Today has tested me

[clo101]

Ok so I have a few niggles.

I have a question - How will I know God has answered my prayers? I prayed last night that an argument with my friend wouldn't carry on, but then it did. I asked my grandma and she said instead of praying for a stress free day, to pray for the strength to get through the stressful day. But I don't know, I want to feel that my prayers are been answered so that I can fully believe, i've started the prayers like "Dear God, i don't really know you but I'd like to get to know and have a relationship with you.... etc" I'm beginning to think that i'm missing something.

Secondly,
Today has really tested me. One of my reasons for deciding to look closer into Christianity is that I wanted to be an all round better person, a friend and I have had an argument, and I don't feel like i was mean in fact I feel like I was really diplomatic, but would rather have had the strength to walk away from the argument but I didn't.

Any ideas!?

 

[Bible2]

Concentrate on your relationship with Jesus/God. There's no way to control other people. And God/Jesus isn't going to take away their (or your) free will. If they (or you) want to keep arguing, then it will happen. But Jesus/God can give you the strength to resist the urge to keep arguing, through his Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:16).

--

Besides getting water baptized, believers can get Holy Spirit baptized (Acts 11:15-16, Acts 10:44-46). They usually have to ask to receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13b) baptism, for it's not usually automatically given to them the moment they become believers. That's why Paul the apostle asked some believers: "Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2).

Believers usually receive Holy Spirit baptism through prayer accompanied by the laying on of hands, subsequent to water baptism (Acts 8:15-17, Acts 19:5-6). Holy Spirit baptism won't result in speaking in tongues for everyone (1 Corinthians 12:30), but for almost everyone, as tongues are one of the Spirit's lesser gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8,9,10,11,28; 1 Corinthians 14:5). Many believers haven't yet experienced Holy Spirit baptism simply because they haven't yet asked for it, under the principle of "ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2b). Many believers haven't yet asked for it because they've come under the influence of mistaken teachings which say that it's no longer in effect. Believers can get hands laid on them to receive Holy Spirit baptism at any Pentecostal-type congregation, or at any charismatic-type congregation, which can be of almost any denomination.

 

[Emmy]

Dear clo100. Your grandma gave you good advice, ask God for strenght every time you have to face difficulties. We must always remember: God gave us all free will, God will not force anybody. God`s great way of teaching us is: we will reap what we have sown. ( Galatians 6: 7-10 God is our Loving Heavenly Father, and we always reap what we sown, perhaps not immediately
but always at God`s right time. I say this with love, clo. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[clo101]

Thank you

 

[Harry3142]

clo101-

It's not enough for us to do the right things; we must also do them for the right reasons. IOW: It's the motivations which lead to our actions that determine whether those actions conform to what God wants of us or not. This includes especially our interrelationships with those around us, be they fellow Christians or nonbelievers.

Fortunately, Holy Writ tells us clearly what motivations we are to recognize as being contrary to God's will, and therefore shun, as well as what motivations we are to recognize as conforming to God's will, and therefore embrace:

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)

If our interrelationships have the motivations listed as 'the acts of the sinful nature' as their impetus, then we are at fault due to our permitting those motivations to dictate our actions. Just as a poisoned tree cannot yield good fruit, no action which has its beginning in any of the motivations listed here can be seen as anything other than sinful. It is these motivations which we are to have faith that the Spirit will subdue, since they interfere with spiritual growth.

On the other hand, it is the motivations listed as 'the fruit of the Spirit' which we are to recognize as conforming to God's will. It is when these motivations are the impetus for our actions that we have assurance that they conform to what God wants of us. So just as we have faith that the Spirit will subdue the motivations which are 'the acts of the sinful nature', we also have faith that the Spirit will implant in us, and then strengthen as we continue our journey through this life, those motivations which are 'the fruit of the Spirit'.

 

[Peripatetic]

Your grandmother's advice was very good. As the quote in my signature indicates, being a Christian does not mean a life without struggles and suffering. One secret to becoming a better person is to focus on loving others. The word "loving" may seem strange at first, but it can apply to anyone. Sometimes it involves doing something (or not doing something) for the benefit of someone else. Other times, it's just a matter of understanding other points of view, and caring about them. Interestingly, these choices often give new meaning and happiness to your own life too.

 

[insurchoftruth]

The moment anger starts to arise, the logic goes down, and the emotion takes over.

You see, the emotional part of the brain, has the ability to 'hijack', the logical part of the brain, so when we are angry or stressed, we can not think clear, in a logical way, but think, speak and act, fueled by the emotion.

You see, the word emotion means; e-motion, because emotions push us in a certain way.

The stronger the negative emotion, the weaker the logic.

So try to speak less, when you feel stressed and angry, and wait for a few seconds to calm down, and then speak.

Emotions are like waves, they come quickly, and then disappear.

Emotion clouds judgement.

