I want to become a Christian again

[SymphonicaX]

For the past 4.5 years I stopped going to church and almost stopped worshipping God. I still believed and still believe in God/Jesus and everything about Christianity, but for those 4.5 years I was not active in the faith, I was rather very lukewarm and didn't make any effort to really read the bible, attend church, meet with the fellowship, etc. I think I only went to church once for easter service and that wasn't even to really worship, but to do an assignment for my class.

As hard as it is for me to believe, my father passed away yesterday and for the past few months he had been struggling with his congestive heart failure along with other problems including diabetes. During those times I was praying more than I had ever prayed before and I had in mind to want to start being a Christian again, but I was hesistant. Finally after my father passed away yesterday, I felt no hope left inside me. I just want to trust in God and pray that God has a place in Heaven for my dad. And I want to be there with my dad and God along with the rest of my family.

I wish it wasn't this hard event that is making me want to join God's church again, but I feel compelled now and don't really want to turn back. I say "again" because I used to worship regularly for a couple years until early 2003 when my faith became weak and I gave into the world. But now I want to get back into it forever.

It's still really hard for me to get back into it. I have been praying a lot and just don't know what to do. I don't know what church I should attend and how the people in that specific church will be welcoming. I don't know how I am going to escape all the sins that I have been committing for the past few years. I don't know how I am going to walk the faith such as how God wants me to. I'm really lost and confused. I do want to be a Christian again.

There is a lot more I could talk about, such as my struggles with sin among other things. But I mainly want to ask how I can get back into being a disciple of Christ.

 

[mrslisae]

Life sure can be difficult can't it? I don't think the things you've been feeling are terribly uncommon. When we wonder from God (many have at some point), our hearts aren't in the right place and worse yet, we KNOW it..It tends to nag at us constantly when we make wrong decisions because we know the truth..I commend you for wanting to turn your life around..It is never too late! Just ask God to take your life in His hands (He never left you)...You may have turned away from Him but He's always been there waiting for His child to return...Reach out to Him...Make the decision to do right, repent (turn from your sins) don't go back to them and if you slip up, cry out to God for forgiveness..Life is hard and I am so sorry for the loss you've endured...I too have watched many suffer illness and pass on...But you are here...Praise God that you have this day to make things right in your life! Pray,pray,pray,pray,pray!!! Read your Bible...Ask God to lead you to the verses He wants you to get inside your heart.Listen to music that will uplift your spirit and give glory to the Lord..try out churches and let God lead you to the one you need to be in....Take the first step forward and there you'll find Jesus waiting with open arms.....God Bless you tremendously!! I'll be praying for you

Your sister in Christ

 

[hlaltimus]

For the past 4.5 years I stopped going to church and almost stopped worshipping God. I still believed and still believe in God/Jesus and everything about Christianity, but for those 4.5 years I was not active in the faith, I was rather very lukewarm and didn't make any effort to really read the bible, attend church, meet with the fellowship, etc. I think I only went to church once for easter service and that wasn't even to really worship, but to do an assignment for my class.

As hard as it is for me to believe, my father passed away yesterday and for the past few months he had been struggling with his congestive heart failure along with other problems including diabetes. During those times I was praying more than I had ever prayed before and I had in mind to want to start being a Christian again, but I was hesistant. Finally after my father passed away yesterday, I felt no hope left inside me. I just want to trust in God and pray that God has a place in Heaven for my dad. And I want to be there with my dad and God along with the rest of my family.

I wish it wasn't this hard event that is making me want to join God's church again, but I feel compelled now and don't really want to turn back. I say "again" because I used to worship regularly for a couple years until early 2003 when my faith became weak and I gave into the world. But now I want to get back into it forever.

It's still really hard for me to get back into it. I have been praying a lot and just don't know what to do. I don't know what church I should attend and how the people in that specific church will be welcoming. I don't know how I am going to escape all the sins that I have been committing for the past few years. I don't know how I am going to walk the faith such as how God wants me to. I'm really lost and confused. I do want to be a Christian again.

There is a lot more I could talk about, such as my struggles with sin among other things. But I mainly want to ask how I can get back into being a disciple of Christ.

