New "Christian" Seeking Helpful Guidance

[Redem91]

Hello,

Let me start by saying I Googled Christian forums in order to seek guidance in my quest to be a God worshiping Christian. I grew up without religion and was never baptized (not even sure what being baptized is for) but I always felt something missing in my life without spirituality. I use to think I was a Atheist but I have never felt happier when I'm reading the bible and learning about the love and care Christians bring people. I love the idea of accepting all life and being kind to one another. I also feel like I've experienced God when I've prayed to him or asked him for help. The truth is I am very sad and lost in life but no matter what, praying and worshiping has helped me survive and be happy.

With that all said, I own a cross necklace and a bible, my only religious items. I try and read the bible every night (my favorite chapter is Proverbs since it's my only guide to worshiping), not in order, but wherever the book opens. I pray to God every night, thanking him for the food I've eaten, the bed that I sleep in and the roof over my head. I ask him to please help me in my quest for redemption and happiness and offer my soul to him every night.
I have no real understanding of how to properly worship God and I feel I'm making him mad or not reaching him because I've just been worshiping on my own way. I suffer with anger and being judgmental towards others, lying, and using the Lord's name in vein the most and I say I'm sorry every night for it.
But now I really want to give my life to the Lord in thanks, and not just in thanks but because I believe I'll feel happier this way. I need help in knowing what I need to do. I'm nineteen and need to know if I should get baptized, how to find a church, and what the bible entails. I really want to become stricter with obeying God and making him happy but I don't know how, so please if anyone can give me some advice, it would make me very happy.

Thank you to everyone for reading.
-Tyler

 

[oi_antz]

Hello,

Let me start by saying I Googled Christian forums in order to seek guidance in my quest to be a God worshiping Christian. I grew up without religion and was never baptized (not even sure what being baptized is for) but I always felt something missing in my life without spirituality. I use to think I was a Atheist but I have never felt happier when I'm reading the bible and learning about the love and care Christians bring people. I love the idea of accepting all life and being kind to one another. I also feel like I've experienced God when I've prayed to him or asked him for help. The truth is I am very sad and lost in life but no matter what, praying and worshiping has helped me survive and be happy.

With that all said, I own a cross necklace and a bible, my only religious items. I try and read the bible every night (my favorite chapter is Proverbs since it's my only guide to worshiping), not in order, but wherever the book opens. I pray to God every night, thanking him for the food I've eaten, the bed that I sleep in and the roof over my head. I ask him to please help me in my quest for redemption and happiness and offer my soul to him every night.
I have no real understanding of how to properly worship God and I feel I'm making him mad or not reaching him because I've just been worshiping on my own way. I suffer with anger and being judgmental towards others, lying, and using the Lord's name in vein the most and I say I'm sorry every night for it.
But now I really want to give my life to the Lord in thanks, and not just in thanks but because I believe I'll feel happier this way. I need help in knowing what I need to do. I'm nineteen and need to know if I should get baptized, how to find a church, and what the bible entails. I really want to become stricter with obeying God and making him happy but I don't know how, so please if anyone can give me some advice, it would make me very happy.

Thank you to everyone for reading.
-Tyler

Hi Tyler,

I feel moved to welcome you to CF, you sound to have a heart set on loving God to the fullest, which is seriously the most valuable blessing the Lord can bestow. It is generally acknowledged in Christianity that God wants us to become more and more like His holy Son Jesus Christ, which means to honor God in every way. Sadly due to the powerful calls of fleshly desires we are inclined to fall from time to time, and when this happens, God rebukes us that we become aware of our sin and are gently punished until we come to repentance. It is repentance that is the key to pleasing God, as God had made us good in the first place, it is through our knowledge of sin and various choices to indulge in sin that we have become less than good. So it does take some conscious effort to maintain the status of "very good", which the Lord declared upon us when He made the earth and everything in it.

Not that I want to do Jesus' job of directing you in life, but I would say definitely that misusing the Lord's names is one sure way of demonstrating disrespect (more or less than another sin, I'm not sure), but for me I've always held that command in highest regard so much that I cringe when I hear someone misuse His names. I would suggest that a conscious effort to honor the names of the Lord will demonstrate a personal effort to give Him the special respect He deserves and it will be noticed.

Secondly, and I think this is very very important for any serious Christian, read the Bible in context. I know that verse hopping can really connect you to the Holy Spirit and stimulate the voice of God to answer your questions and give you hope etc. But we are called to be witnesses of Christ, and a light unto the world. The only way we can be effective in this role is to be strong in our knowledge of God's word, which means to know the whole history of what has gone down, and to know it from God's point of view. Many of the people you will witness to will have just glimpses of the knowledge in the book, completely out of context and usually from a point of view that does nothing to explain the purpose God had when He inspired the divine documents. So our role is to be at least one step ahead of the others, being able to explain "actually, that's not really how it happened" and therefore correct misconceptions. Begin with the New Testament, read it all the way through and then get started on the Old Testament, and this will give you a completeness of knowledge of how the kingdom of Christ has come into the world. I think as a child of God and a representative of Christ, this is our duty in calling.

