Trying with all my heart to believe...

[gracielynn]

I was not raised in the church, nor was I raised atheist. God and religion was never talked about and I was not exposed to religion until I went to college. All of my friends went to a campus ministry every week and out of curiosity to what religion is about I joined them. I would go every week and hear testimonials about how God saved these people and changed there life and that is how they became believers. After awhile I lost interest and stopped going, I didn't feel like anything was missing from my life. My curiosity in religion died down until I met my current boyfriend.....
We have been together for two years now and are talking about marriage. The only issue is that he is the son of a pastor, his religion is the most important thing in his life. He gave me an ultimatum that either I let him share his religion with me and commit to becoming Christian or we have no future. I was not closed off to the idea of learning the bible so we began doing nightly bible studies and discussing his beliefs. I want with all my heart to believe, but it is just not "clicking". I don't know if I should give up at this point and stop trying to force it? Should I stick with it and continue to try? He says I need to open myself up to God, I don't know how to do that....HELP!

 

[St_Worm2]

I was not raised in the church, nor was I raised atheist. God and religion was never talked about and I was not exposed to religion until I went to college. All of my friends went to a campus ministry every week and out of curiosity to what religion is about I joined them. I would go every week and hear testimonials about how God saved these people and changed there life and that is how they became believers. After awhile I lost interest and stopped going, I didn't feel like anything was missing from my life. My curiosity in religion died down until I met my current boyfriend.....
We have been together for two years now and are talking about marriage. The only issue is that he is the son of a pastor, his religion is the most important thing in his life. He gave me an ultimatum that either I let him share his religion with me and commit to becoming Christian or we have no future. I was not closed off to the idea of learning the bible so we began doing nightly bible studies and discussing his beliefs. I want with all my heart to believe, but it is just not "clicking". I don't know if I should give up at this point and stop trying to force it? Should I stick with it and continue to try? He says I need to open myself up to God, I don't know how to do that....HELP!

Hi GracieLynn, first off, welcome to CF ..

As for becoming a Christian, what is your reason for wanting to do so? (it really needs to be for other reasons than just wanting to please your boyfriend, or it will never "click", I'm afraid)

Have you considered meeting with someone else about all of this (someone other than your boyfriend)? I'm not saying that he doesn't know how to help you find the Lord , or that you should stop having prayer and Bible study time with him, but sometimes a different perspective can help too. His father could be a good choice, or he may not be (considering the situation). Is there a woman in your church who is known as being knowledgeable in the faith and godly (perhaps the one who leads most of the Bible studies for women)? She might be a good choice, or she might be able to suggest someone who is.

I would also ask people to pray for you and for your salvation (though I'm betting they already are .. ).

Praying for you!

--David

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

Have you tried praying for revelation? Your friends are speaking of a super-natural movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is what you seek - it only comes as a gift from God but God says that those who seek and knock, the door will be opened. Keep seeking, keep praying, and may the grace of God grant you what you seek.

 

[bling]

I was not raised in the church, nor was I raised atheist. God and religion was never talked about and I was not exposed to religion until I went to college. All of my friends went to a campus ministry every week and out of curiosity to what religion is about I joined them. I would go every week and hear testimonials about how God saved these people and changed there life and that is how they became believers. After awhile I lost interest and stopped going, I didn't feel like anything was missing from my life. My curiosity in religion died down until I met my current boyfriend.....
We have been together for two years now and are talking about marriage. The only issue is that he is the son of a pastor, his religion is the most important thing in his life. He gave me an ultimatum that either I let him share his religion with me and commit to becoming Christian or we have no future. I was not closed off to the idea of learning the bible so we began doing nightly bible studies and discussing his beliefs. I want with all my heart to believe, but it is just not "clicking". I don't know if I should give up at this point and stop trying to force it? Should I stick with it and continue to try? He says I need to open myself up to God, I don't know how to do that....HELP!

You said it all when you said: “I didn't feel like anything was missing from my life.”

God is literally at your elbow wanting to help, but if you have no “needs” then what can He help you with?

I have studied with people in the same boat and nothing happened (they were happy). I thought I had wasted theirs and my time, but later tragedy hit (directly or indirectly) they wanted help.

You may be happy where you are and with what you are doing, but I can promises you this world is not a happy place (nor is it intended to be a happy place). You can visit the Hospital, go to homeless shelters, visit the prison, open yourself up to needy people and they will come. If you get involved you will empathizes with them and need help, that only a benevolent Creator can provide.