Wow. It is very important that you become a vital member of a good Church as if one misses the sheepfold and the sheep in it, then he misses the Shepherd as well and if He is missed, all is missed. But, it sounds like it is even more important for you to get the God of the Church into you than it is for you to get into the institution of the Church and that is really the only way that it could ever work out properly. To get the God of the Church into you, simply obey the gospel command of, "Repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." Many of us, myself included, were subjected for years in the past to a gospel of "believe only", and this gospel is one which will succeed in truly converting no one. Pardon and justification are imparted soley upon the basis of faith, but that faith is a gift of God and He bestows it upon the penitant and so repentance then makes saving faith possible. Go back again to your previous Christian experience, but this time mercilessly annihilate any and all sins that you can possible hunt down in your life and then ask the Lord to give you true saving faith in Christ and He will. It will come down then, at that point, to one word only...."Believe", but you will never find that faith without the former word of, "Repent". It will work.

 

[SymphonicaX]

Wow. It is very important that you become a vital member of a good Church as if one misses the sheepfold and the sheep in it, then he misses the Shepherd as well and if He is missed, all is missed. But, it sounds like it is even more important for you to get the God of the Church into you than it is for you to get into the institution of the Church and that is really the only way that it could ever work out properly. To get the God of the Church into you, simply obey the gospel command of, "Repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." Many of us, myself included, were subjected for years in the past to a gospel of "believe only", and this gospel is one which will succeed in truly converting no one. Pardon and justification are imparted soley upon the basis of faith, but that faith is a gift of God and He bestows it upon the penitant and so repentance then makes saving faith possible. Go back again to your previous Christian experience, but this time mercilessly annihilate any and all sins that you can possible hunt down in your life and then ask the Lord to give you true saving faith in Christ and He will. It will come down then, at that point, to one word only...."Believe", but you will never find that faith without the former word of, "Repent". It will work.

I had learned about repentance before, but I have the hardest time grasping it right now. I've been in a lot of sin the past few years and I am unsure how to get out of it. The temptations are there and it's just hard to resist. For the past few days I've done ok with some of my sins, but I know the tempation is going to crawl back after my grieving at least. I guess I need help with repenting and with my sins.

 

[MikeMcK]

For the past 4.5 years I stopped going to church and almost stopped worshipping God. I still believed and still believe in God/Jesus and everything about Christianity, but for those 4.5 years I was not active in the faith, I was rather very lukewarm and didn't make any effort to really read the bible, attend church, meet with the fellowship, etc. I think I only went to church once for easter service and that wasn't even to really worship, but to do an assignment for my class.

As hard as it is for me to believe, my father passed away yesterday and for the past few months he had been struggling with his congestive heart failure along with other problems including diabetes. During those times I was praying more than I had ever prayed before and I had in mind to want to start being a Christian again, but I was hesistant. Finally after my father passed away yesterday, I felt no hope left inside me. I just want to trust in God and pray that God has a place in Heaven for my dad. And I want to be there with my dad and God along with the rest of my family.

I wish it wasn't this hard event that is making me want to join God's church again, but I feel compelled now and don't really want to turn back. I say "again" because I used to worship regularly for a couple years until early 2003 when my faith became weak and I gave into the world. But now I want to get back into it forever.

It's still really hard for me to get back into it. I have been praying a lot and just don't know what to do. I don't know what church I should attend and how the people in that specific church will be welcoming. I don't know how I am going to escape all the sins that I have been committing for the past few years. I don't know how I am going to walk the faith such as how God wants me to. I'm really lost and confused. I do want to be a Christian again.

There is a lot more I could talk about, such as my struggles with sin among other things. But I mainly want to ask how I can get back into being a disciple of Christ.

First, let me say how deeply sorry I am to hear about your father. Having lost my own father several years ago, I do understand what you're going through and I'll continue to pray for you and your family.

Now, you say you were a once Christian for a period of time. Could you tell us a little about that? Such as, how you came to be a Christian and what your faith in Christ and your Christianity was based on?

That would go a long way toward helping us help you.

 

[Zeena]

Praying the Lord gives you Light in this time of need!

You know how He feels, at least in part, now that you miss your dad so much I bet!

