, which is the earliest fragment of the new testament.

The Reliability of the New Testament Text (Dr. James White) - YouTube

Notice also that faith requires you to trust God, since God has already put His trust in you. He gave up His son, now it is your turn to respond. Jesus made this promise to us:

21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.

All you have to do is make that decision to follow Jesus (that means to obey what He tells you) and then you can pray to Him something like this: "Lord, I beg of you to take my sin away from me and to become the king of my life.", that is the sinner's prayer, and if you truly turn from your sin and ask for Jesus to be your Lord then you can hold Him to His promise and He will come and make His home with you just as He has done with all of us. It happens on His terms though, which is why you can't just make up your own rules. We can see right through such liars. You are honest though, you will be very strong in the Lord when you manage to trust Him.

 

[SPB1987]

The bible is extraordinary evidence. Watch this presentation about how it survived 2,000 years, especially the first 300 years of persecution! It's a bit hard to appreciate how special this gift is to us until you know the facts. This guy knows the facts. Put some time aside to learn from Dr. White, or just skip through to my favorite part at 35 minutes where he speaks about P-52 the 52nd documented Papyrus scroll, which is the earliest fragment of the new testament.

The Reliability of the New Testament Text (Dr. James White) - YouTube

Notice also that faith requires you to trust God, since God has already put His trust in you. He gave up His son, now it is your turn to respond. Jesus made this promise to us:


All you have to do is make that decision to follow Jesus (that means to obey what He tells you) and then you can pray to Him something like this: "Lord, I beg of you to take my sin away from me and to become the king of my life.", that is the sinner's prayer, and if you truly turn from your sin and ask for Jesus to be your Lord then you can hold Him to His promise and He will come and make His home with you just as He has done with all of us. It happens on His terms though, which is why you can't just make up your own rules. We can see right through such liars. You are honest though, you will be very strong in the Lord when you manage to trust Him.

Thanks for the video I will have to check it out when I have a little more time.

I am unsure as to how I could really make a decision to follow Jesus. I was talking to a gentleman at the church we are attending and he said he had many struggles with believing many years a go. I asked him how he overcame his difficulties and his response was that he had to commit to believing before he could really start believing. I think this is basically what you are saying as well. You have to commit to believing before you are able to believe?

 

[oi_antz]

Thanks for the video I will have to check it out when I have a little more time.

I am unsure as to how I could really make a decision to follow Jesus. I was talking to a gentleman at the church we are attending and he said he had many struggles with believing many years a go. I asked him how he overcame his difficulties and his response was that he had to commit to believing before he could really start believing. I think this is basically what you are saying as well. You have to commit to believing before you are able to believe?

Yes it is true that faith requires trust. Think of it from God's perspective, He has already given you the opportunity, now you need to choose whether you will trust Him. What's there to lose when your trust is shattered? Pride? That might even be God's way of shaping you up, who knows? God's wisdom sure is peculiar. Yes in my experience, that trusting God does result in a strengthening of faith because He will never disgrace those who are faithful to Him. Think about king David's walk with God. This is a man who had many enemies, yet God gave him a long good life and his legacy went on to save the world. Read his thoughts in this psalm, consider these thoughts relevant to the thoughts Jesus might have had at the end of His time:

Psalm 22
New Living Translation (NLT)
Psalm 22

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Doe of the Dawn.”

1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
5 They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

6 But I am a worm and not a man.
I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
let the Lord rescue him!”

9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
You have been my God from the moment I was born.

11 Do not stay so far from me,
for trouble is near,
and no one else can help me.
12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
13 Like lions they open their jaws against me,
roaring and tearing into their prey.
14 My life is poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice[a] for my clothing.

19 O Lord, do not stay far away!
You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
20 Save me from the sword;
spare my precious life from these dogs.
21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
and from the horns of these wild oxen.

22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.
23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
He has not turned his back on them,
but has listened to their cries for help.

