My Faith Journey (Full Version)

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hoosierfishing -> My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 8:33:17 PM)

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum. I wanted to take this time to open up and put down in words about my struggles to be a christian. If I had to decribe me as a christian, I would have to quote a line in the bible. "Why do you say lord, lord, lord, but not do as I say". That is me in the nutshell. I believe in God, but I find myself worrying about what others think of me, uneeded stress, saying things that I shouldn't say, thinking things that I shouldn't think about. I am soooo hungry for a full, christian driven life. I don't just want to read the bible, and know he died for me on the cross. I want to act, think, do as he wants me to do. Periodically I get broken down mentally with my behavoir, and today is one of those days. I feel these weak moments, are god opening the door for me, I just need to walk in. I come from two VERY STRONG christian parents. They walk the christian life. Lord is my shephard, I just need to let him lead me like so. Any thoughts or suggestions for me. I am 26 yrs old, work in the criminal justice field, just got married, and am a new home owner. I want this really bad.

God Bless



CherishedbyGod -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 8:37:10 PM)

How is your love relationship with Him? I mean to you really, deep down in your heart, believe His love for you?

I ask this not knowing anything about you so please do not get offended, OK?



hoosierfishing -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 8:40:00 PM)

Yes! I believe all things about christ. I don't take offense. Thanks for the reply. I think part of my issue is I don't let my faith grow. Faith is like a muscle, unless you work it out, it won't get stronger. Do you believe this is a accurate example faith?



CherishedbyGod -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 8:46:04 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: hoosierfishing

Yes! I believe all things about christ. I don't take offense. Thanks for the reply. I think part of my issue is I don't let my faith grow. Faith is like a muscle, unless you work it out, it won't get stronger. Do you believe this is a accurate example faith?


Yes, I agree with your description. But He knows how to get our faith to grow[sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif]

Spoken through years of experience and trials...

I hope you have not asked Him to increase your faith[;)]



4IMPersuaded -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 8:49:15 PM)

Welcome to the forums, hoosierfishing! I completely understand where you are coming from because you could be describing me about 20 years ago. I, too, came from strong Christain parents. For many years I rode on the coattails of my parents faith, hoping that was enough. It isn't, dear one. God desires to have a personal relationship with YOU and you are clearly hearing that call. The good news here is that God desires for you to clearly understand His will for your life.

Of course, pray and read the Word-- this is the best way to know God and to learn how to be obedient. The most useful thing for you, at this stage, in addition to those two things is to find a Christian who you trust, who is more mature in his faith and develop a discipleship relationship. Be careful in doing this, though that you do not replace Jesus with your mentor. People will let you down, but Jesus is faithful and will give you the spiritual desires of your heart. What you will have with your mentor, though is an accountability relationship and someone who can support you and pray with you as you "encounter various trials."

Blessings in your journey!



Miril -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 9:21:14 PM)

HI hoosierfishing [:D]

I struggled with this as well, however I was never one to care much about what people thought of me. I always minded my own business and lived my own life. A lot of people though always liked forcing themselves in my life unwelcomed, assuming my life is their business.

So I can understand where you are coming from with being concerned with what people say about you because I am well aware of how this world gets, and how people unfortunately can be.

For the most part those people don't walk in faith and live by the word of God. Because if not they wouldn't do the things they do.

Now, if you really think about it, this is a simple reaction to you positioning yourself with the wrong people, as did I.

If you know God through Jesus Christ is the way you surround yourself with people who are like minded. And if you have a bad experience within those people too, then you carefully eliminate those people from your life because they are not being steadfast in the word.

By allowing other people to affect you negatively you are holding yourself back, in you and your faith.

Take a look around you and work from there. It is a process, but it will drastically change your life and you will notice God moving in your life as you take the right steps.

Nothing changed for me until I dropped it all and gave into God with Full-Fledge FAITH.

Faith is not about seeing it is about BELIEVING without seeing. Putting all of your trust in God, and knowing that he can handle the biggest of demons.

3 John 1:10 (NKJV)

10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.



Liveloved -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 9:35:52 PM)

quote:

my struggles to be a christian


Dear Hoosier,

As others have already told you, many of us have walked in your shoes. So you are not alone. But I will share from my experience and what I learned is simply this. . .give up the struggle. You can't make yourself a Christian. Only He can. It is your part to believe and to trust Him to do all for you. As others have already said, love Him. Stay in continual fellowship with Jesus. Spend time in the word. Be still before Him on a daily basis and you will know Him more and more. Let His word do its work in you. It is His work to do. He is faithful and will accomplish ALL for you. That is His promise. He will do it. Just believe and leave the rest to Him. Bless you as you journey on, LL



4IMPersuaded -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/8/2008 9:52:33 PM)

LiveLoved is correct-- and isn't that a releif? You are not responsible for changing yourself. You do not have the power to do so. God said in Jeremiah (I think) that as far as the heavens are above the earth, so are His thoughts above our thoughts and His ways above our ways. You get to choose to beleive and obey... the rest is God's responsibility. I find great comfort in that.