God Loves you MORE than you Love your father, just as He Loves your father more than your father loved himself!

Do not worry, do not fear! God has made a way!
Did your father accept the provision of the Lord before his departure?

I pray, no matter what, that you come home into the Loving arms of the One who has called you out of darkness, and into His Glorious Light!

I had learned about repentance before, but I have the hardest time grasping it right now. I've been in a lot of sin the past few years and I am unsure how to get out of it. The temptations are there and it's just hard to resist. For the past few days I've done ok with some of my sins, but I know the tempation is going to crawl back after my grieving at least. I guess I need help with repenting and with my sins.

As for repenting, no, you don't need help!
What you need is to submit to God for the renewing of your mind!

YES, it will be uncomfortable at first, but it's worth every second of discomfort in knowing He is molding you into a beautiful creature like Jesus!

 

[g85]

For the past 4.5 years I stopped going to church and almost stopped worshipping God. I still believed and still believe in God/Jesus and everything about Christianity, but for those 4.5 years I was not active in the faith, I was rather very lukewarm and didn't make any effort to really read the bible, attend church, meet with the fellowship, etc. I think I only went to church once for easter service and that wasn't even to really worship, but to do an assignment for my class.

As hard as it is for me to believe, my father passed away yesterday and for the past few months he had been struggling with his congestive heart failure along with other problems including diabetes. During those times I was praying more than I had ever prayed before and I had in mind to want to start being a Christian again, but I was hesistant. Finally after my father passed away yesterday, I felt no hope left inside me. I just want to trust in God and pray that God has a place in Heaven for my dad. And I want to be there with my dad and God along with the rest of my family.

I wish it wasn't this hard event that is making me want to join God's church again, but I feel compelled now and don't really want to turn back. I say "again" because I used to worship regularly for a couple years until early 2003 when my faith became weak and I gave into the world. But now I want to get back into it forever.

It's still really hard for me to get back into it. I have been praying a lot and just don't know what to do. I don't know what church I should attend and how the people in that specific church will be welcoming. I don't know how I am going to escape all the sins that I have been committing for the past few years. I don't know how I am going to walk the faith such as how God wants me to. I'm really lost and confused. I do want to be a Christian again.

There is a lot more I could talk about, such as my struggles with sin among other things. But I mainly want to ask how I can get back into being a disciple of Christ.

I'm sorry about your loss, I hope God and ppl around you confort you as you go through this hard time. I'm lifting you up in prayer as I write this. When a man seeks God, God pays attention... and God knows your heart (he loves you soooooo much!! and there's a party in heaven because you are turning back to Jesus). One day you, by God's grace will be reunited with your dad, Jesus is coming soon! You are a disciple of Christ, your story made me seek God myself... and made me realise she should humble ourselves to God. Thank you!

Dont stop praying, may God be with you.

 

[SymphonicaX]

First, let me say how deeply sorry I am to hear about your father. Having lost my own father several years ago, I do understand what you're going through and I'll continue to pray for you and your family.

Now, you say you were a once Christian for a period of time. Could you tell us a little about that? Such as, how you came to be a Christian and what your faith in Christ and your Christianity was based on?

That would go a long way toward helping us help you.

well when I was around 10 or something there was a group of christians that were asking kids around the apartment complex if they wanted to go to bible studies and learn about Jesus. I accepted to go and for a month or so I learned about Jesus, well briefly learned.

That set the stage for me to believe in God and Jesus, but I didn't truly learn about him and accept his salvation until I was a Junior in high school when I started going to a church and got baptized into Christ.

After about 2 years of being a Christian I started to struggle a lot with sin and felt like leaving the church organization I was part of. So I left and since about early 2003 I've been away from the faith. I have tried to pray here and there and looked at apologetic stuff for the bible because I still think it's the truth, but I've been a hypocrite and very lukewarm.

So now I feel compelled to become a Christian again. I want to never look back again. I won't hide anything though, I feel VERY tempted to still be part of the world and do sinful things, even right now as I type. I don't know what to do. I've been praying to God to help me get out of the sinful desires.

What do you all think I should do? Should I look for a church to go to?

 

[InnocentOdion]

Yes, you should look for a church to go to. Experiment, try different churches.

