I'm new to this.

[ChrisK216]

Alright, so my names Chris, I'm 16 and a sophmore, and I've been going through many phases of depression, dealing with loneliness, and lack of friends. And a few days ago is when I decided I want to get right with God once and for all. I know I'm can't do this alone, and I just want him to bless me more in life. I want more friends, I want to be more happy with myself, and I want to live more of a productive life. I been having low self esteem and I have been transfered from high school to homeschool because of these social issues. I'm now heading off to a nearby private school which happens to be at the same church I go to every wednesday night and sunday morning.

So I'd just like some pointers and advice on how I can keep myself on the right path, maybe some verses to keep me encouraged, and how I can live a more productive and fulfilling life where I can help others and serve the lord, cause that's what I truly want. I want to help others, I really want to follow whatever plans he may have for me, and I want to be confident, and happy with my life without falling back down.

I appreciate any answers you can give me.

 

[joey_downunder]

Hello Chris! You sound like a very sensitive and self-aware person (like me). The Highly Sensitive Person That has its strengths and weaknesses. You will have to learn to use the good side of being a sensitive person and accept that you'll never be a "cheerleader/captain of a football team" type of personality.

Now if you are a highly sensitive person, you will have to learn to:
1. accept that you are what you are, God has chosen to make you that way.

2. make sure you learn to take your eyes off yourself and onto others, look at the big picture.

3. learn that sensitivity is a blessing from God (even if world seems to think exactly the opposite).

4. Realise when you compare your apparent lack of friends to extremely popular people that lots of friends does not mean lots of real friends.
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)

5. Sensitivity is a real advantage when you listen to other people. You are more likely to know what to say and when to say it.
A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Proverbs 25:11)
People love listeners!

For your own happiness as well this rule of thumb is a very good one.
Jesus
Others
Yourself

Reading what you have typed has made me realise how glad I am no longer a teenager! This stage will pass. Having God in your life will make all the difference.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

[now faith]

Seek him with all of your heart. Seek to glorify him in all that you do. Reach out give your time to witness and help others. Learn wisdom it will bring favor from god and man. The bible states to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a lamb. If you study his word and desire spiritual things the right friends will be added to your life to help you along the way. You are beginning the greatest walk of your life that will give you eternal life. You will come to understand gods love through his son and his gift of salvation on the cross. You also will be given comfort through trials with the holy sririt poured out in your life. The gospel of john is good to begin with. All of gods word OT and NT is for our instruction. God bless you young man.

 

[SammeyR]

It sounds like you alot like me as well. I remember being like that when I was your age. I was never really active in the church at that time. Eventhough that we attended a regular chucrh every sunday morning I would go with my friend sometimes to her church. I liked her church's youth program. I could say alot of great things in my life came when I was at a church function. Just let the lord into your heart and he will giude you in what to do. Also in here there is a fourm started call "Where to trun". It has helped me out sometimes. Good luck at your journey.

 

[Harry3142]

Chris-

I call this passage 'The Christians Code of Conduct', because it not only identifies which actions, and more importantly which emotions, are in opposition to God's will, but also which emotions (the fruit of the Spirit0 we are to identify as the source of all that we say and do if our words and actions are to truly conform to what God wants of us:

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:16-26,NIV)

Don't worry about behaving in the way described here, because our success at living this life doesn't depend on our own willpower. Instead, it depends on our willingness to get out of the way and let God's Spirit take the lead.

Look at the first paragraph of this passage. Who's actually doing the fighting? It's the Spirit, not we ourselves. Our place is to be behind the Spirit, just as military formations of that era had men following those who were in the lead, but only engaging the enemy if those in front of them had already fallen. We can have the utmost confidence in the Spirit that he will never fall, so he will always be ahead of us. Our place in line is to stay behind him.

The second paragraph of this passage lists 'acts of the sinful nature'. But take a good look at that list, and count how many of those 'acts' aren't actions, but rather are the emotions which, if left unchecked, lead to the commission of sinful acts. Since emotions are at the very core of our being, we can't change them ourselves any more than a leopard can exchange his spots for the stripes of a tiger. But what we can't 'rein in', namely, our core emotions, the Spirit can. They're what he's engaging in battle in paragraph #1.

However, instead of simply subduing our natures and leaving it at that, the Spirit brings with him his 'fruit'. The nine emotions listed as 'the fruit of the Spirit' are to be our new natures as Christians. And just as the Spirit subdued our base natures, the Spirit instills in us our new natures. We are to see these nine emotions as the new core of our being, and accept that what we say and do as Christians are to have their point of origination in these emotions if they are to be seen as Christlike.

But remember this: Our sinful natures may be subdued, but they're not dead. Every so often you'll recognize an attempt by some part of that base nature to assert itself. When you do, relax. You wouldn't have recognized what the sinful nature was attempting to do if the Spirit weren't still with you, so let him put those 'assertions' back where they belong, while you continue to live your life recognizing that 'the fruit of the Spirit' is the border within which we are to remain.

God bless-