I know it is not easy, to speak calmly, all the time, when we feel angry and emotional, but and least we could try. Perhaps that is what it means, to count to 10, when we are angry.

I also find myself from time to time, letting anger take over my logic, and I act out of anger. But we can repent, and ask God to help us. The Bible shows that anger leads to sin. So may God helps us, to control anger by the help of the Holy Spirit in us, instead of anger controlling us. It is a struggle, and sometimes we bend, and give in to emotion, but by the Holy Spirit, we can struggle against the sinful nature in us, otherwise, without his help, we will be defeated.

 

[StormHawk]

I have a question - How will I know God has answered my prayers? I prayed last night that an argument with my friend wouldn't carry on, but then it did. I asked my grandma and she said instead of praying for a stress free day, to pray for the strength to get through the stressful day. But I don't know,

That's right!
God talks about doing more than we can ask or even imagine - after all, he is God!
Here's what the first Christians realised:

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him ...
For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God." (1 Cor. 2:9-11)

So, as Jesus said, we need to first receive God's Spirit (become "born again").

i've started the prayers like "Dear God, i don't really know you but I'd like to get to know and have a relationship with you.... etc"

Right again! A relationship is 2 people interacting, so you need to expect God to start doing what you can't do - reveal himself & his will for you.
Again, for that you need to receive His Spirit. This will result in a new prayer language "speaking in tongues", " for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us for us" (Acts 2:4, 33, John 3:8, Romans 8:26).

I'm beginning to think that i'm missing something.

Right again, and when I met people that had received the Spirit and who had that relationship with God I began to realise that this is what I need.
They had confidence, contentment, peace etc that I knew I could not attain to, neither could anyone else! This had to be God.

Secondly,
Today has really tested me. One of my reasons for deciding to look closer into Christianity is that I wanted to be an all round better person, a friend and I have had an argument, and I don't feel like i was mean in fact I feel like I was really diplomatic, but would rather have had the strength to walk away from the argument but I didn't.

God will make you overflow with his goodness, that will out-shine arguments about other things, they won't matter anymore.

Most "churches" are wrong & confused about receiving the Spirit.
I'm with these. We are not!
I suggest you contact the nearest.

 

[Emmy]

Dear clo101. You are disappointed because Did not answer your prayer when you expected it. Your grandma is right, when we pray God will always give us the power to face things. Remember Clo, God has given us free will, and God will not force us. Your disagreement with your friend consists of two people involved, and God will not force us, neither will God force the person who opposes us. For God`s Love to work, takes time, sometimes even years. But in the mean-time, if we keep on praying, God will always give us the strenght to wait. I say this with love, clo. greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.
P.S. There are always some prayers which God would not uphold, or agree with. God is LOVE, and God is also a Righteous God.

 

[LilLamb219]

When God answers prayers, He answers Yes, No and Not Now. We can't force God to bend to our will, but our prayers should be those that we hope are in line with HIS will.

 

[Albion]

Ok so I have a few niggles.

I have a question - How will I know God has answered my prayers? I prayed last night that an argument with my friend wouldn't carry on, but then it did. I asked my grandma and she said instead of praying for a stress free day, to pray for the strength to get through the stressful day. But I don't know, I want to feel that my prayers are been answered so that I can fully believe, i've started the prayers like "Dear God, i don't really know you but I'd like to get to know and have a relationship with you.... etc" I'm beginning to think that i'm missing something.

Secondly,
Today has really tested me. One of my reasons for deciding to look closer into Christianity is that I wanted to be an all round better person, a friend and I have had an argument, and I don't feel like i was mean in fact I feel like I was really diplomatic, but would rather have had the strength to walk away from the argument but I didn't.

Any ideas!?

We really can't pray and also make demands of God. Of course, few people will say "You'd better respond by tonight or else...." But if we expect a certain answer and no other...and expect to have it within a certain timeframe...or you think there's only one way he can help you out with your problem, you are negotiating in a way.

So my basic advice is not to despair, continue to pray, and be aware that how he tackles the problem may be totally different from the scenario you have in mind right now.

 

[parsley]

I enjoyed a video yesterday that goes well with the topic. If you have time, listen to a little of it.

Derek Prince - Prayer and Fasting - Thy Kingdom Come - YouTube

It takes some time to get the feel of what prayer is. In prayer, we speak with an all-powerful eternal God -- who is also loving and attentive to our life's twists and turns. Part of His goal is to train us like a parent would, where we learn during our difficult experiences. Talk with Him more like a wise person, than a religious method.

Your friend might have argued yesterday, but tomorrow they might approach you and remark on how thoughtfully you handled it. I've had friends apologize later, explaining something much larger was going on at home that they couldn't talk about.

Think of God as being able to see everything that's going on, and hearing what people's plans are... then when someone asks for a change, it sets in motion several things at once. The prayer is heard immediately, but the wisest response is not always the fastest.