Most importantly, pray, ask for guidance, meditate more, and pray that you will be touched by the Holy Spirit. Read God's word. Download gospel music and listen to it (if you can bear it- some if it isn't that good!) and sing along with it, sing hymns.

Make more friends who are Christian, get into discussions with them, and pray with people, watch religious shows. Things like these will make you stronger in your faith.

As for the desire to sin, that's part of human nature, that's why we need Christ, because we keep messing up, and He forgives us - so think about him often! Pray the Lord's Prayer three times a day, even. I can totally understand where you're coming from, sometimes we sin out of negligence, other times out of weakness, other times, through our own deliberate fault, yet He is willing to forgive us for all of our wrongdoings, how great is He?

 

[heron]

I agree, try different churches. It allows you to evaluate whether you will ever agree with their doctrines before you get tied emotionally to the people. You need a good fit.

So sorry to hear about your dad. That must feel like a trap door opened up and dropped you under.

Be prepared to feel at a loss for a long time. There's a shock at first, where you might feel like you're on autopilot, but the stage after that is rough. Just get yourself through it, and allow more mistakes and naps than usual.

God knows that everyone sins, so don't let condemnation drag you down further. He is not looking for perfection from you, but for devotion and love. He takes care of the rest.

 

[tergail]

I'm so sorry for your loss! I will keep you in my prayers.

Try not to be discouraged! Even the greatest christian can have temptation to commit sin and on occasion may give in to it. We are not perfect. We are forgiven. Pray for God's strength in your sins. To help you over come the temptation. Ask Him to take the desire away. But most of all - whatever this sin is, try to get it out of your life. I'm not sure what it is or if you want to share with us. But if it is something that you can stay away from, then do your best to stay away from it. For instance and for example - if it is gambling then don't go near a casino, if it is drugs then flush what you have and don't go near the persons or the area where you get them from. Again, those are just examples.

The best thing I can tell you is this. Forgive yourself. Once you have asked God to forgive you - He will. So forgive yourself for your sins and let them go. If you do fall back into that temptation and do it again - don't be too hard on yourself. We all fall - the key is to getting back up and pushing forward harder and better. God loves you and knows your heart. Just trust in Him.
And please give yourself time to grieve for your loss. This is going to be tough, I know. I lost my mom recently and it's hard. Just go with your emotions and look to God for comfort.

 

[Zeena]

well when I was around 10 or something there was a group of christians that were asking kids around the apartment complex if they wanted to go to bible studies and learn about Jesus. I accepted to go and for a month or so I learned about Jesus, well briefly learned.

That set the stage for me to believe in God and Jesus, but I didn't truly learn about him and accept his salvation until I was a Junior in high school when I started going to a church and got baptized into Christ.

After about 2 years of being a Christian I started to struggle a lot with sin and felt like leaving the church organization I was part of. So I left and since about early 2003 I've been away from the faith. I have tried to pray here and there and looked at apologetic stuff for the bible because I still think it's the truth, but I've been a hypocrite and very lukewarm.

So now I feel compelled to become a Christian again. I want to never look back again. I won't hide anything though, I feel VERY tempted to still be part of the world and do sinful things, even right now as I type. I don't know what to do. I've been praying to God to help me get out of the sinful desires.

What do you all think I should do? Should I look for a church to go to?

Only believe Jesus is Living His Holy Life in and through you!

Cast your cares on Him, for He CARES for you!

 

[Abiel]

My honest suggestion is that you simply relax a bit, read your Bible a bit, pray a bit. Potter to a few churches. Stay at one that you feel comfortable in.

As to sin, let God worry about that. Take it a day at a time. If a day is too long, take it an hour at a time. If you stuff up, go to your heavenly dad and say sorry. Try to do better. If like the rest of us, you still find yourself tempted, and do something you know to be wrong, go to you heavenly dad and say sorry. Try to do better. If like the rest of us, you still...

and so it goes. None of us will be free from this, this side of glory. I'm so glad that when I stand before my heavenly dad, I will be able to say- 'don't examine me- look at what Jesus did for me instead!'

