Trying but not getting it???

[BarbB]

God will honor your desire to be closer to him, Mike!

 

[Pele]

Thank you for all the posts and reading this topic. I will read them all thorougly, and will probaly read my bible tonight, and pray. Actually take out the probally and just have will do.

Do so my brother, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Here's a website that might help you with some of your unaswered questions:

www.myfortress.org

especially those controversial questions, okay? Enjoy.

 

[ALIgator]

Hi Mike, I understand how you're feeling and it's hard, I know. I think you do believe in your heart, but there's something getting in the way of your relationship with God right now. You're gonna have to force yourself to read the Bible and pray. I know it can feel really hard and pointless, but it's important! you need to do it for yourself. Do you have friends who can support you and hold you accountable? That's always helpful. If you need to talk you can always feel free to PM me, and I will definitely pray for you. Hope everything gets better for you.
~Your sister in Christ
Ali

 

[Stinker]

After trying 5 different churches in the last 3 years, I really had doubts about trying a 6th church. Yes, I know depression all right! I just am so impressed with this last church! Never ever give up, even when it seems ridiculous to keep on trying!

 

[WickedServant]

Hi Mike, I understand how you're feeling and it's hard, I know. I think you do believe in your heart, but there's something getting in the way of your relationship with God right now. You're gonna have to force yourself to read the Bible and pray. I know it can feel really hard and pointless, but it's important! you need to do it for yourself. Do you have friends who can support you and hold you accountable? That's always helpful. If you need to talk you can always feel free to PM me, and I will definitely pray for you. Hope everything gets better for you.
~Your sister in Christ
Ali

I agree that the bible is so very important, but I believe more so to get together with other Christians in friendship (be it church or no, but it should be church) on a regular basis, and I think everything else will fall into place.

"No man is an island."
(nor is a woman)

- We gotta stick together, or we're pretty much toast. It's simply a matter of time. Your right hand is needed to put a salve or band-aid on your left, and where can either hand travel without the legs? (I am referring to the body of Christ, which is whole)

Bless me

 

[lilmissmontana]

HI I just wanted to say a quick note on Childlike behavior. What I interpret and believe that to mean is that we remain teachable with an innocense of faith. When we were children we learned so fast and acted with so much faith that we would climb a tree to it's highest point just because we believed we could. We could learn another language with our English. As we got older we become tainted in our ability to believe. This happens from so many devastating "small" incidents in our lives. Somehow we have to figure out the way that we can be teachable and reachable again. We must recapture that childlike behavior. For me the only way I can keep that is by releasing to God and again prayer to Jesus on a daily schedule all the things that close that door in my life that prevents me from that. Those things that taint our childlike behavior. Not sure if that made sense. For instance hurt. Hurt is an emotion that seems to maintain a huge amount of our time. Actually, It's more like we maintain it. So I've learned to say no thanks. I'll turn that over to Jesus. It frees me up for more likable ways to spend my time. And sincerely be kind in how much you expect from yourself. In all things. That includes forgiveness of ourselves. Prayer, prayer, prayer. belle

 

[Viva]

Hi Mike : )

You cannot become a Christian via your own strength (impossible). Since you are evil (like everyone is) you must allow God to call you (John 6:53). And you must know of Him (John 8:24).

Since you are asking these questions most likely God has chosen you as His child, so ask Him to provide the answers along with the GIFT of assurance (1st John 5:13). Not all Christians have this gift. : )

Viva

 

[The-Doctor]

I find prayer helps even if you start with a short one. Focusing your thoughts on God can be very calming I find.

 

[ALIOSIAS]

There is one thing that is needful.

You need to make Jesus the Lord of your life so He can live His life (not yours)through your re-created spirit.

If you are ready to do this then e-mail me through the forum and I will lead you in prayer.

Al

 

[WarriorAngel]

I thought for a bit I was a Christian, then I realized nope not sure whats going on with my belief's right now. This is what I know:
1.) I believe with my heart (I think that Jesus Christ died for my sins.
2.) I believe that you have to belive in him and his ressurection to you know be saved.
3.) ?????
4.) I am a christian.

I think I am missing a step or something because I have no desire to go to church, read the bible or anything anymore. I used to have a desire to listen to a christian music station, and now I turn it to some rock station. I used to watch some good quality christian television, now all I watch is junk tv. I used to read the bible a bit, but now have no desire too. I used to pray every night, and now feel its useless.

So many people tell me how well at least they think I am a christian, but then deep down I am so sad, because I know I am not. I have no desire for the word, nor do I have a childlike behaivor. I read from something that some are destined to not hear the word, and turn their hearts naturally from it and be unsaved for ever. They were just born that way thats how I feel. I usually cry myself to sleep about it.

And I feel like such a failure at my life. Stuck in a bad job, which going into the store makes my blood boil . I can't even be happy at my job, even when I try my hardest. I am going to be 19 soon, and still feel so alone.

Any advice would be good?

I think you are more depressed than anything.

INCIDENTLY...m'dear, fret not..sometimes we are fed lies by the father of lies.
You are fine....

See those tears you cry....that is your hearts repentence to what it believes it lost.

You have not lost anything, but you are being tested.

Cheer up, you are not that bad. No one is perfect...and sometimes we need to be picked back up and dusted off.

May the Lord Bless you.

Prayer and Peace!

 

[bethdinsmore]

Here's a question that might clarify things for you....

Pretend that you are standing before God at the entrance gates into Heaven, and He asks you, "Why should I let you into Heaven?"
What would you tell Him? (Please consider before you read on)

If your answer contained good works or promises of good works, it was incorrect. It should contain this idea: "I'm trusting only in Christ's work on the cross to pay for my sins and to get me to Heaven, without any good works of my own." (John 3:16, Romans 16:31, Ephesians 2:8-9)

To clarify still further, what if God also asked you, "Is there any way you can lose your salvation?" What would you tell Him? (Again, please consider before you read on)

If you said yes, you are indicating that you are trusting in your self in some way to earn eternal life. God's word teaches "once saved, always saved". See Romans 6:23 with Romans 11:29, John 10:28-29, I Peter 3:18

I John 5:13 says: "These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may KNOW that you HAVE eternal life." If you answered the questions correctly, then know that you are saved, no matter what your feelings are. If you did not answer them correctly, then why not do so right now, by:
Making the decision to trust in Jesus alone to save you eternally and to get you to Heaven one day. (I suggest you write down the date of your re-birth in your Bible, so you'll remember that has been settled.)

There's nothing extra to receiving salvation. However, to be a disciple (optional), you have already received many good suggestions. I would add that reading Christian biographies is also a good way to be encouraged. (Including "Personal Testimony" in my website)

God bless you, friend.
Aloha in Jesus