How do I enjoy this life?

[leahmariepierce]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

 

[Homewardbound]

You were created for a purpose, and on purpose by God.
It is the sinfulness of this world you need to be concerned with.
Look at creation. When God finished His creating, he called it GOOD.
It is not wrong to enjoy life. It is not wrong to enjoy a cup of coffee and a donut, as you go through a day.
God created you. And when He did, He called that good. What gets in the way is the need for a Savior. You have that Savior in Jesus Christ.
You are forgiven, therefore God sees you as sinless.
Again, sit back with a cup of coffee, enjoy it while you read His word!

 

[Subhumanoidal]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

Methinks you missed something.

Mark 12:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Seems to contradict your idea that you must hate yourself.

 

[JaumeJ]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

You know Jesus is your Savior? You beliee His Gospel, the only Gospel? If yes, you will be just fine.

I agree with your understanding of the evil of this world. You know this to be true, so how can you not believe in the wonder and joy to come. Hate anything that tempts you and makes you feel that defeat you speak of, it is exactly what you said, the devil talking to you. When this happens go to and listen to Jesus, no one else, for no one else possesses the good news. This is all the good fight mentioned in the Word. God bless you for you r hoesty. God bless you for the gifts you possess, in particulaR THE LOVE TO SHARE THIS.

 

[Adstar]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

Think about how you have a perfect eternal existence waiting for you.. Spend time thinking about it.. Spend less time thinking about how evil this world is.. Spend more time thinking about Gods Love for you.. And the good things you can do to show some of that love for others.. Realize that you time in this world is as nothing compared to the endless time we have in eternity with God..

Getting depressed and sad stems from what we allow to occupy our minds.. If we are constantly thinking about the evil state of the world of course we are going to be sad...

Oh and PS: I often get into the same rut you describe.. So i need to listen to my own advice ..

 

[Deuteronomy]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

The NT, which was written down for us during the Iron Age, cannot always be interpreted properly from a 21st Century POV. So it is here, as we understand that the absolutism of the Semitic idiom (in Luke 14:26, see below) is rightly interpreted by Matthew (Matt 10:37). Likewise in John 12:25, the one who hates his life (the love/hate contrast reflects a semitic idiom that articulates fundamental preference ... not hatred on some absolute scale: cf. Gn. 29:31, 33; Dt. 21:15 AV, NASB) will keep it for eternal life.

A man must love his wife, family, friends, [himself .. e.g. Mark 12:30-31; Ephesians 5:28-29, 33; Galatians 5:14], and even his enemies ; but he must love Jesus supremely ~Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew., Expositor’s Bible Commentary // Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John

Luke 14​

26 If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.​

​

Matthew 10​

37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.​

~Deut

Matthew 19​

19 Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.​

.

 

[Deuteronomy]

I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven.

In what ways are you preoccupied with going to Heaven? Do you mean that there is still something else, something that you must do, to get there, or did you mean something else entirely?

Thanks!

God bless you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

~Deut

2 Corinthians 5​

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.​

 

[soberxp]

What the Bible is not about sin, but the meaning of life itself, the meaning of God's creation of life.
Why does the Bible say that the world is guilty, because of the lies of the ancient snake, but in human society, we have never seen the ancient snake, so what shows that human beings are guilty? That's why we usually have doubts when we listen to someone say something, because if one person lies, then everyone knows that someone is lying, and that's the result. The result is a lack of trust between people, and that's what I think the world is guilty of sin.
You should face the world positively, you know, consciousness can sometimes determine matter, if you have been in negative emotions, then you see the world is also negative, you see yourself is also negative, which is metaphysical. But I know it.
Jesus said that if you believe, then you can move the mountains into the sea,.
and i would say that if you believe, you can make the world a better place.

 

[Deuteronomy]

I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

You are correct, we are neither to love this world, nor are we to allow ourselves to be conformed to it (to its principles/system of beliefs, values, etc.) .. e.g. Romans 12:2; 1 John 2:15-16, but by speaking the truth in love to others, you can help them leave this world for the Kingdom of God, just like you did recently Jesus, in fact, commanded us to do so, yes .. e.g. Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8.

~Deut

Psalm 37​

4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.​

.

 

[soberxp]

I forgot to mention it, and Jesus said you could do something bigger than that,

 

[soberxp]

 

[Lynx]

How do you enjoy this life? Two words: Cat videos. =^.^=

Then to keep it super-spiritual, keep in mind God made cats and God gave humans the intelligence to invent stuff like cameras and internet and youtube and all that.

 

[leahmariepierce]

In what ways are you preoccupied with going to Heaven? Do you mean that there is still something else, something that you must do, to get there, or did you mean something else entirely?

Thanks!

God bless you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

~Deut

2 Corinthians 5​

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.​

Thank you so much for your help. I mean sometimes I think that I won’t be happy at all until I go to heaven. I am aware of my sin and I repent and I am turning away from my sin but I just want to be in heaven because I want to be with Jesus. I know it isn’t up to me though

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hi again @leahmariepierce, one last thing, have you found a church to join and, thereby, a church family to be a part of and to be in regular fellowship with yet? If you haven't, that may be one of the reasons that you are feeling unhappy and lack joy right now.

There's a 4-part lecture series that I listened to and was very helpful to me when I first became a Christian (almost 33 years ago now, PTL) called Spiritual Boot Camp by Dr. John MacArthur. It takes a close look at four of our principle spiritual disciplines, Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship and Witnessing, to help you gain a greater understanding of them, as well to help you find new ways to apply them in practical ways to your life/Christian walk. The series is free to listen to online and can be found here if you'd like to check it out (just scroll down a bit when you get there and click on one the audio button next to the lecture that you'd like to hear (How to Study Scripture, How to Pray, How to Function in the Body, and How to Witness).

