Prodigal daughter?

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Mulehide

Guest
#1
#1
Hi all. I've read some of the threads posted here and am hoping maybe you could help me. I grew up in church, it's the only life i know. I could quote Bible verses and debate doctrines with the best. What I seem to have not been able to do is have any type of personal relationship with God. And before you ask, yes I am saved. (Which why must that be the first and only question asked?) Anyway, i almost gave up on God totally, but I can't quite do that. So now I'm stuck. Help???
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#2
#2
Mulehide said:
Hi all. I've read some of the threads posted here and am hoping maybe you could help me. I grew up in church, it's the only life i know. I could quote Bible verses and debate doctrines with the best. What I seem to have not been able to do is have any type of personal relationship with God. And before you ask, yes I am saved. (Which why must that be the first and only question asked?) Anyway, i almost gave up on God totally, but I can't quite do that. So now I'm stuck. Help???
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Well, if I understand correctly, you feel that your faith is entirely doctrinal and not relational, that is, you have studied and agree with the beliefs of Christianity, but you have never related to Christ, nor He to you. Is this right?
 
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greatkraw

Guest
#3
#3
any relationship involves spending time with that person
they wont wanna spend time with you if there are outstanding grievances to be dealt with
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#4
#4
charisenexcelcis said:
Well, if I understand correctly, you feel that your faith is entirely doctrinal and not relational, that is, you have studied and agree with the beliefs of Christianity, but you have never related to Christ, nor He to you. Is this right?
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Yeah that would be it.
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#5
#5
greatkraw said:
any relationship involves spending time with that person
they wont wanna spend time with you if there are outstanding grievances to be dealt with
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So true. But finding out what said grievances are dealing with such seems to be a futile attempt.
 
MahogonySnail

MahogonySnail

Banned
#6
Jan 8, 2009
7,576
23
0
#6
You start by talking to God thinking about Him as your Father and Friend.
 
E

eric135

Guest
#7
#7
Mulehide said:
Hi all. I've read some of the threads posted here and am hoping maybe you could help me. I grew up in church, it's the only life i know. I could quote Bible verses and debate doctrines with the best. What I seem to have not been able to do is have any type of personal relationship with God. And before you ask, yes I am saved. (Which why must that be the first and only question asked?) Anyway, i almost gave up on God totally, but I can't quite do that. So now I'm stuck. Help???
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You can debate doctrines, but how can you win a debate if you don't truly believe what you are saying? (Unless you are extremely convincing) :)
 
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Walt

Guest
#8
#8
Ask God with a humble heart to completely take over your life as your savior, father, and friend. Maybe you already have, but that's the approach I would take.
The Pharisees knew the book and the laws of God better than anyone yet Jesus revealed them as frauds, who were self seeking. I'm not saying that's you but just that knowledge of the scriptures isn't what it's all about.
Knowledge is important but nothing surpasses the importance and overwhelming power of the love of Christ. Fully realizing the love that Christ has for you and that he who had no sin became sin for you so that you can be made righteous beore God, and that you can call upon this God and have a relationship with him is incredible. Nothing beats prayer. Pray pray pray, and seek Him, seek Him, seek Him. If you truely believe and seek out God through prayer, I honestly believe that God will connect with you in an umbelieveable way as He has in my life and others.
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#9
#9
Start by talking to God and praying. These all sound good. But I've tried and nothing. I've counseled many others in this same position, including one close friend who's doing wonderul now. But pray? Listen to God speak to me? What if I have and He hasn't?
 
