Importance of prayer?
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I mean I used to really believe in God or want to. Then I spent some time at a Christian college and I had some mentors / people I looked up to who really solidified my faith. Then the last year they turned out to be really nasty and aggressive and stuff. Like one of them even tried to beat me up. I know we're not supposed to look at people because they aren't perfect but jeez man if you have the holy spirit and like church and talk about god I should be able to see a real example of what the holy spirit does for people. Makes me not want to be a Christian as much. Sorry long but I tend to not have as strong of a belief in god.
I guess I'd say I believe there is a God but I don't think he's as loveydovy and warm as a lot of people make him out to be. Like it is literally impossible to do right. Even when people try to talk about God or do something kind, there's ALWAYS a personal/selfish twinge to it.....if that makes sense. The whole thing about trying to reach others for God and being a good example to unbelievers seems like a waste of time. God says that everyone knows that God exists etc, so why should people even bother trying to reach unbelievers? And then if they don't, are they supposed to somehow feel guilty or responsible? I think most churches are just houses of gossip, social partys (sorry but games and food is just a party to me), and are lead by men who are consumed with making their church building nicer. I don't think church is really a good thing or obsessing over witnessing. I guess I'd say I'm a bit of a calvinist because the Bible says that God is omnicient. Basically I have a very pessimistic view of the world
Prayer is a powerful tool. It's our wireless connection with God. I've never liked praying out loud in front of crowds, some people are very comfortable with it. I don't even like having a phone conversation with my mom in public. To me, it's personal.
Most of my prayers are a monologue and most of the time I don’t even verbalize my prayers. I simply offer words in my head. That’s not an obstacle for God.
Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 21:22
"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
James 4:2-3 (KJV)
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Most of my prayers are a monologue and most of the time I don’t even verbalize my prayers. I simply offer words in my head. That’s not an obstacle for God.
Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 21:22
"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
James 4:2-3 (KJV)
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
I guess I'd say I believe there is a God but I don't think he's as loveydovy and warm as a lot of people make him out to be. Like it is literally impossible to do right. Even when people try to talk about God or do something kind, there's ALWAYS a personal/selfish twinge to it.....if that makes sense. The whole thing about trying to reach others for God and being a good example to unbelievers seems like a waste of time. God says that everyone knows that God exists etc, so why should people even bother trying to reach unbelievers? And then if they don't, are they supposed to somehow feel guilty or responsible? I think most churches are just houses of gossip, social partys (sorry but games and food is just a party to me), and are lead by men who are consumed with making their church building nicer. I don't think church is really a good thing or obsessing over witnessing. I guess I'd say I'm a bit of a calvinist because the Bible says that God is omnicient. Basically I have a very pessimistic view of the world
so what is important to God? how do you get to know God... what God is like?
I'm loving this conversation, hope you are too
Not really sure what is important to God. I think it is very difficult to get to know God, maybe next to impossible. I used to think I could see what God was like by seeing the holy spirit in people. Like wow those people are really kind that must be what God is like. Now I see alot of people dont really care about anyone other than themselves. I mean I'm the same way. I think all humans are entirely selfish when it comes down to it. They may be kind for a bit but they don't really really care about anyone on a spiritual level. I don't think God is really that emotional or anything like alot of people and movies make him out to be. I think it's just straight forward, some people believe in god and go to heaven and the rest dont and go to hell. That's just the way it is. I guess that would be my view of what God is like.
Wow what? YOU are important to God. Jesus said If you love me, keep my commandments. Its important to him that we come to him and keep his commandments, keeping a holy lifestyle in love.
Now to God not being emotional... what? Are you serious? The whole bible from Genesis through to Revelation is full with Gods emotions and tears that are more than the sand in the desert. The shortest verse in the bible is ''Jesus wept''
Heres some thats important to God in a chapter
Isaiah 56:1-2
[FONT="]
Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Luke 10:27
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Now to Gods emotions... Our main basis is on John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Psalm 106:40
Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.
Proverbs 6:16
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
[/FONT]
Genesis 1:4
4 God was pleased with what he saw.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
Genesis 6:6
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
etc. God is emotinal. He wants to comfort us like a mother her child and he is holy. he cries when we break his heart through our sins. and he is happy and rejoices when we keep his ways.
He has more emotions for the people here than we can imagne. He is holy and righteous.
The people you are descibing are fake. The fruit of the spirit is what shows if its a tare or not. Tares and wheat grow together and look the same until theyre done growing and harvest comes.
Matthew 13:24-30
[FONT="]24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]2
9 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”[/FONT]
Now to God not being emotional... what? Are you serious? The whole bible from Genesis through to Revelation is full with Gods emotions and tears that are more than the sand in the desert. The shortest verse in the bible is ''Jesus wept''
Heres some thats important to God in a chapter
Isaiah 56:1-2
[FONT="]
Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Luke 10:27
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Now to Gods emotions... Our main basis is on John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Psalm 106:40
Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.
Proverbs 6:16
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
[/FONT]
Genesis 1:4
4 God was pleased with what he saw.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
Genesis 6:6
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
etc. God is emotinal. He wants to comfort us like a mother her child and he is holy. he cries when we break his heart through our sins. and he is happy and rejoices when we keep his ways.
He has more emotions for the people here than we can imagne. He is holy and righteous.
The people you are descibing are fake. The fruit of the spirit is what shows if its a tare or not. Tares and wheat grow together and look the same until theyre done growing and harvest comes.
Matthew 13:24-30
[FONT="]24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]2
9 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="]30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”[/FONT]
God is emotional, He is love, he rejoices over righteousness & hates evil. You make it sound as if it doesn't bother God to condemn people for eternity when it's the opposite. Your family has love for you but God is love & is the source of love. No one in this universe can love you as much as God does. There are people who care about others on a spiritual level. I understand you may have encountered "selfish" people but everyone doesn't have that type of heart I sure don't
S
God is not emotional, that is an anthropomorphism that we convey upon God. God is Impassible.
Numbers 23:19
[FONT="]God is not a man, that he should lie,[/FONT]
[FONT="]nor a human being, that he should change his mind.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Has he said, and will he not do it?[/FONT]
[FONT="]Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?
[/FONT]
[FONT="]God is not a man, that he should lie,[/FONT]
[FONT="]nor a human being, that he should change his mind.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Has he said, and will he not do it?[/FONT]
[FONT="]Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?[/FONT]
Numbers 23:19
[FONT="]God is not a man, that he should lie,[/FONT]
[FONT="]nor a human being, that he should change his mind.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Has he said, and will he not do it?[/FONT]
[FONT="]Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?
[/FONT]
[FONT="]God is not a man, that he should lie,[/FONT]
[FONT="]nor a human being, that he should change his mind.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Has he said, and will he not do it?[/FONT]
[FONT="]Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?[/FONT]