I guess the positive approach does not work with me

[Robert8102]

Jesus talked to different people different ways. To the Pharisees, He said, "How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" To one or more unrepentant towns where He had done miracles, He said, "You will be thrust down to Hades." To the rich young ruler He said, 'Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and take up your cross and follow Me.' To the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Sometimes, on one of my many occasions when I try to get saved, I consider Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water. Yesterday, after I did this so intensely and sincerely, I thought I was saved for awhile. But by today, as usual, I'm doubting my salvation. It's not only my OCD, but my concern that I REALLY get saved, not just THINK I am.

I guess the positive approach that Jesus took with the woman at the well doesn't work with me. I've tried going along those lines, but always end up doubting my salvation.

Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." Who are those who try to enter and are not able? I guess they're people like me, who won't give up their main idol: SELF.

 

[Sabertooth]

Some churches are better at dealing with OCD than others are.

The Church & Mental Illness...

 

[Sketcher]

You're struggling with faith. Press on.

 

[xaris]

Jesus talked to different people different ways. To the Pharisees, He said, "How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" To one or more unrepentant towns where He had done miracles, He said, "You will be thrust down to Hades." To the rich young ruler He said, 'Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and take up your cross and follow Me.' To the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Sometimes, on one of my many occasions when I try to get saved, I consider Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water. Yesterday, after I did this so intensely and sincerely, I thought I was saved for awhile. But by today, as usual, I'm doubting my salvation. It's not only my OCD, but my concern that I REALLY get saved, not just THINK I am.

I guess the positive approach that Jesus took with the woman at the well doesn't work with me. I've tried going along those lines, but always end up doubting my salvation.

Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." Who are those who try to enter and are not able? I guess they're people like me, who won't give up their main idol: SELF.

You are doubting your salvation because you are having it dependent on you, rather than on our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Jesus talked to different people different ways. To the Pharisees, He said, "How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" To one or more unrepentant towns where He had done miracles, He said, "You will be thrust down to Hades." To the rich young ruler He said, 'Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and take up your cross and follow Me.' To the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Sometimes, on one of my many occasions when I try to get saved, I consider Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water. Yesterday, after I did this so intensely and sincerely, I thought I was saved for awhile. But by today, as usual, I'm doubting my salvation. It's not only my OCD, but my concern that I REALLY get saved, not just THINK I am.

I guess the positive approach that Jesus took with the woman at the well doesn't work with me. I've tried going along those lines, but always end up doubting my salvation.

Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." Who are those who try to enter and are not able? I guess they're people like me, who won't give up their main idol: SELF.

Welcome! We all struggle with "self". It is part of human nature and at times an important survival instinct. Jesus Christ of Nazareth never asked us to set this aside rather He wants us to let Him into our "self", a person's essential being. So I am not sure what you are struggling with, doubt is a weakness in your faith. The quenching of the Holy Spirit. That being said, your post shows humbleness, the first step in keeping those living waters flowing. Be blessed.

 

[Aussie Pete]

Jesus talked to different people different ways. To the Pharisees, He said, "How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" To one or more unrepentant towns where He had done miracles, He said, "You will be thrust down to Hades." To the rich young ruler He said, 'Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and take up your cross and follow Me.' To the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Sometimes, on one of my many occasions when I try to get saved, I consider Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water. Yesterday, after I did this so intensely and sincerely, I thought I was saved for awhile. But by today, as usual, I'm doubting my salvation. It's not only my OCD, but my concern that I REALLY get saved, not just THINK I am.

I guess the positive approach that Jesus took with the woman at the well doesn't work with me. I've tried going along those lines, but always end up doubting my salvation.

Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." Who are those who try to enter and are not able? I guess they're people like me, who won't give up their main idol: SELF.

Don't be too hard on yourself. We are saved by grace, not by what we are able to do or avoid doing. Grace is God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Even giving up self is the grace of God. Ask Him. Tell Him how helpless you are. That works every time. I have a degree in helplessness.

Your salvation does not depend on you. Jesus saves. Depend on Him. If you cannot, confess that and ask Him to enable you to depend on Him. He has promised to save all who call upon His name. You can trust someone who cannot lie.

 

[paul1149]

Discount your feelings, they are getting in the way. Take the long view rather than one minute you're saved, next minute, not. Put your focus on and trust in the completed works of Christ on your behalf, not in your ability to repent or not sin. It's all about Christ, not us, and the more we trust Him the more His power works in our life. Some strongholds take time to overcome; the key is to persist.

