Prayers Needed

I ask that you pray for my faith. It has been shaken by a lack of any type of answer that I can see by God. I have tried to find courage to move forward with my life and have met with obstacles at nearly every turn. I have suffered enough throughout my life. Some might say I deserve it.

I am so tired of living it is a shame. If there is no happiness or reason to live other than because I was born, I just cannot reconcile myself to that. I need something to turn around for me. I do not deserve what I have been burdened with and I am filled with sorrow to my marrow. My soul is heavy with grief.

Will you please pray for me?

Praying for you in Jesus, that He will fill you with all that is His understanding, hope and love.
Praying also that you will find and recieve the hope and encouragement you need.
Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight, know that even though you may not see Jesus, know in faith,that Jesus has His eyes alsways on you.
For faith is the sight of the heart and soul.

Keep up the good fight, keep the faith.
God bless
pickles

My brother, so dearly beloved of your Father, I sorrow with you.
I have felt what you are describing, and I think I will not be the only one able to say that.
Which is part of the reason we band together as a family under the headship of our Savior,
to weep with those who weep, and to share and bear one another's burdens.

As to anyone saying you may deserve suffering, thank God! though we none of us deserve any good thing at all,
we have all been given much,
even those who do not belong to God's household.
But you, beloved, you belong to God, and as such have great reason for rejoicing, though it is hard to see now.
Life is hard, but God is good. ♥
Let not the enemy of your soul rob you of the joy that is yours.
Try to find one thing, just one, whether it be that you have a roof over your head this day, or one person in this world who loves you,
(you may count me in that), or food enough for the day, or, best of all, that He is real, and that you are His.

That is what I tried to do when I felt what you describe, and it brought me comfort.
It's not easy...perhaps that's why it's referred to as a sacrifice of praise?
Suffering is what burns away the flesh, and leaves behind it what is priceless.
But the fire is painful, and you are in my prayers for pain relief.
And for the Lord of Glory to minister to you as you are refined, for His glory,
and for your good, and yes, ours, too.
You encourage us in your request for prayer, and as you humble yourself to ask. ♥

The psalmists were very familiar with these feelings, and I am reminded of this verse,
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! (Psalm 119:28 ESV)

I don't usually use the ESV, but I feel it expresses the thought well...like a wax candle before a flame, drip, drip, drip
goes the pain, constantly wearing away at one till there's nothing left.

This is what the famous commentator Barnes says about the idea, though:

My soul melteth - "droppeth." The Hebrew word here employed means to drop, to drip, to distil, spoken of a house, as when the rain drops through the roof, (Ecclesiastes 10:18); then, to shed tears, to weep, (Job 16:20) - and this seems to be the meaning here. The idea of melting is not properly in the word, and the term weep would better express the meaning. His soul seemed to drop tears. It overflowed with tears. Yet there is an idea of abundant or constant weeping. It is not a gush of emotion, as when we say of one that he is "bathed in tears;" it is the idea of a steady flow or dropping of tears - slow, silent, but constant - as if the soul were dripping away or dissolving. Thus the idea is more striking and beautiful than that of melting. It is quiet but continuous grief that slowly wears away the soul. There are two kinds of sorrow:
(a) the one represented by floods of tears, like fierce torrents that sweep all away, and are soon passed;
(b) the other is the gentle dropping - the constant wearing - the slow attrition caused by inward grief, that secretly but certainly wears away the soul.
The latter is more common, and more difficult to be borne than the other.

I do not share that to deepen your sorrow, but so you may know how much the Lord knows your feelings.
And with the Psalmist, I pray you will go to God's word for strength, and to His promises your answers to this dilemma.
Run to the One Who, in Gethsemane, did this:
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. (Luke 22:44)

He knows, dear one!
He suffered as you do.
He turned to the Father in prayer, and my prayer for you is also that you will be strengthened to that purpose, too.

Grace to you, beloved. And peace with the father, in the love of His Son,
ellie

Thank you, Ellie. You have given me words to ponder and verses to read. Your encouragement alone has lifted some of the burden for me. I will read scripture as you suggest and pray more fervently. We will see what happens. Even the dogs get the scrap which falls from the table.

I will be reading this a few times. There is so much wisdom in it. May God Bless You, Ellie.

