Where are you . . .

[the_man]

in your walk with Christ?

I believe I'm currently in a growth spurt. Similar to the last of my teenage years in my spiritual walk. Coming out of rebellion in the last 3 - 4 years, refusing to trust God with everything (especially with regards to a future spouse). For the first time in a long while I'm constantly in the word, courting lady wisdom ("do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you"). Trying to be in constant communication with God ("pray without ceasing"). All that I held dear to before are shaky foundations and now I know His steadfastness is all I can/should hold on to.

Even when I start to feel that I have made strides with Him, I am quickly humbled as to how much more I have to learn ("and he began to sink"). Everyday presents its challenges, but that is a constant reminder to continually lean on Him. In that sense, it is very exciting. It feels like the beginning of a journey. He will never tell me where we are going ("Follow me"), He will only reveal Himself to me ("I AM"). That in itself is a challenge for me to trust Him ("trust in the LORD"). The beginning of my journey was to leave everything behind and to follow Him ("If anyway comes to me and does not hate . . ."). To start in the word, gain wisdom from it and to trust Him with everything ("trust in the Lord with all your heart"). Right now, I feel as if he wants me to stay there ("watch and pray"). To trust Him that that is where He wants me now, until He says otherwise, until I receive the next "Go".

Where are you?

 

[nhzname]

Good post 'man'. I often ask myself this question because I can always tell when I'm not where God wants me to be.

Yes, sometimes I go through quiet times when I feel far from Him, and dry spells when I don't seem to be growing, but I've come to realize that even during these times, I am growing, and He is always near. I just might have a different perception at the time.

Other times, I can't seem to get enough of His word, and like you, I'm constantly in prayer. In those times, every second verse brings on a new song it seems.

Right now, I'd have to say that although I am conscious of Him, I don't quite feel 'there' ... if you know what I mean. To the point where I'm asking Him to give me a hunger and thirst for Him - for His Word even. I guess I feel this way because I don't think I am being consistant enough in doing what I know He wants me to do. The reality of that situation is still a form of disobedience, right.

Hey!! Funny how He uses others to open our eyes!! Thanx 'man' for the insight ... and the timely post!

 

[LifeInYou]

I wish I could say that we are happily walking side by side, but in reality, I feel as though I am frantically searching for him, while he's playing hide and seek with me. Ugh.

 

[boilerblues]

I'd say I'm in a maturing stage. Last year was a lot of growth, now that growth is taking hold and solidifying.

 

[micaela]

Thanks for starting this great thread.

I think I'm at a stage where God is really wanting me to step up into ministry, but I'm not being patient enough to listen to what sort. I sometimes feel like I have so many areas that I'm really passionate about, that it's just too overwhelming to even start in any. I've done spiritual gift courses, and had church staff talk to me about areas they think I'm gifted in, but I'm struggling with it..

That frustration has lead me to spending less time with God, and more time stressing about my lack of time with God (go figure!). All my fault, and I need to commit myself to some serious prayer instead of a page of prayer-writing every couple of days.

 

[TriptychR]

I think I'm still in the phase where I'm trying to understand what it means to let go of things. I do feel that I've been slowly but surely giving things to Him, but I'm still trying to figure out what exactly it is I need to do. Sometimes I get the feeling that, until I learn these things, parts of my life simply won't progress.

 

[gord44]

I feel I am close to God right now but sometimes I do wander away.....there is alot of distractions in the world right now but if you look He is always there.....I am learning so much about God right now but I do need to "step up" and get involved in something....just don't know what yet

 

[lunalinda]

I wish I could say that we are happily walking side by side, but in reality, I feel as though I am frantically searching for him, while he's playing hide and seek with me. Ugh.

I second that feeling. *sighs as well* Sometimes I feel like I stumbled down to the dirt for the last time, and He won't help me up anymore. I'm reaching my hand up for him to take it but I don't feel anything. I honestly think that this is a lesson that I must learn, however. He's trying to teach me something. And I WILL come out the winner in due time.

 

[justasinner]

I second that feeling. *sighs as well* Sometimes I feel like I stumbled down to the dirt for the last time, and He won't help me up anymore. I'm reaching my hand up for him to take it but I don't feel anything. I honestly think that this is a lesson that I must learn, however. He's trying to teach me something. And I WILL come out the winner in due time.