As a parent, that seems completely reasonable. I don't always have the time or the inclination to explain everything to my children. Sometimes I just need them to obey-- as in, come over here now because you are in danger! God is a personal God and if you seek Him, He will make Himself known and He will equip you to do His will and fellowship with Him.



Miril -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/9/2008 12:00:06 AM)

quote:

You are not responsible for changing yourself. You do not have the power to do so.


Yes you are and yes you do.

Yes you are responsible for yourself, you cannot expect to not lift a finger and God do it all for you. He cannot read the bible for you, he will not go to church and bible studies for you, he will not volunteer for you to help the needy, he will not talk to others about Him for you, etc.

When you walk in God's word and in true faith, only will you then have great power in the Lord.



Liveloved -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/9/2008 12:40:10 AM)

quote:

God said in Jeremiah (I think)


It's actually in Isaiah 55. But that would be a great passage for you to read, Hoosier, to give you the encouragement you need. Verse 11 is God's promise that His word WILL accomplish what He desires in you and you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace! Bless you.



Heavenite -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/9/2008 1:33:01 AM)

I often think about Pauls words, "that which I don't want to do I do..." etc. Someone recently told me that the difference between a saved sinner and an unsaved sinner is the saved sinner longs to do God's will. We long to do God's will because He abides in us. So, to me it sounds like you're right where you're supposed to be. What a wonderful journey!



ladyichigo -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/9/2008 7:28:33 PM)

As a fellow follower of Christ, this verse is an every day reminder to me on HOW to live daily as His servant.

Matthew 22:36-39 (NIV)
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Remember also that your salvation is by God’s GRACE through faith and not by any works that you or anyone does.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.



Cloak -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/9/2008 9:59:05 PM)

Hey Hosier,

I would highly recommend the following books to you:

1- Approval Addiction, by: Joyce Meyer: I have Not read this book, but am pretty sure it's a wonderful read since I know Joyce' books are awesome.

2- The Purpose driven life, by: Rick Warren: Another great read that will help you along your spiritual journey and the challenges you will face ahead. I've read and studied this wonderful book and would highly recommend it to every one.

Blessings!



coach_coleman -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/10/2008 2:27:06 AM)

Hey Hoosier,
I read your post and found you writing my words. I am young as well 22, teaching and coaching and building a new relationship with God. I struggle with the same problems and my faith is not really where it needs to be but doing extra work has helped me more than anything. Besides church and reading and praying I've found other things to get involved in that creates more opportunities to fellowship and worship, I started helping with FCA, and the men in my church are doing a group workshop using the book Wld at Heart by John Eldredge, and I find Christian music I really like and I listen to it going and coming in my car and while I work out it just helps in keeping my focus and being aware of my thoughts and actions, it's tough especially at the beginning where I am essentially but that's why I sought this web site out for additional support and knowledge like you so I'm sure your heart's in the right place and God will use it



4IMPersuaded -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/10/2008 2:55:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miril

quote:

You are not responsible for changing yourself. You do not have the power to do so.


Yes you are and yes you do.

Yes you are responsible for yourself, you cannot expect to not lift a finger and God do it all for you. He cannot read the bible for you, he will not go to church and bible studies for you, he will not volunteer for you to help the needy, he will not talk to others about Him for you, etc.

When you walk in God's word and in true faith, only will you then have great power in the Lord.

I know what you mean here, Miril, but I'd direct you back to "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it." We are responsible for our choice to obey and in the short term, we might be able to make effective changes to allign ourselves with Christ, but over time this is impossible. We are responsible to choose obedience, to read the Word, to pray, but the actual change is from God.

I am capable of things in Christ that I would never have been able to do on my own-- it wasn't in my nature. I love people that I woulnd't love, I understand things that I wouldn't understand-- I didn't do it, God did.

Blessings-- C



4IMPersuaded -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/10/2008 2:57:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Liveloved

quote:

God said in Jeremiah (I think)


It's actually in Isaiah 55. But that would be a great passage for you to read, Hoosier, to give you the encouragement you need. Verse 11 is God's promise that His word WILL accomplish what He desires in you and you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace! Bless you.

Thanks, even as I wrote that it didn't feel right. I wasn't where I could look it up. So many great references in both books!



HisFish -> RE: My Faith Journey (6/10/2008 11:06:50 PM)

My two cents for you Hoosier is to also avoid comparing yourself to other christians, especially those who appear to have it all down, you might be surprised. Everyone travelling this road are at different points along the way. Cry out to the Lord in prayer, tell Him just as you told us in your post, the things you want are glorifying to God. If you know Him and He knows you, He will give it.



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