25 I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied.
All who seek the Lord will praise him.
Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
28 For royal power belongs to the Lord.
He rules all the nations.

29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
Bow before him, all who are mortal,
all whose lives will end as dust.
30 Our children will also serve him.
Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.

So you see, God is willing to allow you to live without faith if that is what you want. If what you want is to have faith then you only need to trust Him, but it is your turn to make a move. God already made the offer through His prophets and His son. I think you should observe your reason for not trusting Him actually, do you have that kind of insight?

 

[SPB1987]

Yes it is true that faith requires trust. Think of it from God's perspective, He has already given you the opportunity, now you need to choose whether you will trust Him. What's there to lose when your trust is shattered? Pride? That might even be God's way of shaping you up, who knows? God's wisdom sure is peculiar. Yes in my experience, that trusting God does result in a strengthening of faith because He will never disgrace those who are faithful to Him. Think about king David's walk with God. This is a man who had many enemies, yet God gave him a long good life and his legacy went on to save the world. Read his thoughts in this psalm, consider these thoughts relevant to the thoughts Jesus might have had at the end of His time:

So you see, God is willing to allow you to live without faith if that is what you want. If what you want is to have faith then you only need to trust Him, but it is your turn to make a move. God already made the offer through His prophets and His son. I think you should observe your reason for not trusting Him actually, do you have that kind of insight?

Interesting question. I have a hard time trusting God because I can not physically see, hear or feel His presence. I have been baptized(baptized the same night as my wife) because I thought I believed. In retrospect, I think I wanted to believe and it felt like it was bringing my wife and myself closer together. During this time, it was like we fell in love all over again. I am unsure if this was because of God or some other external factor. Shortly after, I fell away and found having faith impossible. My wife, however, still believes and attends church as much as she can. I know she wants me to be more involved in church and take on the biblical role of the husband as the spiritual leader of the household. She takes her beliefs very seriously and I have nothing but love and respect for her.

 

[E.C.]

Well my other thread was going well but I would like to make another thread addressing a specific question/issue I am having. How did you know you were ready to be baptized? How were you able to be sure that you were experiencing God and this was not all in your head? Lately, I have been feeling drawn towards reading the bible and wanting to be apart of this lifestyle. I am just unsure as to how to distinguish between my "wanting to believe" and whether God is working in me in some way.

Well, for one thing I was drawn to Christ and not the Bible

For another, well, it is quite simple: I had certainty that God did indeed exist and that He did send His Son to this world to establish a Church that would lead people to Him. After that, it was simply a matter of finding who today is the true Church.

 

[bling]

Well I am not sure that I can really call myself a Christian anymore. I seemed to be making progress and I seem to have backtracked this past week. I have been talking to my wife a great deal about this. She has expressed to me that she would like me to take the lead in the family and become active in church. This is something that I am wanting to do(for myself not just for her).

I have hard time grasping your point about having faith with no physical evidence. I fully understand what you are saying but have a hard time with having faith without some form of physical evidence.

Were you ever at a point where you had difficulty with these issues? If so, what has helped you overcome them?

Doubting is not wrong; we all have a little Thomas in us. Wanting to know is good; having a need for God is good, because He loves to serve. As you talk with other members you will find they are going through or have been through similar struggles.

The best thing for you would be to have at least one brother in Christ you could share with your issues and have him empathizes with you and grow with you.

Start your day with a pray of thanksgiving: wife, kids, church, job, home, car, good health, education, free time, Christ going to the cross for you, God’s word, God’s Love for you and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The most difficult times in my life to draw close to God have been when things were really going well, I was being praised for doing so well, I felt really good about how I was doing, and started putting others and God/Jesus on the back burner. I did not need anything. A tragedy happens that I cannot control, solve my way out of and suddenly I drop to my knees. I realize I have been quenching the Spirit and operating on my own.

Get involved in other people’s lives and your issues will seem so much less.