You have my prayers!

I agree with Pickles and Ellie...

Don't forget to play Christian music!

It is so encouraging! Not to mention the enemy can not be arround worship and praise!

Love in Jesus brother! Shekaniah

Dearest friend in Christ Jesus, I am more than happy to pray for your faith to be strengthened and improved and for God to oversee what is happening in your life so that it can be turned around to a point where you can truly feel happy with it! When you do not see any immediate good come from your efforts to move forward it is because God is working a greater plan in your life! We are here in this world to learn how to become truly closer to God, and in the process, there will be many obstacles and hurdles for us to contend with. But that is all designed for our greater good as it will help our spiritual growth in ways many do not yet fully comprehend.

You must not ever feel tired of living, dear friend! Life is God's most precious gift to you and you need to honor your life just as God honored you by giving it to you. As for happiness, it is all in what you make it to be. Remember the great story of Helen Keller, the author and humanitarian, who was blind at birth but went all through life to an elderly age doing so much good for others and never stopping to complain about her disability. Mother Teresa was another who worked tirelessly on behalf of so many throughout her Earthly life, so much so, that she has been rewarded by having been sainted for her wonderful humanitarian efforts! So, never allow your mind to rule your heart! Pray to God for Strength and Endurance. He always maintains an open ear. He can truly turn your sorrows into JOY!

Give thanks for your life and as you do you will find that God will bless you for it and bring many gifts unto you that will truly surprise and amaze you! Do not be downtrodden for that will only leave you feeling rotten. Turn to the Light of God in your life because it is still there as long as you are alive and God wants for you to live to do the work you were meant to do for yourself and many others!

And just as the picture icon on my signature shows, your world may be dark all around but there is a beautiful rainbow that awaits you with many blessings from God! Keep the faith and then I want to see you come right back here to this forum to tell us how God has blessed your life! I not only want to see it, I expect it soon because It IS Possible and is your reality! May God bless you in your efforts to come out ahead.

Praying for you.

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

I love the book of James. So comforting when going thru trials. There is no testimony without a test.

Corie ten Boom once said...when you're on a train and going thru a dark tunnel, that's not the time to tear up your ticket and jump off the train. That's the time to trust the engineer....

Trust HIM

Blessings,

Phoebe

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried.

I'm praying for you as well, nw2u.

Yeah, it's the time that we're living in. Satan knows his time is almost up! But don't despair, our time is almost here!!!!

Stay strong, courageous and focused. We are here for you!

GBU

I will read James. I will read through Psalms. I will pray morning and night. I will give more effort. I thank you all for you kind words and prayers.
It means quite alot just to read your responses. I will come back to this thread and update you with how it is going for me. Today, I start by praying and going out an applying for a job I would like to have. I will let you know how it goes.

Hi,

I feel deeply burdened and saddened when I read this!
The next time you are outside, look at nature! God says he reveals himself to us in nature! Think about the wind, you cant see it! But you can feel it and see its effects!!! Its the same with God! You can see his movements and you can feel his presence!
You say that you have not recieved any type of answer from God? You are most probably doing one of two things wrong!
You are either asking for the wrong thing....Or you are asking wrong!!
Prayer is a gift God has placed on my life!!
I encourage you!
Ask the Holy Spirit to pray for you!!! (Yes you can Romans 8:26)
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, to pray the right way and ask the right things.
Go on your knees in the dark, when you are alone....
Think of everything you have done wrong in your life... Give that to God
Then, think of all the good things you have done in your life!! Give that to God as well (I found this most difficult)....
And then ask Jesus to fill that void!!
Jesus promises us that he will hear our prayers in our distress!!!

And hold onto what the bible says!! "Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28!!! Say to Jesus, I am here!!! and don't stop praying and praising the Lord until he gives you rest!!!
I pray that the Holy SPirit may guide you in this!
Also my friend pray the Lords prayer every day and really really important pray "God, may I see a little bit more of you today" !! It is a powerful prayer!!!
God Bless!
Please keep posting about break through's and struggles so that we can pray for you!!

I would love updates.

There's also a nagging feeling that there's something else I need to say, but I'm not sure what it is. (What an odd thing for me to bring up!)

