How do we know ?

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Pisteuo

Guest
#1
How do we know were getting closer to Christ ?
What are the road signs that tell us our relationship with Christ is getting stronger .
 

maxwel

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2013
9,401
2,473
113
#2
You always have a lot of opinions.

Why don't you start off by giving us your opinion on this.


...
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,693
7,169
113
#3
More and more desire to read the word. I think praying for others more, earnestly. More and more thoughts drift towards Him. Things still bother me; I still get in my head and my emotions from time to time. Life happens, but as I draw closer and feel His abiding, most always, we, me and He, work through it together pretty quickly. In other words, I experience more fruits of the spirit. I still fall short but more and more I see and trust that He never does. How about you?
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,748
3,558
113
#4
How do we know were getting closer to Christ ?
What are the road signs that tell us our relationship with Christ is getting stronger .
Intimacy- COMMUNICATION. We have to talk and listen to each other - not physically but definitely spiritually.

In the beginning of my relationship with God, it was sooooooo about me and what I wanted God to do for me. Yuk!

As we mature and fall in love with God, our biggest joy comes from loving Him. ❤️
 
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Pisteuo

Guest
#9
What if I said , " the closer we are to God , we will feel further and further away from Him ."
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,693
7,169
113
#11
What if I said , " the closer we are to God , we will feel further and further away from Him ."
I see truth in that statement. I know that the closer I get to Him, the more humble I become because I am more and more cognizant of just how Holy and set apart He is. Using the word feel though, hmmmm, I have to say that I feel more communion with Him as He allows me to draw near. Still though, I am in awe because He is so beyond my capacity to connect. I suppose that makes Him even more special, makes me want to get up close and personal, and thanks to Him I can. How Mighty is the great I Am.
 
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Pisteuo

Guest
#12
The hardest part of Jesus walk was at the very end . He accually "felt like" the Father might be forsaking Him . Yet , because Jesus ultimately " trusted " the Father at the highest level of trust , with everything He was , is , and what He will be , ( a completely surrendered life ) that trust made Him the closest to the Father He had ever been .

It will be the same for us , the hardest part of our journeys will be at the end . For us to draw closer to God , we must trust Him more and more . For that to happen , we , like Christ will feel Him less and less . And that's even while us having the Spirit of Christ , and , the mind of Christ .
 

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
Nov 4, 2014
6,693
7,169
113
#13
The hardest part of Jesus walk was at the very end . He accually "felt like" the Father might be forsaking Him . Yet , because Jesus ultimately " trusted " the Father at the highest level of trust , with everything He was , is , and what He will be , ( a completely surrendered life ) that trust made Him the closest to the Father He had ever been .

It will be the same for us , the hardest part of our journeys will be at the end For us to draw closer to God , we must trust Him more and more . For that to happen , we , like Christ will feel Him less and less . And that's even while us having the Spirit of Christ , and , the mind of Christ .
You have me thinking about this. I see Your point, I do. Either with the end times of wrath, or jus as we get older, facing our own end time, living gets harder. So it does require a greater trust, but in my experience also, I see it's in those weakest most dependent conditions, I feel His presence even more. Sometimes not and first though, sometimes it takes time and His patience and mercy, but I think that is because of that trust factor lacking. Hmmmmm, I need to look at this more. I'm not just being wishy washy, I can see your point that it gets harder and harder, but maybe that is the blessing of it. Each breath of His gets us closer to Him.
 
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Pisteuo

Guest
#14
You have me thinking about this. I see Your point, I do. Either with the end times of wrath, or jus as we get older, facing our own end time, living gets harder. So it does require a greater trust, but in my experience also, I see it's in those weakest most dependent conditions, I feel His presence even more. Sometimes not and first though, sometimes it takes time and His patience and mercy, but I think that is because of that trust factor lacking. Hmmmmm, I need to look at this more. I'm not just being wishy washy, I can see your point that it gets harder and harder, but maybe that is the blessing of it. Each breath of His gets us closer to Him.
Life in Christ and all His deeper truths are paradoxical . Unless we look at His truths through those paradoxical glasses , we have no chance understanding His revelation of truth .
 

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#15
How do we know were getting closer to Christ ?
What are the road signs that tell us our relationship with Christ is getting stronger .
Yours is a question I would say all Christians arrive at sooner or later. Especially as baby Christians. I.E. new to the faith.

I can't tell you how. I can only share how it worked out for me. If this serves you I am privileged to have lived it so as to pass it along.

Let go.
It is as easy and as scary as that.
We're so use to being in control of our living what we see for ourselves as that which works according to our plans.
I worked to save money to retire to a place I had in mind. To live a lifestyle I wanted to live. And in the process mapped, literally, the journey in a career that would allow me to be mobile while setting up and leaving behind so as to garner proceeds, a franchise type situation.
That was then. This is now.
How the real destiny for my life arrived was God's doing.

And how that happened is, I let go of that desire to push my will when things didn't work out in any given moment. Something would fall through, I'd push to bring it back again and try again. Nope. Didn't work.

You can try this by giving in for just a day. Let go.
Live your life as you normally would on the day you may choose to try this suggestion. But don't go about your day with expectations or trying to undo what happens. For instance, you're planning to go out and can't find your keys. OK. Don't look for your keys. Even when you know there's no earthly reason they're not where they're suppose to be. Just relax and let the fact your keys aren't there so you can go do what you want to do.
See what comes to mind when you take that deep breath and maybe even say to yourself, OK Lord, not my will but yours be done.
Pay attention to what happens next.
Just relax into what rolls into your life.