At times it feels like I am in he's hand but there are other times when I feel he's left me all alone because something I did that may have displeased him. Normally, something else happens that lets me know that he's here and been here all long it was just that I denied my own knowledge and feeling about him.

So, I say my walk is right but at times it seams I only move an inch or two.

 

[JPPT1974]

Not to come off a sexest but I am glad that I have never had a relationship at all with a boyfriend nor husband. Don't mean to make you women feel like you are dumb nor stupid. But I guess that's the reason that God doesn't either want me to get married nor much less have a boyfriend. Because I seem content at being single and at being a "loner". Perhaps if I were either married or in a relationship with a man, I would be miserable as well as not happy all the time. I hope and pray that things will work out with you and your spouses or boyfriends.

 

[Jamza]

I don't know what I'm doing. I've got no idea what to do next year, well later this year actually. I'm totally clueless.

 

[Jamza]

Heh, to expand, I don;t know what university course to take or where to live whilst doing it. And with singles related things, there was a girl a really really liked and we became gr8 friends but not reli any further and then she moved reli far away. (Lol obviously didn't fee l the same way!)

 

[BeautyForAshes]

Where are you?

This is a good question.

I believe that I am going through a stage of growth and maturity. I feel that God trust me with the basics and its now time to stretch my faith further. And not just on believing God for bigger and better things, but also teaching me to walk according to His standards, and not the world. I feel that God is truly teaching me that "we are to be in this world, and not of it". For example (since this is a singles forum) when it comes to seeking a mate. I used to be one of those Christians that prayed "God, I'm seeking a mate that has Trait #1, Trait #2, Trait #3, etc. (things that sadly did focus on the physical )"
God convicted me of this. He challenged me - saying that if i TRULY trusted and depended on Him to provid exactly what I need and want, why do I need to put parameters on Him? Why am I teling Him what I want, when I should be bending according to His will and what He wants? If I trust that fact that He created the heavens and the earth, why can I not trust His judgement when it comes to selecting a mate for me?

He is taking me through this process is ALL areas of my life - work, family, friends, etc. In many ways, I believe that He is also pruning off the dead branches - those that produce no fruit in my life for Him. Some of this has been very painful, but I've got to continually trust that God knows best. He knows me better than me, for He knew me before I was even formed in my mothers' womb. I can't tell Him what to do, He tells me.

The Bible says that a "godly man plans His way, but the Lord direct His steps". God is working with me on using this in ALL areas of my life - not just those that I want His assistance with.

Great question the_man!

 

[MrDude]

I have no idea where my walk is. Lately I've just got this underlying feeling that God really doesn't like me (I don't blame Him). I keep trying to build up, but something always happens to throw it back. I keep taking one step forward and then 10 steps back. If this is all a test then I'm failing it big time.

 

[BeautyForAshes]

I have no idea where my walk is. Lately I've just got this underlying feeling that God really doesn't like me (I don't blame Him). I keep trying to build up, but something always happens to throw it back. I keep taking one step forward and then 10 steps back. If this is all a test then I'm failing it big time.

You're right, God doesn't like you, God LOVES YOU! More than you or I can even comprehend with our human minds. There is nowhere on earth where you can hide, that he can't find you. Nothing you can say, that will make Him turn his back on you. There isn't a limit to the number of times you can "screw up" that He won't welcome you back to Him, arms opened wide and ready to comfort you. Seek Him! and ONLY HIM! Don't search for happiness or joy in people, in a mate, in school, or even in a job. Do that, and everytime you will be disappointed and upset. But you've got to submit to Him (not the other way around). You've got to let God have His way with you, even if it doesn't seem to make sense to you or if it doesn't seem to fit into what the world thinks (which doesn't matter anyway). Don't try to fit God into your life - make your life fit into God and His plans.

Don't ever stop seeking His will.

I'll be praying for you.

 

[auerpower]

WOW...I thought I was the only one in the whole world that has been going through what you all are saying. In my walk...I feel very distracted...always. I cant seem to concentrate on GOD...for a whole day or even a whole hour. I know I am in the right direction, I am very aware that he wants into my life, but how do you really give your life to him. I feel like if I give my life to him, then I wont be able to do what I want to do with my life...which at this point Im not sure about anymore. I do know that I need to start praying more often, reading his word, and I need to be among more Christian people...which is why I am here now. I am a baby Christian and am just now learning to walk. Never realized how tough it is to walk...Wayne.

