gray wolf Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 28 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,046 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 194 Days Won: 2 Joined: 09/25/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/30/1960 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I am a very devout believer. I go to church and worship often, I have been saved, I seek God's will continually, I walk with Christ daily and I share Him with others. But here is the thing: although I read the Scriptures twice a day and pray frequently, I don't really enjoy it. I know that I am commanded to do it and that I must to live in Christ. Yet I cannot affirm that I wholeheartedly take pleasure in it but view them as essential duties. Is there something wrong here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kan Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,661 Content Per Day: 0.49 Reputation: 1,292 Days Won: 2 Joined: 12/21/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted January 3, 2015 You are certainly not alone, and your honesty is refreshing. I forget, when I am in a certain frame of mind to mention it to God. And I don't know why, seeing that God has always been rewarding to me in the past, with similar seasons of numbness. You are not young, and could be feeling tired of being tired, and so I admire your consistency with prayer and study. God Bless you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreyvic Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 1 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 18 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 14 Days Won: 1 Joined: 10/20/2013 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/06/1974 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Sometimes your flesh isn't willing, I go thru that once in a while. What is important is that you're feeding your spirit. Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1to3 Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Royal Member Followers: 22 Topic Count: 141 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 4,242 Content Per Day: 1.23 Reputation: 3,080 Days Won: 0 Joined: 11/28/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted January 3, 2015 (edited) Hi Gray Wolf, I don't know if what I am about to say may apply to you but here goes; Everyone goes through tests of faith. It sounds like you seem perhaps forced or obliged to do something you don't want to do and that may be bringing on a bit of resentment. I don't think God wants us to feel that way. I think that He wants us to freely choose Him because we want to not because we have to. But maybe it is not a bad thing to just take a step back and give things a break for a while and see how you really feel about things. God is always there , and will not let his own go to far astray without beckoning them back into the fold. He knows your heart, understands your struggles and desires that they end up bringing you closer to Him always. I know that for me, all my life, since I was a child I have been interested in having a relationship with God. My journey has been one of growth, set backs, growth, set backs, more growth and now the setbacks are more small personal things I must overcome within my soul over questioning my belief in Him. My relationship with God has progressed to a point that there is just to much stuff that God has done in my life for me to go way back and question His existence. I understand John 10:10, because that is what happened to me in my life Sometimes we don't realize what we got until its gone. God allowed me to experience this. 18 years ago, I experienced through a set back what it was like to be absent from the presence of God. It was the worst experience one could want to experience=the absence of God. I pray for you that if you decide to take a time out that God keep you protected and under His wing and let you experience what you need to, so that your relationship with Him, becomes even more profound and with greater understanding. In scripture, all the great men of God, have had their share of struggles before greater understanding occurred. Edited January 3, 2015 by 1to3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 683 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 11,128 Content Per Day: 2.00 Reputation: 1,352 Days Won: 54 Joined: 02/03/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/07/1952 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I don't read my bible very day. I read it when I want to, when I feel driven to. But that does not mean I am far from God. I talk to Him constantly, thank Him constantly. Hang out with Christian friends, arttend church, prayer meetings, leaders meetings, mens breakfasts, moderate here, etc. So yes, reading you bible is important, but you are not a Muslim, you are not under law. read it when you feel driven to. But a word of warning, if that is all you are doing, without enjoying the fulness of a Christian walk, it could seem like a chore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Servant of the Lion Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 23 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 8 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/29/2014 Status: Offline Share Posted January 3, 2015 I have been there Gray Wolf, and sometimes I go back still. I am just now getting back into the swing of it. I will tell you what helped me, and maybe it will help you too. Mostly for me study and prayer began to feel empty because I wanted a closer relationship, or something that showed me that my efforts mattered. This was a very tough time for me. I started to come out of it when I began to look at how he blessed me. How he brought the people that I love into my life and how empty I would be without them. My daughter is a blessing that more than one doctor said I was not capable of having. I think what really brought me into loving the Lord and his word again, was the knowledge that he picked her out for me. That he knew who she would be, how much joy she would bring me, how much love would be added to my life. For someone to do that for me even though he knew that day and that trial was coming was a mindblowing revelation. I don't know if you have any kids, but if you do, you may recall standing in the doorway and watching them sleep and just basking in the love that you felt for them. When you go to bed tonight, I want you to picture this, the Lord too likely stands in your doorway, watching you sleep, and basking in the love that he feels for you. If you remember that feeling when you did it for your children, and that image of him doing it for you while you read and pray. You may start to feel for it. If this is not something that will work for you, I still wish you the best brother. At the very least, you are showing obedience, and that is admirable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLight Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Royal Member Followers: 22 Topic Count: 1,294 Topics Per Day: 0.21 Content Count: 31,762 Content Per Day: 5.23 Reputation: 9,763 Days Won: 115 Joined: 09/14/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted January 3, 2015 It sounds like you are still working on the religion vs relationship understanding in your life. Don't be discouraged, every person who has a relationship with God walks through these same thoughts. A religion is led by rituals and rules ... do this then, say this these many times, etc. A relationship is being led by the Holy Spirit where He moves us to do what we do and when to do it. Learn to hear His all so quiet whisper in a crowded room and follow His lead. He does not work on a schedule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSchool2 Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Royal Member Followers: 7 Topic Count: 701 Topics Per Day: 0.13 Content Count: 7,511 Content Per Day: 1.34 Reputation: 1,759 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/16/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1955 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I am a very devout believer. I go to church and worship often, I have been saved, I seek God's will continually, I walk with Christ daily and I share Him with others. But here is the thing: although I read the Scriptures twice a day and pray frequently, I don't really enjoy it. I know that I am commanded to do it and that I must to live in Christ. Yet I cannot affirm that I wholeheartedly take pleasure in it but view them as essential duties. Is there something wrong here?No, it only means you were raised Roman Catholic.Sometimes Mass is so boring that I "day dream" my way through the homily until we get to Communion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerioke Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 97 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 5,850 Content Per Day: 0.84 Reputation: 128 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/19/2005 Status: Offline Birthday: 08/11/1911 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Every time you do something for God, you are stepping onto a battlefield. Spiritual warfare is an ongoing fight. I doubt the boys that are taking on the likes of ISIS feel very good about where they are, but they fight the good fight. The closer you get to God, the more satan will try and beat you down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other one Posted January 3, 2015 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 29 Topic Count: 598 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 56,166 Content Per Day: 7.56 Reputation: 27,891 Days Won: 271 Joined: 12/29/2003 Status: Online Share Posted January 3, 2015 I don't read my bible very day. I read it when I want to, when I feel driven to. But that does not mean I am far from God. I talk to Him constantly, thank Him constantly. Hang out with Christian friends, arttend church, prayer meetings, leaders meetings, mens breakfasts, moderate here, etc. So yes, reading you bible is important, but you are not a Muslim, you are not under law. read it when you feel driven to. But a word of warning, if that is all you are doing, without enjoying the fulness of a Christian walk, it could seem like a chore. Excellent post Fez.... describes our house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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