Effort is good, since we are running a race.
Just remember, too, that the One Who loves you most and best said this:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew11:28-30)

It can be challenging, finding the right mix of effort and rest.
I think if you do what you know to do...job hunting, spending time with God...
you can be confident He will care for the rest.
It takes very little effort to be loved. ♥

Wow! I am amazed in how much effort you are already putting in The lord will answer you because of how hard you are trying and also you have many people praying for your well being and i will help I feel priveledged just to have met you, I too have had a hard life through pain and suffering, abuse and cancer but the important thing is how you react to it. You will find the strength inside you to over come these challenges trust me when you know the love of god you will never be the same. This isn't the kind of love we humans give each other. the love of god consumes us and makes us want to go home with him but he wants us to stay strong and live for him. I pray he will reveal himself to you as i have said you will never be the same

I will pray for you, what you are experiencing is seperation from God, I do not know you, or what you believe but would encourage you to find real repentance and faith, thus finding peace that comes from the crucified life,following Jesus on the narrow path.

When you take that step toward God in repentance and brokenness, He will reach out to you,and give you all you need to walk Holy and separated life.

Hope this helps.



Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.
Gal 5:24 But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let also walk in the Spirit.
Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.
When it comes to a true saving faith (obedience) there is no point going further until you understand what it means to be crucified with Christ!
You can argue night and day about the Sabbath, Baptism, Pagan holidays, the rapture, head coverings etc., and miss the most important issue of all, and that is have you actually crucified your flesh with Christ, through real repentance and faith(obedience)once and for all in reality?
Or have you bought into the great lie of deception being taught today by the army of false teachers who have either been duped themselves, or are under the great delusion sent by God!
2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.
IF you are still in bondage to sins of the flesh, and I am talking about willful rebellious sin, done presumptuously in hate, guile, malice, anger, or lust, then you did not crucify your flesh with Christ.
This is not a process, that takes place over time, or a symbolic occurrence that took place when you said the sinner’s prayer and then trusted Jesus did it all, and in Him you are crucified in position, because He obeyed for you, because you cannot possible crucify your flesh in your own ability.
Apart from real repentance, and a working faith in love, where you must crucify your flesh with Christ, then you are in danger and must do your first works, repent, and come to a saving faith.
Thus a real crucified convert will look like this:
Walking in newness of life!
Departed from iniquity!
Obedient to the truth!
Loving not the world!
Loving neighbor as self!
Putting God first and foremost!
Abstaining from all forms of evil!
Lover of the truth!
Contending earnestly for the pure word!(truth)
Keeping himself undefiled and unspotted from the world!
Guarding his heart above all things!
An overcomer through the blood of Christ!
Living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age!
Having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness!
Departing or departed from the lukewarm church who promotes the lie! (Saved IN sin, Romans wretch, chief of sinners, faith alone, substitution aka imputation, OSAS, etc).
A doer of God’s word and not a hearer only!

Jesus said,
Joh 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, If a man keeps My Word, he shall never see death.
Joh 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Joh 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

To be crucified with Christ as you can see is a very serious matter, you cannot be IN sin and IN Christ at the same time, they don’t mix, and not getting this right will make the difference between heaven or hell, God has given all mankind a choice, and a way out of bondage to sin, and the world.

2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you grieved to repentance. For you were grieved according to God, so that you might suffer loss by nothing in us.
2Co 7:10 For the grief according to God works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the grief of the world works out death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this same thing (you being grieved according to God); how much it worked out earnestness in you; but also defense; but also indignation; but also fear; but also desire; but also zeal; but also vengeance! In everything you approved yourselves to be clear(PURE) in the matter.

Jesus came to set mankind free, see John 8-32, but He didn’t come to be your substitute, in any way, shape or form, or to crucify Himself for you, He came to save us from our sins, through repentance and faith (obedience) where we crucify the flesh once and for all!

It’s not about perfection, it’s not about not needing Jesus, it’s not about being self-righteous or bragging I did it myself, etc.,, but it’s about, humility, brokenness, sacrifice, and a passion and zeal to count the cost, and come before the mercy seat in complete surrender and with a crisis of conviction, that leads to real godly sorrow, where the sin stops, and the flesh is crucified and put to death once and for all!