 

[MrDude]

You're right, God doesn't like you, God LOVES YOU! More than you or I can even comprehend with our human minds. There is nowhere on earth where you can hide, that he can't find you. Nothing you can say, that will make Him turn his back on you. There isn't a limit to the number of times you can "screw up" that He won't welcome you back to Him, arms opened wide and ready to comfort you. Seek Him! and ONLY HIM! Don't search for happiness or joy in people, in a mate, in school, or even in a job. Do that, and everytime you will be disappointed and upset. But you've got to submit to Him (not the other way around). You've got to let God have His way with you, even if it doesn't seem to make sense to you or if it doesn't seem to fit into what the world thinks (which doesn't matter anyway). Don't try to fit God into your life - make your life fit into God and His plans.

Don't ever stop seeking His will.

I'll be praying for you.

Already tried every bit of this. Whenever I read the Bible it just frustrates me more. I just find more and more rules that I constantly screw up and don't follow no matter how hard I try. I'm not searching for happiness in anything else. Everything else makes me feel miserable, there is nothing in this world that's gonna bring me happiness. I submit. God knows I submit. Not even gonna go into detail there. Things that other Christians find joy and happiness in (singing in Church, fellowship with other Christians, praying, reading the Bible, etc. etc.) just make me feel worse.

I dunno what it is. I'm truely sorry for the sins that I've committed. I've accepted Christ as my savior. I've been baptised. But I just don't even feel like there is a walk anymore. I mean, in retrospect, life really isn't that bad, but I just feel empty spiritually, which makes life terrible. There is honestly no reason for me to live life without God.

 

[waterbear]

I've done a lot to push my awareness up a notch this year, but my notions of perfection and my manifestation of threads of perfection still need much thought/action.

 

[growingupinhim]

I am growing in the grace and knowledge, learning to Love him, and to let him fullfil his purposes in me...to love God is do what he says and have faith what he says is truth.
I truly love the word..its bread of life!

 

[Eagle_Wings]

Where am I? Well, it depends on what day you ask me!

Lately, I've been pretty frustrated with myself cuz I just can't seem to get it together! I really struggle with keeping my focus on God and not on what is going on around me. There have been alot of ups and downs and wants in my life the last month, and none of it has turned out the way I wanted or thought it would. I know that God is asking me to just focus in on Him and trust Him, but I have a very hard time doing that...especially when I don't know what is coming around the corner!

Last night was so awesome, though. My mom and I went to Winter Jam down in St. Louis. I started out the evening bummed cuz there was supposed to be a whole group of us, but things came up and it ended up being just the 2 of us. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with my mom...but I don't really have any friends my age that go to our church and this was an oppurtunity to get some relationships going....it's a long story, but once again no one showed up. This is a struggle we've had with our church for the last 6 years. Anyway, I started out the evening pretty dissapointed, but I decided that I was going to have a good time anyway. I was really looking forward to hearing Matthew West (a new artist) and hearing Tait & Toby Mac perform together again. It was such a refreshing time for me, I don't know if I can explain this properly, but it's almost like the slamming base shook loose all the crustiness and staleness that I had felt myself fall back into. (I don't know if that made sense? I'm operating on just a few hours of sleep...actually, trying to operate that is! )

On the way home I was listening to the Matthew West "Happy" cd that I had bought and he has a song on there that just so totally explained where I was at and at the same time where I want to be. It's called "Out of My Hands"

There you go changing my plans again
There you go shifting my sands again
For reasons I don't understand again
Lately I don't have a clue
Just when I start liking what I see
There you go changing my scenery
I never never know where you're taking me
But I'm just trying to follow you

It's out of my hands
It's out of my reach
It's over my head
And it's out of my league
There's too many things
That I don't understand
So it's into your will
And it's out of my hands

There you go healing these scars again
Showing me right where you are again
I'm helpless, and that's where I start again
I'm giving it all up to you

Move me, make me
Choose me, change me
Send me, shake me
Find me, remind me
The past is behind me
Take it all away
Take it all from me, I pray.