Is there a place I can go? Like a Protestant nunnery? Or is there something I need to do?

Is there a place where I could be taught the Word of God, actively encouraged in my walk with God, and shielded from being corrupted by worldly influences? I want to know God like Enoch did, but I'm so distracted by life.

I am not talking about church attendance. I already go to church on Sundays. I need 24/7 time in God's presence, Godly encouragement, and protection from fleshly things that make a person feel far from God. I get side tracked so easily. I really want a place I can go where there is singing and bible reading and prayer and just God's beauty all around. Please.

I am sure there are Christian retreats/camps. Outside of this, I am not sure of other places. 24/7 is not feasible for most people due to work, family, etc. However, if you work in ministry, that may get you close to what you want.

As difficult as it may seem to you right now, you can have what you seek in your current circumstances. In John 14, Jesus tells us that He and the Father will make their habitation with you. John 15 teaches how the relationship works. Andrew Murray has written a very good book called Abiding in Christ which explains what it is to live as a branch in the vine. This might be a good place to start.
It is God's desire for his children to know Him intimately. The better we know God, the more satisfied we will be in Him and the things in this world which once appealed to us no longer will. God is most glorified in us the more satisfied we are in Him.

Thank you for caring and replying. I do happen to currently be looking for work opportunities, and working in the ministry could surely help me to stay pure.

This is gold. The Lord must have given you this answer. I am truly grateful. Please pray for me, that the Lord orders my steps so I will dwell with Him in every breath of every moment, and that He gives me strength and the unwavering desire to say "yes" to Him and "no" to unrighteousness.
I plan to start reading John 14, John 15, and Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray right now. Please pray that I'll absorb God's truth, and also that I will not stop there, but will go on to really know God fully and to live fully in Christ.

Thank you.

Curious, why did you mention Protestant nunnery? Are you looking for that type of lifestyle and remaining celibate?

If I could get to know God to the point where He's more real to me than my hands in front of my face, I don't believe I would crave the love and companionship of a earthly husband so much. I know that Jesus is more perfect than any man I could ever meet. I don't know whether God has called me to be unmarried (although I do believe in remaining celibate until marriage, as God in His wisdom urges us to do). And I don't want to take on any lifestyle based on human traditions and rituals, I just want to be wherever God is, or rather, I want to learn how to stay in God's presence and I want to be in a place that is conducive to my learning to stay in His presence. In my limited knowledge, nunneries are the places where people go to do that (but I am not, and cannot be a Catholic, so I said "Protestant"). I was wondering if someone might confirm if my suspicion was the only possible solution. I'm glad I was wrong and that Jesus can be found anywhere.

You took the words right out of my mouth. I read "Abiding in Christ" by Andrew Murray many years ago. It was quite convicting and challenging.

Hi, MP.

When it comes to staying in God's presence, we only need to look to Jesus as our example.

When we read the gospels, we come to realize that there were many times when Jesus set himself apart from the crowd to pray. It was through his intimate fellowship with the Father in prayer that he could say that he only did what he saw his Father doing, and he only spoke what he heard his Father speaking. Of course, after seeing and hearing such things, he brought what he saw and heard to others. In other words, God does not want us to remain completely separated from others, but he wants us to shine forth as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Philippians 2:15) instead.

To Cameron's point, God also dwells within you, so there need not ever be any time of real separation from him.

Your devotion to God is refreshing to see; especially in one so young.

God bless you.

The title of Andrew Murray's book is actually "Abide in Christ".

Here is a link to a pdf of it where you can read it online for free:

https://www.peacechurch-cr.org/edit...ent files/Andrew_Murray_-_Abide_in_Christ.pdf

One more thing, MP.

With God as my witness, I had considered PMing you recently, but I chose not to because I did not want to possibly invade your privacy or make you feel uncomfortable. As I have mentioned before, I am the curious type, and, not to flatter, but I have noticed something different about you, in a positive sense, from reading some of your posts, and I was wondering if you might share a bit of your testimony as to how you got saved. No pressure, and definitely no obligation. It is rare that I see the type of devotion that you have sincerely displayed here, and, based upon my own observations over the years, there is normally one variable, which is often missing nowadays, that contributes to said devotion, and I am just wondering if that variable applies to you.

Anyway, like I said, no pressure, and definitely no obligation.

I can honestly relate as it would be nice to shelter in place with like minded people who are all in for Jesus. The appeal of this sounds amazing until scripture reminds me that I would be disobeying God.

The stryggle is part of the walk. The great commission can not take place if I shelter in place. And even if I could find a utopia there would still be temptation and sin as spiritual evil knows no physical boundaries.

Yes, He is; I will pray for you - this may be helpful, learning to
study Scriptures, and preparing for ministry:


Please Be Encouraged and Edified In The LORD Jesus Christ,
And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly Divided.

Amen.

If you aren’t part of a small group study, I think you should consider it. That’s where you can meet women who are more mature in the faith, who can mentor you. And whenever you need prayer, your small group study is the go-to. As you grow in the Lord, you can use your spiritual gifts there too. No one is really immune to worldly corruption; but being connected to a small group will greatly help. Growth happens in small groups.

I’d encourage what is called the spiritual disciplines. Essentially it’s a part of discipleship. It’s becoming an apprentice to Jesus, learning to apply the rhythms of his life to your life. He will become increasingly intimate in relationship with you. The trick is to not approach it legalistically but learning to take joy in these things and grow in them over time and not get frustrated or burn yourself out on them . They generally are Prayer, fasting, silence, solitude and worshiping God in your own way loving God using your own words Uttered from your heart privately.
We all do community fellowship, service, faithful bible study and etc together as a body of believers Fairly well if you are in regular Church attendance you probably have community fellowship down great. but one should also cultivate individually for that deeper and more intimate life in God and it takes a bit of intentionality behind it. Shutting off your phone, and blocking out 10 minutes of time in your day. Preferably morning or evening to just talk to God in personal prayer is a good place to start.

Thanks for mentioning this book. Like I said, I read it many years ago, but I could use to read it again now. I do not have the time to at the moment, but I will find the time to sometime soon. Abiding in Christ is truly what the Christian life is all about.

Always welcome. Spiritual disciplines is a good reminder as well. You did well to point out to not keep them in a legalistic way. This can only lead to making communion with God a chore rather than a privilege and a delight.
It helped me immensely when someone pointed out to me that the real value of the disciplines wasn't in their practice, but in their practice getting into the presence of God. For example, while fellowshipping with other believers is enjoyable in and of itself, Jesus told us that where 2 or more are gathered in His name He will be in the midst.
2 Corinthians 3:18 reveals that it is in God's presence that we are changed from glory to glory. Worshipping God is a good practice for all God's people, and yet God actually inhabits the praises of His people.

For some unknown reason beyond my power, I have always had a hard time even making the quota of two or three. I might just disappear into the woodwork for a bit. I am thankful that, like Jesus, I can have an audience with the Father by myself if necessary. I did not mean to turn any attention of this thread towards myself, so I will just bow out of it now. Have a blessed night. All of you.

A couple of thoughts:

Understand Paul's mandate and how this command worked out in his life.

Mandate:

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Mar 16:15
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Life:

Act 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Act 20:27
“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

1Co 9:24
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Heb 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

We must learn to walk in step with the spirit before we can run swiftly in the race. Keep in mind Paul spent over a decade shrouded in mystery very early on. I’m sure that decade wasn’t simply 1hour sermons a week. I’m making some assumptions that in Tarsus he was in training for a decade perhaps cultivating intimacy with God through the disciplines. That’s an assumption though.

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