I am a new Christian,was baptized in may of 2,004! But I have really struggled with it,I believe I became born again,but I keep backsliding,and Its really hard for me to want to pray..I don't enjoy praying and I dont know why,I just force myself all the time..I only want to pray when I feel like praying,and everyone says u should pray on a daily basis!
I feel sad that im not being a good Christian and the Lord is dissapointed in me...I would like some advice from some of you...
Sometimes I get bombarded with the whole denomination thing,some Christian friends insist I come to their church and say bad things about another one,and its like this tug o-war ....
im not used to being Charismatic and praying loud and falling under the Holy spirit,and im not used to reading the bible for hours everyday!
I want to follow Jesus,but I get discouraged and feel lost!
I just wanted to say that the path to the Truth is a very personal thing and nobody can and should tell you how to worship the Lord. I think you should do what feels right for you. Don't put pressure on yourself and don't let anyone else do that either. Pray when you feel like praying, it's not the timing or the frequency that matters but the sincerity and warmth of your prayers. And please don't say that God is disappointed in you! You're a good Christian just for trying so earnestly to figure out how to be a good Christian, if you know what I mean!
__________________
Katerina
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
While I agree that the path of Truth is a personal direction between both you and Jesus Christ, I will disagree with the both of these ladies in saying that you should go by "What you feel" thats where we can get into trouble, that's where eve got into trouble when she first took of the forbidden fruit....She was curious why God didn't want her to partake and Felt, it was ok. People feel that it is ok to deceive one another to get somewhere in life, even if it hurts the other person. See how feelings can sometimes be deceptive??
Gods word says in Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyong cure. who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
meaning when we think with the heart...which is our feelings,.....they can be deceitful. However, God says there, that he searches our heart and examines it to make sure its pure and righteous according to His authority.
With that in mind....if you take your bible.....and I pray in the back you have a nice concordance....you should look under (heart) or (hearts) and you will find a TON of scriptures dedicated to the heart.....create in me a clean/pure heart God......Serve Him with all your heart.......search me o God with all Your heart...my favorite....the Lord searches every heart, now I'm showing you this because even though we are not to think with our emotions....God gave us emotions for His pleasure! We have them for a reason!
NOW! you are not alone in your walk! I think everyone backslides., and I think everyone gets lazy. Who wants to find time for God when Satan has plenty of distractions for us.....and sometimes we can't blame it all on satan either. Sometimes we plant them all ourselves. We can make time in the morning......There's that time when we're in the car at work...turn the radio off and pray...God , thank you for Everything you've done for me.....Thank you that I'm alive today, that I'm out of bed.....I may have had a rough time this morning....but I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if you weren't there!
Satan wants us to question if God loves us, If God is mad at us, or to sabbatage (sp) our walk with Him. He doesn't want believers....remember..satans job, is to make sure he gets as many unbelievers as he can.
Do you know what the worst Sin ANYONE can commit?? I see everyone fighting about bi-sexualism, gays, etc. jesus was the first to go to them...to love them....to say...I love you....your poor, your a prostitute, your a tax collector who steals from everyone, you've commited adultery, You Rebekah....you spent my money like it was like water and did not treat what I gave you with respect...you were not a good stewardt.....I forgive YOU. But do you know what the WORST SIN anyone could commit???? It's not to accept salvation that He offers.
I think you should ask yourself why its so hard for you to pray?? What makes it so hard for you?? Are you angry with God?? Are you being lazy like alot of us sometimes do?? Because I'll give you something to think about, prayer shouldn't be something you just "feel like doing" it should be a daily part of your life. How you live. It keeps you going and you will start seeing a change in your life from being obediant. Because Did Jesus feel like dying on that cross for you?? When he was whipped and crucified for us all....it wasn't something he felt like doing.....it was something he KNEW He had to do for us. Don't do it because others tell you you have to do it. Don't live your life for a religeon. You said it.....You are a Christ seeker! Thats what I am....I don't live my life for others, I live my life for Christ. Seek the Bible for Answers and Yes! Pray Daily.
Gods word says it well when it speaks of learning....the only way to learn is to Read and prayerfully ask God daily for wisdom 2nd peter 3:18 says But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
__________________ ~Rebekah~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Becky: 34 y/o DH Doug: 34 y/o
*Central NY
*Praying for ~Emma Grace~ and~Josaiah Jeffery~ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*ttc
*Waiting to adopt too! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*Awaiting a quiverfull
Last edited by HISIRISHGEM; 09-12-2005 at 05:24 PM.