God bless you!

~Deut

 

[Deuteronomy]

There's a 4-part lecture series that I listened to and was very helpful to me when I first became a Christian (almost 33 years ago now, PTL) called Spiritual Boot Camp by Dr. John MacArthur. It takes a close look at four of our principle spiritual disciplines, Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship and Witnessing, to help you gain a greater understanding of them, as well to help you find new ways to apply them in practical ways to your life/Christian walk. The series is free to listen to online and can be found here if you'd like to check it out (just scroll down a bit when you get there and click on one the audio button next to the lecture that you'd like to hear (How to Study Scripture, How to Pray, How to Function in the Body, and How to Witness).

Hi @leahmariepierce, I just figured something out that I thought was cool enough to come back here and tell you about. If you click on, "How To Study Scripture", instead of the audio button next to it (as I had previously suggested) when you go to the Spiritual Boot Camp series online, you can read AND/OR listen to each of the lectures.

Dr. MacArthur definitely has a nice website there at gty.org

~Deut

 

[1ofthem]

Live life for God. Do his will, enjoy his creation, and walk in the Spirit.
Philippians 4:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

[tourist]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

Not sure where you came up with you're supposed to hate your life when it says explicitly in bible that God wants you to have life and to have it more abundantly. There's a saying that you can be so heavenly minded you're no worldly good. I believe that there's an element of truth to that. Take joy in the fact that one day you will be with God but in the meantime you still have to live out your life the best that you can with what God has provided you. It's not so bad if you think about it.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Not sure where you came up with you're supposed to hate your life when it says explicitly in bible that God wants you to have life and to have it more abundantly. There's a saying that you can be so heavenly minded you're no worldly good. I believe that there's an element of truth to that. Take joy in the fact that one day you will be with God but in the meantime you still have to live out your life the best that you can with what God has provided you. It's not so bad if you think about it.

Hi Tourist, I'm pretty sure she got it from the Bible. Granted, it would have to be taken both out of context and out of historical context to conclude that, but it does "say" that .. Luke 14:26; John 12:25.

Great post, good points, and good advice too (speaking about your post #17 above, that is)

~Deut

 

[leahmariepierce]

Hi again @leahmariepierce, one last thing, have you found a church to join and, thereby, a church family to be a part of and to be in regular fellowship with yet? If you haven't, that may be one of the reasons that you are feeling unhappy and lack joy right now.

There's a 4-part lecture series that I listened to and was very helpful to me when I first became a Christian (almost 33 years ago now, PTL) called Spiritual Boot Camp by Dr. John MacArthur. It takes a close look at four of our principle spiritual disciplines, Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship and Witnessing, to help you gain a greater understanding of them, as well to help you find new ways to apply them in practical ways to your life/Christian walk. The series is free to listen to online and can be found here if you'd like to check it out (just scroll down a bit when you get there and click on one the audio button next to the lecture that you'd like to hear (How to Study Scripture, How to Pray, How to Function in the Body, and How to Witness).

God bless you!

~Deut

Thank you so much! I will definitely check it out when I get home today. I’m looking forward to it and I am so thankful for you! 😀

 

[memyselfi]

It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?

This is the saddest thing I ever heard!!! I have been saved for 30 years, Messiah gave me life and life more abundantly… especially because I was 18 when I got saved, now almost 50. Now I walked away from quite a bit of "life" this world had to off sex, since age 13, lots of drugs, bulimic, 2 suicide attempts, dropped out of school my freshman year, and a murdered husband (killed in Dec of the year I turned 18, in July). So when I got saved I was ready for any thing to change my life....

After the euphoria of being Saved wore I went back to being "part" of the world... now I was knocked up, not married (my son's dad and I split up when we found out I was pregnant), 21, no job, and now no home… went back to mommy and daddy....

I had a lot of "worldly" choices before me, but I knew enough not to MURDER MY BABY.... My so is autistic.... Father has nothing to do with him.... now 27 years old....


BECAUSE Y-SHUA/JESUS IS LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABOUNDENTLY.... I have graduated college, my son (today is mothers day) is my BLESSING FROM G-D and a GREAT MAN OF G-D!!! I honestly love people in the Lord and not out to get for myself, I enjoy fun the world has to offer that is not sin... I scuba, I "gamble fish"... do fishing tournaments for "monster" fish..., I travel with my son everywhere!! And most of all when my mom moved home to heaven, from cancer, I got to take care of her.... my dad now at 85, I take care of him and when we travel he goes with us.... most fun he has had in 20 years, because my mom had MS and the last 20 years were bad... G-d gives me enough income I can take care of people in need.... I have been able to be on mission trips with my church....

I LIVE!!! I'M IN THE WORLD, and I HOPE A BETTER PART OF IT... BUT I AM NOT OF IT LIKE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS!!!!!

BUT DO YOU WANT THE SECRET TO BENING IN THE WORD AND NOT A PERT OF IT AND YOU WILL HAVE THE GREATEST HIGH OF YOUR LIFE!?!.... WIN PEOPLE TO MESSIA!!!!

BE A SOUL WINNER.... sorry to say you must not be.... or YOU WOULD ENJOY LIFE!!!!! LET G-d USE YOU TO SAVE PEOPLE FROM A DEVLES HELL AND YOU WILL NEVER BE BOARD AGAIN!!! If He dies not, it does not sound like He does get close enough to Him, build your relationship... YOU WILL SEE MERICALS SO EXCITING YOU WILL NEVER HATE LIFE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!