 

[Seekermeister]

It doesn't sound to me, that you ever stopped being a Christian. Participating in Church activities is a wonderful thing to do, and it will help you a great deal. But, what you really are doing is putting your life back in focus. This is not an uncommon situation for many Christians, so I expect that you will find some that will understand, welcome and accept you...hopefully, they can help you along the way.

 

[bluemarkus]

there is nothing like coming back to the LORD after some years in the world. I wish you a great time of healing and then some !

He´s after you !

MB

 

[ineedUtoloveMe]

I'm sorry about your loss, I hope God and ppl around you confort you as you go through this hard time. I'm lifting you up in prayer as I write this. When a man seeks God, God pays attention... and God knows your heart (he loves you soooooo much!! and there's a party in heaven because you are turning back to Jesus). One day you, by God's grace will be reunited with your dad, Jesus is coming soon! You are a disciple of Christ, your story made me seek God myself... and made me realise she should humble ourselves to God. Thank you!

Dont stop praying, may God be with you.

Amen my sister. i STAND with you in prayer; i STAND with everyone here in prayer.

GOD IS GOOD

ineedUtoLOVEMe

 

[Dondi]

It's not about ceasing from sin.

It's about having a relationship with God.

I'm not talking about going to church, reading your bible, and praying. I'm talking about opening up to God with everything you have, everything you are, everything you aren't, everything you want to be. I'm talking about being in the presence of God, talking to Him as you would talk to a trusted friend. Pouring out your heart and hopes to Him, and more importantly, letting God respond. Let God reveal Himself to your heart. Hear that still small voice that the Holy Spirit will impress upon you as you spend time with Him.

Take example from Mary:

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Years ago, I was just where you are, immersed in the world, yet tired of it. Having run so far away, I felt God was a million miles away. I even had doubts that He even existed. But one night I just opened my heart to God and went through my entire life and told Him how very sorry how I had turned out. And without expecting anything really, I just asked if He would still take me back.

I was so overwhelmed by a sense of His Love and Forgiveness that I couldn't even begin to describe what I felt in my heart. The one thing that does stand out was...acceptance. I haven't cried so much in a long time. Though I received Christ years before, it became a reality that day.

To be in God's Presence like that will change you. I've learned to love God by obeying Him and the love I've felt from Him has been with me even now. You will be amazed at what God can do to you if you let Him. You have to let go of yourself, and let Him.

He loves you more than you can imagine. We need to know how we can approach God with a humble heart and receive it. That love will change you attitude and you will want to do the things of God, not out of compulsion or obligation, but rather because you love God and want to please Him, including learning how to love others as He loves through you. Love is what will conquer your sin.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

I recommend studying Scripture and inquiring at a local Catholic Church nearby. But no matter what, REMEMBER to PRAY!--Pray most of all for guidance, for he will definitely help you along in your path towards him through his Holy Church. Remember it is by prayer we commune and talk with Christ, and by studying Scripture we learn not only why he came, but how to live our lives in Christ Jesus the only begotten son of God our Father in Heaven. We are NOT saved by any other name in Heaven, but by Christ Jesus. Remember he is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIGHT, and that in order to inherit eternal life, we must take up our crosses in life, and follow him. Our struggle in our lives as Christians is tough, but through trusting in God, and talking to him in Prayer he will guide us towards a closer relationship with him, through his church. May God bless you very abundantly!
sincerely,
Ravenonthecross

 

[Tishri1]

For the past 4.5 years I stopped going to church and almost stopped worshipping God. I still believed and still believe in God/Jesus and everything about Christianity, but for those 4.5 years I was not active in the faith, I was rather very lukewarm and didn't make any effort to really read the bible, attend church, meet with the fellowship, etc. I think I only went to church once for easter service and that wasn't even to really worship, but to do an assignment for my class.

As hard as it is for me to believe, my father passed away yesterday and for the past few months he had been struggling with his congestive heart failure along with other problems including diabetes. During those times I was praying more than I had ever prayed before and I had in mind to want to start being a Christian again, but I was hesistant. Finally after my father passed away yesterday, I felt no hope left inside me. I just want to trust in God and pray that God has a place in Heaven for my dad. And I want to be there with my dad and God along with the rest of my family.

