I feel like....

[Lessien]

Such a poor, pathetic excuse for a Christian. I know that that's Satan attacking me, but how do I get rid of these niggling doubts? A few weeks ago, I thought I was a great Christian-witnessing, debating evolution, reading my Bible and praying almost every day. I felt really close to God.
What happened?

 

[angelwind]

Being a Christian is not based on our feelings...nor how much we read the Bible...nor how much we witness...it is based on what Christ did for us on the cross...and do we believe He is the Son of God...the Savior of our souls....it is all about Him.!

Be encouraged, we have all been thru what you are describing...the Lord is faithful...He will lead you on into the Truth that sets you free.

 

[Wakeup2god]

Don't beat yourself up Lessien. For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As far as debating with non Christians goes, I wouldn't bother. The bible tells us to let them hear the gospel, not to debate it. If a person can be persuaded to follow Jesus he can as easily be dissuaded.

I find it useful to agree with satan. Hes usualy right about us. We are poor pathetic excuses. What he never does is remind us of Gods opinion of us. He loved us enough to give his son for us. Read what God says about you. Keep talking to Him, be honest, He likes that.

We can do mothing by ourselves. If you were feeling great about yourself maybe the lords just reminding you who the Great One is.

Be blessed.

 

[Lessien]

Thanks, Angel. I know it's not based on feelings. But I don't know if I KNOW that, or if I BELEIVE it, if you know what I mean.

 

[nhzname]

Such a poor, pathetic excuse for a Christian. I know that that's Satan attacking me, but how do I get rid of these niggling doubts? A few weeks ago, I thought I was a great Christian-witnessing, debating evolution, reading my Bible and praying almost every day. I felt really close to God.
What happened?

Lessien, be encouraged!! Think of this ... if you weren't doing anything for the kingdom of God and living for the Lord, the enemy would have no reason to bother you, would he? Obviously, you have been planting seeds somewhere. God bless you that the Lord has seen fit to use you to share your faith with others and keep you in His word. I pray that God will continue to strengthen you against the wiles and schemes of the enemy, and give you the grace to accomplish all that He would have you do. Carry on girl ... n hz name!

 

[heartnsoul]

All the posts here have been wonderful! Don't be too hard on yourself. We all have good and bad days. Trust in God and know that even though you may be feeling a little down like a cloudy day, good days are just around the corner and before you know it, the sun will pop out again. Keep the faith. God is still right by you even when you're not happy. Continue moving forward and don't let a few bad days get the best of you. God bless.

 

[bondsdw]

Feeling like this is completely normal. The Christian walk isn't an easy one. Aside from God, Satan is just about as strong as it gets, and he knows how to get you. But, that's the great part. He doesn't hold a candle to the power of God. That thought holds me together when I'm down. No matter how hard times get, God can pull you out of it; just put your problems in his o-so-capable hands. With God on your side, nothing can keep you down.

 

[brotherjim]

Such a poor, pathetic excuse for a Christian. I know that that's Satan attacking me, but how do I get rid of these niggling doubts? A few weeks ago, I thought I was a great Christian-witnessing, debating evolution, reading my Bible and praying almost every day. I felt really close to God.
What happened?

Dear Lessien,

The answer is really quite plain.

You are obviously greatly Loved of the Lord, too much so for Him to let you continue the path you were walking.

Better than hearing it from me, would likely be if you read one or two books that will explain what is going on between God and you, what He is attempting to do in and through you.

I see you're only 15, so the less academic There Were Two Trees in the Garden by Rick Joyner, is the easiest and most palatable. He is quite a controversial author, you should know, but this book is likely the least controversial, and I have found in the decade since I read it, to be absolute Truth of the desperately needed kind.

Far more academic, and even enigmatic, is Reality: the Hope of Glory by Aaron (Art) Katz. It, too, is an inexpensive (maybe $10.) paperback, but this one is also avail. for free on-line reading at www.benisrael.org. It starts out meandering all over the place and must soon lose many readers, but if you stick with it it will, as the back cover claims, "forever destroy you for anything but the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus" (para. I'm sure).

I was praying since yesterday when I read your post, as to how I might best address it since I knew immediately what you needed to know. I really feel the above is the best way. Please pray, in Jesus' Name, as to perhaps trusting me enough to follow this advice.

[Allegedly] In His Grace of Love for you, my little friend, brother jim

 

[Just Me Garry]

I feel like you do sometimes but do not give up. The Lord has begun a work in you and will continue to perfect that work until the day of Jesus Christ.

 

[Nikoel]

The walk with Christ is a long and difficult journey sometimes! There are times in everyones life where we feel that our journey is going uphill slowly! I pray that soon you will feel your encouragement back!

Christ is with you, and this difficult time is to help you learn ways about yourself you may not have!

 

[WeakButHopeful]

I once heard someone say that Satan is BOTH the Great Deceiver AND the Great Accuser. First he tells you that what you want to do is no big deal, or perhaps he sets up two errors before you to trick you into thinking one is right and the other wrong while in reality the best that God wants for you is a different choice entirely, or he makes you think that feelings are important as if always feeling love is any more possible than always feeling like you want to listen to a certain kind of music, or perhaps he makes you spend a lot of time thinking about yourself (either how great you are or how worthless you are, he doesn't care). All the above is in his role as deceiver. Then, the one-two punch comes...faster than you can say Satan he whips around and points his finger at you and says "You miserable excuse for a child of God you! How could you do/think/feel/choose that? Now you've done it, God is patient but there is a limit, you've really put your foot in it now, that's it, you might as well just give up being a Christian, it's a lost cause." If he didn't do it a thousand times a day to so many people INCLUDING ME, it would almost be laughable.
Personally I think the books that would most help with your current state are The Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity, both by C. S. Lewis. The former is more on target vis how Satan attacks us, but the latter is more theoretical and (at least for me) gives me a firm foundation in why Jesus died for our sins, what it means for the human race and for me, and why Jesus, more than any person who has ever lived, knows exactly what we face. He will never lose patience with you, just don't lose faith in yourself.
One last bit of advice. Just yesterday I read advice that said each of us has a Grand Canyon of desires within us, and nothing/nobody on this planet can ever fill it. We are immortal souls just passing through here. We were made for eternity and the infinite. What we are to do while here is make sure that we become the kind of soul that will spend eternity with God. Each choice we make changes our very soul into a being that can spend eternity with Him, or one that could not endure it. But our eternal salvation does not rest with any specific decision, except the decision to claim the salvation that Jesus won for us.
In my own walk I think I have become convinced of what I said in this reply, but now I face the challenge of making those hard choices, and surrendering my life to God to be used for His purpose. I am so full of my plans and have years of habits to undo.
I hope this was of some help. May God bless you, please pray for me.

 

[HotRhymez]

Lessien, I know how you feel. My Christian life is so messed up, I swear all the time, think dirty thoughts, and I try to repent from it but I always end up going back to sin. I used to feel closer to God but now I don't. I try reading my Bible and prayer as often as I can, but usually I forget about it. I guess the best thing to do is just hang in there and hope God does something in your life that will make you close with him again. I'm having the same problem. But God's with you always.

Peace out,

Slim.

 

[Lessien]

Thanks. Ya'll have no idea how much your words have helped.