How dose one know where they belong?

[heron]

There's a lot of intrigue in earth-based faiths, especially in contrast to what we seem to hear about Christianity. Once you start studying the Bible more in depth, though, you continue to find things you've never heard, spiritual activity on a different plane, things that quick-answer Christianity doesn't mention.

If you want any links, PM me. God is not a boring guy.

 

[pleasantgyrl]

I honestly believe that God calls everyone to him at one point in our lives. SOmetimes he reaches out to us with some little hints or signs. Sometimes he'll just flat out "call" you. Like he did to Abraham.
Like when we walk down the street (or drive) and someone passes us a flyer to go to a church event. A concert. Anything of God. Alot of people might just crumble it up, when really, God was trying to get their attention. SOme of us are lucky and grow up in christian homes, and so we have the faith all our lives. Alot of us don't. We go through some hellish times in life. But in the end it is all for a worthy call. Take me for example....
If I had not struggled in my life, I could not help teenage girls. I can now relate to them and understand what they are going through. And I can share my experience to help them not go down the same path.
In the end I'm called to the faith.
The way we know is by faith. Believing that we are special enough for a great and mighty God to call us. Tug at our hearts. Because he loves us he does not continuially bug us. If he sees it's not what we want then he'll let us be. But for those of us who have a mighty calling such as ministry, or saving a life, God will get to us some how.
SO how do we know? When we find peace. And when we feel whole.
That doesn't mean life will be all sunny for us. We all face struggles. Especcially Christians who are new because Satan will do all he can to draw us away. But in all the struggles, we will know that God loves us and feel he is with us

 

[ragdolly]

Jesus said..."I am the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." If you are born again into the family of God through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you are on the right path. As a human being you will always have moments of doubts, fears, etc. but as you grow as a Christian, they will lessen. Being born again is not about your feelings. It is about God's promises. There will be times in the life of a Christian, however, when we are "walking the walk" that we will feel God's presence very near, and experience some wonderful things. I am praying for you at this moment.

 

[Woodsman]

Simplify, means getting less of what you don't really need. Watch out for habits, they will trap you.

 

[ConstanceB]

I love the verse in Psalms that proclaims, "Whether you turn to the left or to the right, there is a Voice behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it'." What freedom! To know that in God, through Christ (coincidentally also "the Way"), when in obedience to him and in communication with Him, we are within His will!

In the '60s and '70s, there was such rebellion in this country over traditional anything -- particularly traditional "religion" and morals and values. It was amazing to see how many people were walking away from Christ or Christian traditions and flocking to some far-East faith: Hinduism, Buddhism, the Hare Krishma within the USA, the church of the Reverend Moon, and others I can't even recall now.

I remember hearing, as you certainly do now, of the benefits of meditation. Simply because the wayward knew nothing of meditating on God and Scripture, they assumed it wasn't done.

Because they knew of no Christians who gave away everything and spent their days and nights in rustic robes dancing and singing and praising God, they were drawn to spiritual expression outside of our God.

Enticed by the concept of purity through smoke and water and recitation and music and mind-altering drugs, so many followed faiths that included these things, never thinking of God's message in smoke (he led the children of Israel with smoke and fire), baptism, verses and psalms and songs and prayers, and becoming a new creature with a new mind through belief in Jesus Christ.

Our faith in God the Father and our trust in Jesus the Christ and our fellowship with the Holy Spirit lack nothing we could desire. If many of us spent as much time and prayer and experimentation with varied practices within the Christian faith as we do without it, I believe we would exist in joy and peace as long as we breathe.

 

[AliOgg]

Thank you all for you wonderful responses. To answer the question about the icon I chose; I am having such doubts now, that I have started to explore other alternatives to Christianity, mostlyearth based, but at one time I had excepted Christ and for many years I did believe with all my heart.

When I was a small boy I came know that the Lord Jesus was special....
....then along the way I listened to the world, and in an attempt to understand what the world knew about the world I followed many false trails, looked under many heavy stones and drank from bitter waters
In all this time, even though I had forgoten the Lord, Still He watched over me and saved me .

2/3 years ago The Lord called my name and this time I knew who was calling and I turned and listened , I answered , yes Lord

Listen ...... He is calling your name....Turn... And be healed.

And God Bless All His Peoples.

 

[DanMan]

Seek God and his LOVE and GRACE. Don't seek a religious life filled with rules and stuff no one can keep. No, the heart of Christianity is LOVE. So seek GOD and........BAM!

Satan uses fear. Fear kills faith. But the GRACE of God is enough to sustain us through ANYTHING. And if you want to have an incredibly exciting and SINKIN' AWESOME life, take that faith in Jesus. And I promise you, he will NEVER fail you.

 

[LennCor]

If you don't want to be drinking emotional, psychological, and spiritual saltwater for the rest of your life, one will choose and stay with the religion of the word of God and a church that follows it.

I have been doing some soul searching and have attended a number of different churches, and talked with a number of ministers. But, what really changed things for me was going back to Maine and attending the church of my youth. Here I got my head on straight, and got back to as you say "the religion of the word of God" God is what was missing for me, and I never really realized it.

Thank you all that have responded to this thread, your input was most helpful and I look forward to my continued membership in this forum.

God Bless you all!
Leonard