What has helped you most on your journey? Is there any literature outside of the bible that you have found particularly insightful? and what about daily practices.....like prayer or meditation?
Wow, Raymond, you have an extraordinary amount of faith in God. I hope you find a way to put that to good use.
I mean, God trained me. I think what is weird about me, is God showed me how he trained me. It is all very subtle. Like, for instance, just getting a thought, then a coworker mentioning a book. And so on.
So, with your fantastic level of faith? God has surely been training you all of your life. Very often, with you not knowing it. A lot of information which can seem useless or not God related, can be useful and God related.
"God orders the steps of the righteous".
So, I could speak of many books God has had me read, but these are for obscure purposes specific to my needs.
Main thing universal I would say is, pay very close attention to the teachings of Jesus, and avoid those who muddy them up with their interpretations.
Interpretations sneak in there, creating a blinding visor for the eyes.
Remove the visor and read again, and let the Lord guide you within.
As you are a good Christian (the Spirit told me and it is evident from your responses), you certainly will have angels literally in disguise in your life.
For me, I thought I just had very remarkable friends and bestfriends. After I read the Bible, I thought that God just was really, deeply active in them, even if they did not wear a Jesus tshirt or anything.
What God eventually led me to see was these were remarkable people because they are angels. And the same people - angels - had walked my life with me, simply changing form as they went.
It is like thinking all your life your dad is a simple archeologist, and then, one day, discovering that was just a cover. He really was a superspy. And so your education and friends were, too.
There can be some hurt there, like 'all along you were not as I thought you were' and 'why did you all along not tell me, I thought we were friends'.
Anyway, they are the only ones who can show themselves.
In terms of "things one do", nothing needs be forced. When God really has put seeking in your heart, seeking behavior pours out. Sometimes in strange words and actions. Sometimes in more traditional forms, such as pacing relentlessly, walking long and far, forgetting to eat or drink, giving your money to live on for the month to the homeless poor, and so on.
No need to force anything, even with fasting, which I have found to be specifically powerful, as you will fast as you find your belief so huge and fiery it consumes you.
Merry Christmas.