Apart from that, you are doing the right thing, giving God your attention daily and praying to Him, and seeking to know how you might go about living your life in a way that pleases Him. I wish you all the best and that you'll really dedicate yourself to blossoming into the most magnificent disciple Christ has designed you to be.

 

[oi_antz]

Oh, and for churches, go church hopping! Be wary though, because since even the times of Paul and as Jesus predicted there have been false teachers, those wanting to promote their own agenda and those wanting only riches. I think if you pray about what you've been told in church and meditate on the verses (again, read them in context, don't just read the one verse, read the whole chapter), if you find that your heart is tending to not agree with what the Pastor has said, it would be good to bring that to discussion with other Christians and by finding those Christians you can trust (generally if you ask whether they know Jesus Christ personally and can represent Jesus Christ to you, you will know in their answer whether they're lying), then you'll get to know the Christians you can trust because it is really the Holy Spirit you are speaking to when you speak to them in the name of Jesus. May God bless you richly in your pursuit of truth

 

[SharonL]

Hi Redem:

First and foremost - God knows your heart and knows you are trying to do what is right and is very proud of you.

You are fortunate in one way that you don't have a lot of religion to sort through, this can sometimes really confuse people.

Just know one thing, if you have ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life and repented of your sins - your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and you are a child of God. So just see yourself as God sees you - washed in the Blood of the Lamb and God no longer sees your sins.

Don't get too wrapped up in doing things 'correct' - just know that Jesus walks by your side and a portion of Jesus' own Spirit (His Holy Spirit) is in you to lead you. The Bible tells us that Jesus is your Friend, just talk to Him, put your hand in the hand of Jesus and let the Joy of the Lord shine through you. The Holy Spirit will never lead you in the wrong direction. When you feel that gentle tug at your heart to do a certain thing, that is the leading of the Holy Spirit.

If you start something that is not God's Will in your life - you will not have peace about it - peace will always let you know the Holy Spirit is in charge and that you are walking in God's Will.

Just enjoy your walk each day and each day you will grow a little and grow closer. There is lots of good advice on the forum. When you come across something that you are not sure of, just ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and follow that guidance. Also some very good advice is in the Spirit Filled section - just glance over some of the post and find one that you have a question about and also in this new Christian section, just go over the posts, it will answer your questions.

You are doing the right thing and going about it in the right way - don't get involved in all the legalisms of the many different beliefs - sometimes people get so wrapped up in telling you what you can't do that they fail to tell you what God CAN do. Enjoy your walk and know the God is smiling down on you right now.

 

[fm107]

Hi Redem91,

The most important thing is that you become saved from your sins.

We have all sinned but God through his great love for mankind sent his only begotten son into the world to take our place of punishment on the cross.

Because Jesus has done this, we can have our sins blotted out on account of what he has done. All we have to do is ask God to forgive us for our sins and be genuinely repentant for whatever sins you have committed in your life.

God really wants you to have a relationship with him, God loves you so much. His hand is outreached to you, will you grab onto it?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him [that's Jesus] the iniquity of us all.

You see God is a God of love. But God is also Holy and just. Therefore because we have disobeyed him and sinned in our lives we do honestly deserve punishment. But God through his love is offering you forgiveness. All you need do is accept what Jesus has done for you and repent.

Then you will have everlasting life in Heaven!

John 6:46
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

There isn't a more greater joy than to know your going to Heaven!


God is calling out to you today, will you answer him?


May God bless!

 

[Peripatetic]

Welcome! Starting with a clean slate is challenging and exciting at the same time. You are wise to be reading the Bible, but you may benefit from some commentary that would help you through the tougher passages. For that, I would recommend a study bible. I have the ESV Study Bible and the NIV Study Bible... both are excellent at providing context and balanced explanation. Another option would be to read a daily devotion or two. That way you don't have to open randomly. A devotion will give you a short passage to read, and then give you a page of discussion about it.

Here are some good ones for free on the Internet:

Daily Devotionals and Bible Devotions, Free Online, Christian Study

For new Christians, I recommend Harvest Daily Devotional from Greg Laurie, Christian Bible Devotions

... and his podcast is very good too. Laurie is a gifted speaker, and his teachings are fun and accessible.

Finally, I would encourage you to find a church as others have said. Maybe try out a few and see what fits you. I'll say a prayer for you!

