My faith is hanging by tattered threads and discouraged...

[AmericanSamurai]

Also just finding it difficult to read the Bible these days. Yet I am still thankful for God's mercy. I know that I am just focused on the wrong things.

 

[JM]

My family will pray for you AmericanSamurai, but if you would be so kind to send me your first name via email, it would make it a little more personal.

What is it that you find difficult about Bible reading? Is it staying focused?

Perhaps praying the scriptures will help?

We talked about this last night during our family Bible reading and prayer time, below you'll find a quick example, my prayers in brackets;

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

(Lord God have mercy on me, forgive me for dishonoring your council and pridefully ignoring your word)

nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

(yes Father, teach me to love your Law more and to find sin dreadfully sinful)

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

(because of Jesus I can stand forgiven in your assembly dear Lord and I thank you for what you have done for me and my brothers and sisters in Christ)

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

(My dear sweet Jesus, keep me in your everlasting embrace, overwhelm the wickedness that dwells within me with your Love, In Jesus' name I pray, Amen)

 

[bsd058]

Also just finding it difficult to read the Bible these days. Yet I am still thankful for God's mercy. I know that I am just focused on the wrong things.

Along with prayer, I find that reading a book about a book of the Bible I've rarely studied to be quite invigorating. It gives me the opportunity to learn something, and I find that God always speaks to me through my studies (in the sense that the Holy Spirit teaches every Christian). I find new comfort and strength with this approach. It's tried and true, too. At least for me it is. It can also be hard to take in sometimes, since His Word can be very convicting. Just continue to be dependent on Him and trust that He will help you. Much love, AmericanSamurai.

 

[gord44]

Take heart friend. Sometimes being lost is so close to being found. Grace and peace.

 

[bricklayer]

Reading the bible is not nearly as important as thinking about it.

Repeat back to God what He has revealed about Himself to you.

Above all else, stay curious. Know that God is behind it all. That was Job's baseline assumption.
Much worship is not offered in attempts to not "blame" God.

Never forget that is more important to look at things many different ways than just many different times.
You have now an opportunity to look at things this way; take it.

 

[Alienated]

When I am having trouble concentrating, I have the Bible on DVD and I quitetly lay in the dark having it read to me. Vary relaxing. And Bible Gateway has audio bible you can listen to free.

 

[bsd058]

Reading the bible is not nearly as important as thinking about it.

Repeat back to God what He has revealed about Himself to you.

Above all else, stay curious. Know that God is behind it all. That was Job's baseline assumption.
Much worship is not offered in attempts to not "blame" God.

Never forget that is more important to look at things many different ways than just many different times.
You have now an opportunity to look at things this way; take it.

I agree.

 

[twin1954]

I am ashamed at how often my heart is cold and my faith is so small. It is a constant reminder to me of the fact that in myself I am nothing but sin. But I also know that my experience is no different than even the greatest men of God. Paul spoke of his struggle in Rom. 7 and some of the mightiest preachers dealt with coldness in their hearts. But don't get dicouraged. Christ still has His hand on you and even this is for your good and His glory. If we didn't have times in the valley we wouldn't look to Him. He is once again showing you that you are nothing and He is all and enough for you.

The thing that thrills me when I read the Scriptures is when I begin to see Christ in them where I never saw Him before. Read your Bible to find Christ and His Gospel in all the Scriptures.

 

[JM]

I am ashamed at how often my heart is cold and my faith is so small. It is a constant reminder to me of the fact that in myself I am nothing but sin. But I also know that my experience is no different than even the greatest men of God. Paul spoke of his struggle in Rom. 7 and some of the mightiest preachers dealt with coldness in their hearts. But don't get dicouraged. Christ still has His hand on you and even this is for your good and His glory. If we didn't have times in the valley we wouldn't look to Him. He is once again showing you that you are nothing and He is all and enough for you.

The thing that thrills me when I read the Scriptures is when I begin to see Christ in them where I never saw Him before. Read your Bible to find Christ and His Gospel in all the Scriptures.

I blogged it and it was reblogged.

 

[AmericanSamurai]

I am realizing and learning to totally depend on God for everything, and the good thing is that I am learning to relinquish control of my life and my worries and fears and depend on God alone. My own feelings are deceptive.