[For I am] confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. - Phl 1:6​

 

[Tolworth John]

Jesus talked to different people different ways. To the Pharisees, He said, "How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" To one or more unrepentant towns where He had done miracles, He said, "You will be thrust down to Hades." To the rich young ruler He said, 'Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and take up your cross and follow Me.' To the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Sometimes, on one of my many occasions when I try to get saved, I consider Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water. Yesterday, after I did this so intensely and sincerely, I thought I was saved for awhile. But by today, as usual, I'm doubting my salvation. It's not only my OCD, but my concern that I REALLY get saved, not just THINK I am.

I guess the positive approach that Jesus took with the woman at the well doesn't work with me. I've tried going along those lines, but always end up doubting my salvation.

Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." Who are those who try to enter and are not able? I guess they're people like me, who won't give up their main idol: SELF.

Matt 12:20 quote a prophecy in Isaiah about the nature of Jesus:-
"bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,"

Only the non Christian is unconcerned about whether they are saved, that you are concerned tells me you are.

Stop worrying about it and get on with serving God.

 

[Unqualified]

You are saved when you are saved even if you do doubt. You could fight the doubts by taking each thought captive to obedience of Christ as in 2cor10:3-5. Don’t let you flesh have its way, ‘it doesn’t want to, it’s to tired’. The Lord said to me just say captive’ and it will go in jail and you can go on. Activate it by prayer. Use it for every thought every time and you will get space from it.

Anybody else can talk about taking thoughts captive? I know how my flesh gravitates to sloffing off. I don’t let it. I know your thoughts must be fixed on it sometimes, mine too, but develop attitude what the Bible says I’m going to do. Read it and for godly distraction from those doubts too. It’s a start.

 

[John Helpher]

Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water.

His teachings are the living water. In John 7:17 Jesus says, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

In John 8:31-32 he says, "If you obey my teachings, then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

At the end of Matthew 7 he tells a short parable about a foolish and wise man. Both heard Jesus' teachings, but only the wise man obeyed.

This theme of learning through obedience is spread all throughout Jesus' teachings. This is because Jesus is more than just a religious figure. He is a representation of the values of the Kingdom of Heaven. The practice of Jesus' teachings equates to a demonstration of what Heaven is like here on earth.

If you want to be a follower of Jesus, you should carefully examine his teachings and ask yourself if you really do want to practice them. In Luke 14 Jesus tells several parables all about counting the cost of following him. These days Christians make it sound like God is desperate for followers, but he's really not. Yes, he wants all people to be saved, but he knows that some people will choose to reject his teachings because of the cost. You should read the entire chapter.

Also, you should read Matthew 5, 6, and 7. This is commonly referred to as the sermon on the mount; it is the single longest sermon recorded by Jesus and includes a lot of really good teachings from him.

Ask yourself if you're prepared to do the things he says there. If not, then there would be little point in continuing to ask for some kind of sign from him.

 

[1watchman]

Jesus talked to different people different ways. To the Pharisees, He said, "How can you escape the condemnation of hell?" To one or more unrepentant towns where He had done miracles, He said, "You will be thrust down to Hades." To the rich young ruler He said, 'Sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven, and take up your cross and follow Me.' To the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water."

Sometimes, on one of my many occasions when I try to get saved, I consider Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well. Then, like I did yesterday, I try to ask Jesus for living water. Yesterday, after I did this so intensely and sincerely, I thought I was saved for awhile. But by today, as usual, I'm doubting my salvation. It's not only my OCD, but my concern that I REALLY get saved, not just THINK I am.

I guess the positive approach that Jesus took with the woman at the well doesn't work with me. I've tried going along those lines, but always end up doubting my salvation.

Jesus said, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able." Who are those who try to enter and are not able? I guess they're people like me, who won't give up their main idol: SELF.

Dear Robert I can appreciate your struggle and I see it as being oriented with WORKS rather than FAITH. We do not always understand all things the Lord Jesus did or said, and that is often when we take it out of order. First we need to understand what He was saying in John 14 as well as John 3; Romans 8; Galatians 2:20; as well as the solemn truth in 1 Jn. 5:10-12. It is all about a relationship with the Lord Jesus, and not just a belief or trying to do something worthy in our efforts. It is much about surrender and casting ourselves on Him. When we make Him our eternal Savior, and Lord of our life (and best Friend), we will then have the sealing of the Holy Spirit of God as He promises man. I urge you also to begin a daily reading of the New Testament in Mathew, Mark, Luke, John; and then into the Epistles to learn of Church truth and Spiritual life.

Walking and talking with the Lord daily and seeking His leading and help in our thoughts and actions is essential to defeating the flesh and temptations that Satan whispers in our mind. Start a new course friend and get acquainted with our Savior ---now and for eternity, friend. Feel free to write me personally anytime if you wish to chat further. -1watchman