W

Walt

Guest
#10
#10
I wish I had the right answer for that. I'm fairly new in my walk with God although I "believed" from a young age. There came a time when I hit rock bottom and pleaded to God for help and he came through like I could never imagine. I'll be praying that by his grace when you knock he will open up and enter into a relationship with you.
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#11
#11
Thanks Walt. You and I are examples of why it sometimes scares me for someone to "believe" from a young age. Don't get me wrong...that's better than any other alternative. It just seems you and I are the norm as far as that goes. Most struggle much with their faith in their teens and early twenties. Thanks all, sometimes it's just having hope to go one more day and maybe try one more time.
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#12
#12
Mulehide said:
Thanks Walt. You and I are examples of why it sometimes scares me for someone to "believe" from a young age. Don't get me wrong...that's better than any other alternative. It just seems you and I are the norm as far as that goes. Most struggle much with their faith in their teens and early twenties. Thanks all, sometimes it's just having hope to go one more day and maybe try one more time.
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You might try ministry, not in a leadership role, but something tangible. some people seem to make the connection that way. Also, joining a choir if you are musically inclined.
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#13
#13
charisenexcelcis said:
You might try ministry, not in a leadership role, but something tangible. some people seem to make the connection that way. Also, joining a choir if you are musically inclined.
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Umm, yeah, just got taken out of ministries for getting tired of fighting this and giving in to the world. :(
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#14
#14
Mulehide said:
Umm, yeah, just got taken out of ministries for getting tired of fighting this and giving in to the world. :(
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I see. Did you feel more connected when you were ministering?
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#15
#15
charisenexcelcis said:
I see. Did you feel more connected when you were ministering?
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More connected? Not necessariyl. Just more worthy i guess. Not quite the right word there since no one is worthy but maybe like God would be willing not just to love me (God's loves the world) but to care for me personally.
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#16
#16
Mulehide said:
More connected? Not necessariyl. Just more worthy i guess. Not quite the right word there since no one is worthy but maybe like God would be willing not just to love me (God's loves the world) but to care for me personally.
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OK, so that's a start. Why don't you do some personal ministry. Go visit an elderly saint or volunteer to watch kids one night for a single mom. Just do something for others as an offering to God. Another question, have you ever fasted?
 
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Mulehide

Guest
#17
#17
charisenexcelcis said:
OK, so that's a start. Why don't you do some personal ministry. Go visit an elderly saint or volunteer to watch kids one night for a single mom. Just do something for others as an offering to God. Another question, have you ever fasted?
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Why would i fast if my prayers go no higher than the ceiling? I apologize for the cynisism, but no I have not. And, I work with the deaf ministry here, whether giving rides to church or interpreting when needed or just providing a friend in a lonely world.
 
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charisenexcelcis

Guest
#18
#18
Mulehide said:
Why would i fast if my prayers go no higher than the ceiling? I apologize for the cynisism, but no I have not. And, I work with the deaf ministry here, whether giving rides to church or interpreting when needed or just providing a friend in a lonely world.
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That is a great ministry. If you have that skill, continue using it for Jesus, even if it isn't "official". It's all the same toward God.
Concerning fasting, the problem isn't that God doesn't hear or care for your prayers. Fasting is a way to increase your own recognition of and sensitivity toward God's voice. Even Jesus fasted so that He could be more in touch with the Father. Think about doing a undirected fast. Take one day a week and fast. Set aside several hours to read the word and listen to Christian music (or are your deaf? If so, I mean no offense). Don't seek anything other than His presence. Commit to do this for three months. You may end up with a closer relationship to God than many of the faithful ever dream of...
 
aspen

aspen

Banned
#19
Feb 3, 2010
1,238
3
0
#19
It sounds like your heart is sincerely seeking after God.

I had to wait for God to reveal himself in a new way for a couple of years - when he did, I realized what must Christians discover - He was there all along.

Feeling God's presence is sublime, but does not measure the quality of your relationship with Him.

While you are waiting on Him, offer your heart up to Him for sanctification....allow Him to teach you to love and serve your neighbors in a new way. Then go out and love and serve radically - God will reveal Himself in the hearts of those you serve.
 
pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#20
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
63
#20
Mulehide said:
Start by talking to God and praying. These all sound good. But I've tried and nothing. I've counseled many others in this same position, including one close friend who's doing wonderul now. But pray? Listen to God speak to me? What if I have and He hasn't?[/quote

Im not sure if this is why, but I had a time of struggle.It wasnt that I didnt know his love and care, it just seemed to be on hold.
I have known Jesus all my life and always talked to him , but several years ago it was what I called the desert.
I kept praying and asking what was it?
I came to realize that God Our Father wanted me to believe that I already had that relationship.
That all he put before me was him and his word and Love.
You see, I just couldnt believe he loved me so much. I had seen so much abandonement and lived so under the judgement of others , also I believed that I was only loved because of what others could take from me.
So I felt that unless I was valueble, I was not loved.
I began to see that it was not just the wrongs of others that had harmed me but my sin of thinking that if I am needed ,then I could be wanted and also had controll over that value with God.
Through Jesus I came to believe and know the great love of God Our Father in faith.
That his love is.
That it was not because of who I was that I am loved but ,that I was because of his love.
So God Our Father Showed me that I had to believe not only in this great love but that everything in my life is from him and his word to me.
Once I chose to believe this, the doors opened wide, and still continue to open and show me his great love.
I hope this helps, but if not do not lose heart. Some things can take time. But all is soon revieled.
You are in my prayers for this. God bless, pickles
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