 

[razeontherock]

He says I need to open myself up to God, I don't know how to do that....HELP!

This is actually a VERY real situation. Unfortunately, your sweetheart is not in the best position to be able to help you. You TRULY have no background, and he DOES. There is SO much wrapped up in this, it's hard to know where to begin!

How old are you 2? What's his status in the Church? (Deacon, Pastor, etc?)

Do know this will take some time, and that's actually a good thing at this point. (Prolly tough to hear, I know) It says quite a lot about your relationship, if he can make such an ultimatum and you can respond by actually trying. Hang in there!

 

[Alive_Again]

The best thing you can do is to go ahead and expose yourself to the truth. Listen to the good news. Let them pitch it to you. Ask them for the plain truth. If you really feel the drawing toward God, you'll know it. If you want Jesus in your life (for Him, not for your man), then you'll be true to your heart. It's good for you to hear the good news anyway. Seeds can be planted that if not now, might germinate later in life. God can work on you.

When I first came to the Lord, my girlfriend listened to me and attended a few meetings. She didn't feel drawn to it and she finally said: "Go to your God". I felt badly for her because she loved me and of course I loved her. I could tell we were "unequally yoked" and wanted only the best for her.

You remind me to pray for her because she was a dear woman and I really had it for her at one time. I want her to go to Heaven and not go to Hell.

If it is not God's will for the two of you to be together, listen to the Word of God anyway and ask for understanding. At some point, you might find these things "speaking to you" and you would do well to answer them and seek this out again.

I'm not saying either way, but listen in honesty, that's all you can do and you will have been true to love (of your man) and were willing to try. Always consider what you hear though because we all answer to the same Word on judgment day. I wish the best for you.

 

[gracielynn]

Thank you David. I think it is a good idea to speak with someone else (a women) about this, who can give me a different point of view.

 

[gracielynn]

This is actually a VERY real situation. Unfortunately, your sweetheart is not in the best position to be able to help you. You TRULY have no background, and he DOES. There is SO much wrapped up in this, it's hard to know where to begin!

How old are you 2? What's his status in the Church? (Deacon, Pastor, etc?)

Do know this will take some time, and that's actually a good thing at this point. (Prolly tough to hear, I know) It says quite a lot about your relationship, if he can make such an ultimatum and you can respond by actually trying. Hang in there!

I am 22 and he is 28. As far as his role in the church he leads bible studies and teaches the confirmation classes...his father is the pastor.

 

[razeontherock]

Ok. Some things to watch out for, and perhaps talk over with him:

It's great that he wants to share this with you, if it's been such a positive thing in his own life. It's great that you're open to it, and there's nothing at all wrong with with doing so to keep the relationship intact. Obviously for it to "work" in your life, it will have to grow past that, but a start is still a start.

He is not God, nor is he your knight in shining armor! It's a typical male drive to fill that role. Some things you need, only God can provide. If he teaches you about this, it will keep this natural instinct in check, and it's vital that you also be aware of it.

You're going to need your own relationship with the Lord, which means your own opinions, and not going "through him" as a mediator. There is an inherent difficulty here, because you two are not on an even footing; not even close. You will need to learn at your own pace, and make your own mistakes. He will need to be very loving to make this work, and you really need to talk this through.

There still needs to be mutual respect, despite this imbalance. Is he prepared for that?

This isn't something you can fake, or measure. And you will need your own motives, apart from him. What have you got in that dep't so far?

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

I will share with you some true stories from my life, where God has revealed himself to me in ways that others should be able to understand. I will share one of those true stories below and give you a link to my website that contains other true stories.

One morning I got up and walked into the hall and I heard a voice that I believed was God say "How would you like to be stabbed in the Valley". The Valley was known as the rough end of town, and the voice scared me a little, I wondered if I had done something to offend God. I had planned to go down to the Valley to ask people out to church as was my habit at the time. In the end I went anyway regardless of the fear. I walked up to the first person I met and asked him if he would like to go out to church. He said to me "I am an atheist, I don't believe in God". I just said "fine", but hoped to change his mind. He then proceeded to unbutton his shirt and showed me scar marks up and down his chest and stomach. He said to me, "I was attacked by a knife wielding man in the Valley some time ago and spent months recovering in hospital, How could God allow that to happen to me". Then I knew why God had said in the morning "How would I like to be stabbed?". God understood this man, but had a good plan for him. Some weeks latter this man came out to church and became a Christian.

My website is Know God Personally