The crucified life then is a life on the narrow road, following Jesus as He commanded by denying self-daily, and taking up your cross and living a life pleasing to Him, walking IN the spirit, where you will not give any provision for the flesh!

Gal 5:16 I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do.
Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The crucified life is living a dynamic life of faith (obedience) to the truth, doing what is right by choice and also a healthy fear of an all Holy God, who is very patient and longsuffering toward us all, not wanting any to die, but all to come to repentance! 2 Peter 3-9.

The Crucified life is more about obedience, than perfection, sin is missing the mark, which we all do every day, BUT, does missing the mark mean we miss by falling into porn occasionally, fornication on occasion, getting drunk in a weak moment?

Many will say yes, we all fall short, which means everything we do is as a filthy rag before God, but is this honest? Is this the truth? Does a true follower of Christ, make His or her life a life of continued hate, evil and lust?

If your life consists of a pattern of falling into the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye’s, and the pride of life, either on occasion, or on a daily basis, then you have NOT crucified your flesh with Christ, and you may be waiting for the Lord to do this for you in due time, but God is waiting for you to humble yourself, and make the right God given choice, to crucify your flesh once and for all with Him as outlined above!

PS. I get tired of professing Christians who say they cannot stop sinning (fornication, lying, cheating, hating, drunkenness, homosexuality, porn watching, idolatry, love OF the world, etc.)
Because all sin is the same, which is just a scapegoat for them to avoid the commands of God to repent, stop sinning, crucify their flesh with Him, and follow Him on the narrow road!

Remember a truly crucified heart does NOT live a life of falling occasionally into vile sins that lead to death, yes many mighty men and women of God have fallen, some found repentance some did not, BUT to say this is the normal Christian experience is a lie, and used as an excuse to feed the flesh, and not use all the tools God has given us to resist temptation, overcome sins of the flesh, and put the flesh to death in repentance.

We all will be judged just how God finds us, not in perfection, but in living a life above the flesh and its evil desires, walking in purity, sincerity, and love and faith (obedience). Faults, mistakes, poor judgments, sins of ignorance, misplaced zeal, missing the mark in these areas are not sins leading to death, but can be when they lead us into any guile, hate, envy, lust and pride, that is why we must walk the crucified life, and be very sensitive to all our faults and mistakes, confess them to God, and grow more in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

One is willful presumptuous sin that is total rebellion towards God, a mental decision to disobey Him, and ignore His warnings and power to find a way of escape. This leads to death, but the other does not, and will not lead to death, unless we allow it to lead to rebellion against God, and lust of the flesh, lust of the eye’s and the pride of life!
It’s simple either you are living a sincere, pure life before God, guarding your heart against willful sin and temptation, or you are not, Jesus isn't asking His followers to be as perfect and spotless as He is, BUT IS asking His followers to obey His most un burdensome commands, and stop making excuses for sin and worldliness, He wants all our attention and love, not a divided heart between the world and Him, and most importantly, a heart made pure through repentance and faith proven by deeds, where the crucified life is the abundant life unto Him! Not a life filled with self, lust, and evil thoughts and ways!

Rev 22:11 He acting unjustly, let him still act unjustly. And the filthy, let him be filthy still. And the righteous, let him be righteous still. And the holy, let him be holy still.

We will be judged on how Jesus finds us when He returns or when we die, not in perfection or living a self-righteous life, but either the crucified life in purity, sincerity, and love, OR the un crucified life of self, lust, pride, and bondage to sin and disobedience!
Tommy

You aren't alone in this fight... God Almighty in Trinity is by your side.. keep the spirit up my brother.. Psalm 23: 4

Whatever is on your mind or in your heart, write it. I will read and ponder it.

Tommy,

These are hard truths which I do not fully understand. I am trying. I just have not been taught in the same manner as you have. I was born into and raised in the Roman Catholic church. I know what that means to you all here. I was an altar boy up until the 8th grade. I have fallen away from the church. It has been at least ten or fifteen years since I attended any church regularly. I have had difficulty believing what they teach is really the correct way. Some things I do believe and know are right. They coincide with many things which I have learned here and from attending a nondenominational church(Cornerstone).

For now, I will continue to do my best. It is all I can do. Good night all.

nw2u