When I did that I found what I planned and that at times fell through was replaced by something so much better for me.

That's what it means in that slogan you may have seen around: LET GO AND LET GOD. There's even a book by that title.
It sounds like a slogan until you do it. Then it becomes a blessing and then a way of living in the Spirit. And then you'll see the real meaning behind the Lord's wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.


May the Father forever bless your steps. Amen.
 
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pottersclay

Guest
#16
When you begin to miss him.😮😮😮 When you feel his absence because you get preoccupied.
 
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Pisteuo

Guest
#17
Yours is a question I would say all Christians arrive at sooner or later. Especially as baby Christians. I.E. new to the faith.

I can't tell you how. I can only share how it worked out for me. If this serves you I am privileged to have lived it so as to pass it along.

Let go.
It is as easy and as scary as that.
We're so use to being in control of our living what we see for ourselves as that which works according to our plans.
I worked to save money to retire to a place I had in mind. To live a lifestyle I wanted to live. And in the process mapped, literally, the journey in a career that would allow me to be mobile while setting up and leaving behind so as to garner proceeds, a franchise type situation.
That was then. This is now.
How the real destiny for my life arrived was God's doing.

And how that happened is, I let go of that desire to push my will when things didn't work out in any given moment. Something would fall through, I'd push to bring it back again and try again. Nope. Didn't work.

You can try this by giving in for just a day. Let go.
Live your life as you normally would on the day you may choose to try this suggestion. But don't go about your day with expectations or trying to undo what happens. For instance, you're planning to go out and can't find your keys. OK. Don't look for your keys. Even when you know there's no earthly reason they're not where they're suppose to be. Just relax and let the fact your keys aren't there so you can go do what you want to do.
See what comes to mind when you take that deep breath and maybe even say to yourself, OK Lord, not my will but yours be done.
Pay attention to what happens next.
Just relax into what rolls into your life.

When I did that I found what I planned and that at times fell through was replaced by something so much better for me.

That's what it means in that slogan you may have seen around: LET GO AND LET GOD. There's even a book by that title.
It sounds like a slogan until you do it. Then it becomes a blessing and then a way of living in the Spirit. And then you'll see the real meaning behind the Lord's wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.


May the Father forever bless your steps. Amen.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Lillywolf .

I think if I would sum up your post , it would be " deny self , take up your cross , and follow Him ." And i agree , it is all those little daily decisions that show God we really have surrendered our life and will to Him , and allow Him to Leed the new regenerated life .
 

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#18
Thanks for taking the time to reply Lillywolf .

I think if I would sum up your post , it would be " deny self , take up your cross , and follow Him ." And i agree , it is all those little daily decisions that show God we really have surrendered our life and will to Him , and allow Him to Leed the new regenerated life .
Yes.
I found when I practiced what I shared that first day that the real meaning of the scripture, the peace that passes understanding, became real inside me. There was a peace that really can't be described save to say there was no anxiety or fear that I'd maybe screwed up.
In fact, in that state of peace I was able to see everything in the past that had led to that perfect moment of things working out God's way. All that had transpired when I thought I was in the drivers seat so as to have me arrive in God's own time in that there and now moment.

It feels soooooo GOOD to relax. :)
And yet it takes time. And I'm not saying I'm there living my life letting God take the wheel while I take the ride in peace every moment of every day. Living in Christ is a journey all the days of our life. Sometimes we take detours and screw up thinking we know what's best. We still screw up. And yet, when we know through the experiential that all we have to do is relax again, it gets easier to relax .....again.

I have a bumper sticker on my car that I had made at one of those online shops. "Jesus is my co-pilot. Which explains all the dents and dings." :LOL:
Right under that sticker though? "If God is your co-pilot switch seats." That one I found at a Christian bookstore.
 
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Pisteuo

Guest
#19
Yes.
I found when I practiced what I shared that first day that the real meaning of the scripture, the peace that passes understanding, became real inside me. There was a peace that really can't be described save to say there was no anxiety or fear that I'd maybe screwed up.
In fact, in that state of peace I was able to see everything in the past that had led to that perfect moment of things working out God's way. All that had transpired when I thought I was in the drivers seat so as to have me arrive in God's own time in that there and now moment.

It feels soooooo GOOD to relax. :)
And yet it takes time. And I'm not saying I'm there living my life letting God take the wheel while I take the ride in peace every moment of every day. Living in Christ is a journey all the days of our life. Sometimes we take detours and screw up thinking we know what's best. We still screw up. And yet, when we know through the experiential that all we have to do is relax again, it gets easier to relax .....again.

I have a bumper sticker on my car that I had made at one of those online shops. "Jesus is my co-pilot. Which explains all the dents and dings." :LOL:
Right under that sticker though? "If God is your co-pilot switch seats." That one I found at a Christian bookstore.
Great stickers .

That's kind of what I've been trying to share here . That If our life and will are the drivers seat , Faith and faithing are surrendering the driver's seat to Him continually , every day ! And if we make all those little daily decisions supporting that surrendered seat , a regenerated life should start to begin .
 

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#20
Great stickers .

That's kind of what I've been trying to share here . That If our life and will are the drivers seat , Faith and faithing are surrendering the driver's seat to Him continually , every day ! And if we make all those little daily decisions supporting that surrendered seat , a regenerated life should start to begin .
I'll share with you something that is derived from various scriptures and put succinctly. Though the quick to react negatively may miss it and take umbrage.

The journey of any Christian is to realize their way back to the fact they are God.