I wish it wasn't this hard event that is making me want to join God's church again, but I feel compelled now and don't really want to turn back. I say "again" because I used to worship regularly for a couple years until early 2003 when my faith became weak and I gave into the world. But now I want to get back into it forever.

It's still really hard for me to get back into it. I have been praying a lot and just don't know what to do. I don't know what church I should attend and how the people in that specific church will be welcoming. I don't know how I am going to escape all the sins that I have been committing for the past few years. I don't know how I am going to walk the faith such as how God wants me to. I'm really lost and confused. I do want to be a Christian again.

There is a lot more I could talk about, such as my struggles with sin among other things. But I mainly want to ask how I can get back into being a disciple of Christ.

IMO Your there Bro...listen to your heart you affirm you faith in Jesus with every line!!! Your stuggle is with your walk and who in here can say they dont struggle themselves....I'm soooooo sorry about your dads passing and With all my heart pray for you while you are grieving, thats sooooo hard to go thru...

Your actions not to get into sin take will-power and faith to over come, your actions out of sin take forgiveness and Gods power and you being willing that once you are free you will rely on God to lead you thru each day...Sometimes we never take that step toward healing and deliverance because it seems to hard..YES IT ISand we dont commit 100% to persue freedom because we know ourselves all to well and dont belive it's possible....IT CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE....The path out of sin begins on your knees, not by your might, not by your power, but by the Spirit of God

I had learned about repentance before, but I have the hardest time grasping it right now. I've been in a lot of sin the past few years and I am unsure how to get out of it. The temptations are there and it's just hard to resist. For the past few days I've done ok with some of my sins, but I know the tempation is going to crawl back after my grieving at least. I guess I need help with repenting and with my sins.

I totally understand, Listen you just need to repent AND beleive He took that all away and set you free...He who the Father sets free is free indeed! He does the work in you sweety...You ask and you recieve that's all you have to do, and then act like your free, don't act like a person who is still in bondage because you are no longer a slave and you didnt have to do anything to recieve this cleansing it was by the blood of Jesus....

well when I was around 10 or something there was a group of christians that were asking kids around the apartment complex if they wanted to go to bible studies and learn about Jesus. I accepted to go and for a month or so I learned about Jesus, well briefly learned.

That set the stage for me to believe in God and Jesus, but I didn't truly learn about him and accept his salvation until I was a Junior in high school when I started going to a church and got baptized into Christ.

After about 2 years of being a Christian I started to struggle a lot with sin and felt like leaving the church organization I was part of. So I left and since about early 2003 I've been away from the faith. I have tried to pray here and there and looked at apologetic stuff for the bible because I still think it's the truth, but I've been a hypocrite and very lukewarm.

So now I feel compelled to become a Christian again. I want to never look back again. I won't hide anything though, I feel VERY tempted to still be part of the world and do sinful things, even right now as I type. I don't know what to do. I've been praying to God to help me get out of the sinful desires.

What do you all think I should do? Should I look for a church to go to?

Yes if you want but in the mean time really seek Gods face... Hes concerned about how your handling your own father's death, He's aware of your pain ...share these things with ABBA and he will heal you, share your sin with Him, lay it at his feet, and walk away trusting HIM to take care of healing you... When you feel weak , call on Him to strenghthen you, and start to walk the life of a person who truly has been freed from sin,,,,that person is relying on God 100% of his day and putting himself in a place of total reliance on His grace and mercy.....Finding a church is good too but let yourself have a time alone with God and really let Him set you free and recieve it as a gift of love to you

 

[winfong]

As long as you are breathing, you have a choice to carry on your christian walk.

Just make sure you go to a church which you feel that you can GROW in it. Backsliding usually comes due to a lack of growth. - Like fruits on a tree, if you ain't GROWING, means you're rotting.

How to?

Firstly Pray about it. make sure it's SPECIFIC. about these kind of stuff, you will get what you pray for.

And surely there will be a door open for you to go to one. Just Make sure you walk thru the door which has opened.

Don't worry about your past, God probably saw more horrible things than what you have done.

Then start walking....and make sure you HANG ON as much as possible.

HANG ON TO GOD...not People or Circumstances. and you'll be okay....