 

[Theophilus84]

I'd like to offer encouragement, but not too much specific advice because where you are starting is a great place full of possibilities. Let me suggest some things that you might not have heard yet:
1. You'll meet a lot of people who are sure they have the right knowledge about what it takes to be a Christian. They won't all agree. Christians are diverse and that diversity reflects the wonderful fact that people can be different and still united by their love for Jesus.
2. The mysteries of God and of this life and of what it means to be a human pursuing God are greater than what we can ever imagine. Be humble and remember that the truth can be personally challenging at times. Remember your feelings about the frontier ahead of you now and that it takes an open mind and an open heart to listen to God.
3. Believing in God and following Jesus is a process. Be okay with your questions and doubts - what's more, celebrate them! There are a billion wrong answers, but far less really, really good questions.
4. You already know a lot about God. Chances are you have wanted forgiveness before, or felt vulnerable, or loved someone. God works through all those moments. If you believe that God has been working in your life until this point, then don't think that God's communication with you is about to undergo a tremendous change. Keep learning about yourself and whatever you respected before now, keep respecting. Just do it all knowing that Jesus loves you unconditionally.

God whispers more than God shouts.

 

[heron]

Welcome to CF! And to the family of God. It sounds like a beautiful faith walk you have developed, and I'm sure it will continue to improve over the years.

Jesus gave an acceptable format for prayer, and you probably know it. The Lord's Prayer --"Our Father..."
It goes through repentance, gratefulness, protection, provision... the balanced basics.

It's great that you are remembering to thank God for things. I find that is so important, not just for our outlook on life but for our relationship with God. We humans always forget to thank people, and take what we have for granted.

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

Welcome to the Family!
There is more rejoysing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over all those who allready know God.

Sorry i cannot spell but i do know what i am talking about. lol.

I made a youtube video just for people who are truly seeking God like you.
In this video i tried to answer all questions a new Believer might have and give them a solid foundation for there Faith in Jesus Christ. I think you will find it extremely helpful. I cannot post links yet so just go to youtube and type in:
How to Make JESUS CHRIST your Lord and Savior. all of your questions are answered in this video and i am hear for you for further support. I gave my life to Christ when i was a kid and i can definately help you grow strong in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Other than what is in my video hear are some tips. . . . . .

You are completely covered in the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, this means that you should not try to earn exceptence from God by being religious or by doing anything else. You are excepted now you just have to develop a personal relationship with Him.

The enemy tries to stop anyone who is seeking God. the more you seek God the more the enemy will try to stop you. that is why you feel guilty and think that God is mad at you. This is not truth but it feels true. these thoughts and feelings are just pee on demons that are influencing the way you think and feel. If they can get you to believe one lie in your heart like "God is mad at me" that lie will keep you from developing a relationship with God. So as a Believer you need to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and replace all the lies in your head with truth. this is why it is good to have fellowship with true Believers like me so you can talk about this stuff and tell the difference between truth and lies. as you grow in spiritual decernment you will be able to tell the difference with most things yourself and you will be able to help others. . . but it is allways good to keep the relationships you have with true believers because as you grow in your walk with God the demonic attacks get more intence. they are way ezer to resist but the lies are more tricky.

You cannot trust everyone who calls themself a Christian. Especially on a forum like this. lol. Some people are wolves in sheeps clothing. Every true Believer will comfess that.
Jesus Christ is there Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ is the only Begotten Son of God.
Jesus Christ came to earth in the flesh, died for our sin, and rose form the dead.
Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.
Jesus Christ is coming back to earth to rule and reign.

You must find another true Believer to comfess sin to. You do not have to talk about it or pray about it, you just have to comfess it. I usually comfess by text message or facebook. if you do not know of anyone to comfess your sin to i can be that person till you find some real Belivers in your life.
Un comfesed sin can hinder us in our pursuit of God and the enemy loves to remind us of our sins so if you feel guilty about sin just read 1 John 1:5-10 than comfes your sin to your true Believer friend and forget about it because God has forgotten about it. and just continue loving God.
I waisted way too much of my life not comfessing sin. that will really hold you back and belive me you do not want to hold back as a Beleiver. the only way to live for Christ is tho Run your race to win the prize.

Now allot of Christians in america do not know how to initiate a conversation with God. This is a shame because the howl meaning of life is to develop a personal relationship with God and that is allot ez er if you can initiate a conversation with Him. Plus life changes so dramatically when you talk to God all the time because He can say one word that will totally change the way you think and the way you view life. I can teach you how to open your spiritual ears and learn to decern the voice of God from the voice of demons. It is extremely important that you do not practice these excersises without relationship with a true beliver who has more decernment than you do. I used there excersises to open my spiritual ears on my own without questioning what i heard and i ended up going skitsofrenic for two days after about two years of talking to God. this is because the enemy is very tricky and any one of us can be decieved if we pursue God alone with out any guidence from true Believers. But before i can teach you how to have conversations with God and how to recognise his voice you must firs Give your life to Christ to watch the video and than message me and i will be your internet mentor. lol. I will make shure you don't waist years of your life trying to figure things out the hard way like i did.

Do not let anyone decieve you with religion. true religion is visiting orphans and widows in there distress. to see what a true Believer looks like check out iris ministries in a google search. find irismin.org. Heidi Baker knows God better than anyone else i know of. you can also check her out on youtube. Bill Johnson is also a good person to check out on youtube.

ok awesome. . . I am hear for you. for support, fellowship, and to answer any questions. just send me a personal message on this forum . God Bless