Don't be discouraged. The Holy Spirit will be with you and lead you as He does each of His own. I've heard there are three stages of prayer that Christians go thorough off and on in their lives (I forget the exact three foods that are usually used for this): plain oatmeal, steamed veggies and chocolate cake. Sometimes we know it's good for us, but it seems bland. Then, we know it's good for us, and it's better than bland, but not something we crave. Then it's a delight, so sweet and something we cannot get enough of. We just sometimes have to get through the oatmeal and veggies phases, and we will get to the chocolate cake phase. You are not alone. Even people who have been Christians for decades, fall into a prayer slump.
There are a ton of good books out there on building strong prayer habits. We are currently working on a Prayer Study in Sunday School and it's amazing all the times Jesus took out just to pray as an example to us, and even when He was alone and no one saw. It is a command to pray, but God doesn't want it to always be plain oatmeal to us.
I would suggest you go follow Jesus' model prayer for us:
Matthew 6
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."
We start out by praising God and recognizing His holiness. We then accept His will over ours in anything we pray for. We ask for His will to be accomplished on earth (people saved, etc.). Then we ask for our needs, such as food, shelter, finances, health, etc. Then we confess our sins to restore fellowship (backsliding). Then we ask for His protection from evil and sin. We finish as we began with praising God. This is a model, but not one you have to use every time. The nice thing is, it's a way to get you started. If we focus less on how much we HAVE to pray, and think more of reasons why we may WANT to pray, that helps, too.
For me Bible reading makes me want to pray more. If I'm not reading a few verses every other day, I find myself not wanting to pray. Our Sunday School teacher told us the Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.
As for the not feeling up to reading the Bible for hours a day, don't sweat that. Start at an obtainalbe goal. I used to get one of those free devotional books (Our Daily bread, Campus Journal, etc) I would read a few verses, the devotional and pray. It took less than 15 minutes a day, but it set up a habit that grew to reading more and more. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Don't stress about it
As for the not knowing what denomination, DH and I have been throught that, too. The more you read the Bible, and know what you belive from Bible verses, it will be easier to choose the "right denomiantion" and right church. Some people will warn you against certain denominations, and I see why. There have been denominations that started with God at the center, and "fell away" to less about God and more about pleasing people. But, two churches in the same denominaion can be complete opposites on the way they worship, what they believe, etc.
DH and I took out a sheet of paper and wrote down what we wanted in a church and what was an absolute neccessity when it came to basic beliefs. That helped loads in finding the church for us. Feel free to PM me anytime
Oh Yes! Thats Excellent and Right on!! I think thats something I totally forgot to say......you don't have to pray for hours at a time or read for hours at a time....sometimes its just a tiny bit here and there. God will lead you! Its just getting in there and doing it!
That very prayer....called "The Lords Prayer" is a foundation on which we can stand on!
Sometimes I say it and say it again with the meaning like this....
Our Father My Father
Who Art in Heaven Who Is in Heaven
Hallowed Be Thy Name Holy Be Your Name
Thy Kingdome Come Your Kingdom Come
Thy Will be done Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven On earth just as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread Give me this day, your daily word....(which is the bread of life)
and forgive us our trespasses and forgive me my sins Father
as we forgive those who trespass against us As I forgive those who sin against me ( tend to keep saying the words AS I FORGIVE THOSE several times until I forgive the person/s I need to forgive that day .
And lead us not into temptation and lead me out of temptation Father
But deliver us from evil But also deliver me from evil
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever AMen!
I find that helps me out alot during times of pure chaos and fear.
And as discussed above in great detail....is an excellent way to start off of great prayer!
Just the fact that you are questioning and you are concerned......God has a hold on you and cares for you a great deal! He wants whats best for you. Don't think your alone. We all battle this. And we're all itty bitty Christians. I accepted Christ at 25 y/o. My DH accepted Christ at a young age has gone to a Christian grade-school and college.....he loves learning about God...yet I challenge him alot and he feels he's still learning as well. I feel like I don't know enough and retract sometimes.....but its God that brings us back and takes hold of our lives. He lets us know He loves us and asks us to stay close to Him by learning about Him in his word and through prayer. No, its not hours and hours of prayer....but when you start to read His word and get to know Him like Jash says you just start eating it up and just want to learn more.
Hope that helps!((Huggs))
__________________ ~Rebekah~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Becky: 34 y/o DH Doug: 34 y/o
*Central NY
*Praying for ~Emma Grace~ and~Josaiah Jeffery~ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
*ttc
*Waiting to adopt too! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
advice for baby Christians thread 
you are not alone in your walk! I think everyone backslides., and I think everyone gets lazy. Who wants to find time for God when Satan has plenty of distractions for us.....and sometimes we can't blame it all on satan either. Sometimes we plant them all ourselves. We can make time in the morning......There's that time when we're in the car at work...turn the radio off and pray...God , thank you for Everything you've done for me.....Thank you that I'm alive today, that I'm out of bed.....I may have had a rough time this morning....but I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if you weren't there!