 

[Shulamite]

I am ashamed at how often my heart is cold and my faith is so small. It is a constant reminder to me of the fact that in myself I am nothing but sin. But I also know that my experience is no different than even the greatest men of God. Paul spoke of his struggle in Rom. 7 and some of the mightiest preachers dealt with coldness in their hearts. But don't get dicouraged. Christ still has His hand on you and even this is for your good and His glory. If we didn't have times in the valley we wouldn't look to Him. He is once again showing you that you are nothing and He is all and enough for you.

The thing that thrills me when I read the Scriptures is when I begin to see Christ in them where I never saw Him before. Read your Bible to find Christ and His Gospel in all the Scriptures.

Excellent post. He's shown me the same and has taken me through times exactly like you've described to show me that He is sufficient, my everything and without Him I can do nothing. Amen.

 

[peakdixon]

In my Bible study last Sunday the leader suggested reading an entire chapter of Proverbs as a prayer. There are 31 Chapters in Proverbs (one for each day of the month) so you'll never have to wonder which chapter to read.

Another idea for inspiration is to read a book online by A.W. Pink like "The Attributes of God" and "Studies in Saving Faith". There are both free in .pdf and are filled with scripture. You can read a little then once you hit scripture go look it up. Read a little before the target text and a little after to get a feel of the context and intent of the passage.

John MacCarthur just wrote a new book on Christ in the bookstores. It is a story of Christ's life and commandments for us. But the great thing is the book is a story format with nothing but scripture. You read about Christ from the entire Bible in story format but every drop of text is actually scripture put together in narrative form. At the bottom of each page are references to scripture used.

Lastly, The Valley of Vision might help. It is a book of Puritan prayers based on scripture. God Bless You.

 

[JM]

The Valley of Vision might help.

 

[bricklayer]

I am realizing and learning to totally depend on God for everything, and the good thing is that I am learning to relinquish control of my life and my worries and fears and depend on God alone. My own feelings are deceptive.

May I attempt to write for you?
You are not learning to "totally depend on God for everything".
You are not learning to "relinquish control".
You are learning that you are totally dependent on God and that you have never been and never will be in control of your life.

You are entering the "you becoming less and Jesus becoming more" process.

Enjoy the adventure!

 

[bsd058]

Very good, Bricklayer.

 

[AmericanSamurai]

Oh yeah sorry, I got Arminian there for a moment, I don't know why.

 

[student ad x]

To add to what peakdixon posted, I've found Matthew Henry's Method of Prayer very helpful in my walk, (I regularly deal with depression).

And, Lord, forasmuch as there is in us a bent to turn away from you, Hosea 11:7 so that when our sins are forgiven, we are ready to turn back to folly, Psalm 85:8 we pray that you will not only forgive us our debts but take care of us, that we may not offend anymore. Job 34:32 Lord, lead us not into temptation. We know that no one can say when he is tempted that he is being tempted by God, for God himself tempts no one; James 1:13 but we know that God is able to make all grace abound to us, 2 Corinthians 9:8 and to keep us from stumbling and present us blameless. Jude 1:24 We therefore pray that you will never give us over to our own stubborn hearts, to follow our own counsels, Psalm 81:12 but restrain Satan, that roaring lion who goes about seeking someone to devour; 1 Peter 5:8 and grant that we may not be ignorant of his designs. 2 Corinthians 2:11 O let not Satan have us, to sift us like wheat; or however, let our faith not fail. Luke 22:31-32 Let not the messengers of Satan be permitted to harass us; 2 Corinthians 12:7 but if they do, let your grace be sufficient for us, that where we are weak, there we may be strong, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and may be more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 And the God of peace crush Satan under our feet, and do it shortly. Romans 16:20 And since we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers and authorities and the cosmic powers over this present darkness, Ephesians 6:12 let us be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10

Lord, grant that we may never enter into temptation, Matthew 26:41 but having prayed, may we set a guard; Nehemiah 4:9 and let your wise and good providence so order all our affairs and all events that concern us, that no temptation may overtake us that is not common to man, and that we may never be tempted beyond our ability to discern, resist, and overcome through the grace of God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Lord, do not lay any stumbling block before us, so that we should stumble and perish. Jeremiah 6:21 Let nothing be a hindrance in our way, Romans 14:13 but give us that great peace which they have who love your law, for nothing can make them stumble.