Reconnecting with God

[georgiamay]

43 minutes ago, AngelofAshes said:

Fasting is a concept that I feel most young people aren't told they should partake in. You don't have to fast from food if your parents won't allow it, but maybe spending time away from distractions like TV, social media, etc for a few days and dedicating time to reading the Word might help you move closer to God. It certainly helped me when I was a teenager. 

Also doing a specific study on your favorite story in the bible or scripture verse and relating how it effects your current life can help.

Hi AngelofAshes, 

This actually sounds exactly like something I need right now. Tv and social media definitely negatively distract my mind! I appreciate your advice greatly. Thank you!

[warrior12]

Hi Georgiamay,  Some very good advice and recommendations are given to you in the replies to you.  In the bible, Luke 15:11-32 , Jesus give the parable of the Prodigal Son and i suggest you give it a read.  It basically outlines that Jesus forgives you of your sins even when you messes up.  He hears your cry of repentance and forgives you and welcomes you back even when you have gone astray to seek after the world. It is an assurance to hold on to and see the promises of God and his love for you.

But as you begin to seek the Lord face and his righteousness, you may encounter obstacles that you should be aware of and they are real, so being alert of the pitfalls that may be set before you is not a bad thing.  See below for a small link to an article on the three major obstacles the christian has to deal with.

http://www.dawnbible.com/1958/5812cl-1.htm

[georgiamay]

48 minutes ago, warrior12 said:

Hi Georgiamay,  Some very good advice and recommendations are given to you in the replies to you.  In the bible, Luke 15:11-32 , Jesus give the parable of the Prodigal Son and i suggest you give it a read.  It basically outlines that Jesus forgives you of your sins even when you messes up.  He hears your cry of repentance and forgives you and welcomes you back even when you have gone astray to seek after the world. It is an assurance to hold on to and see the promises of God and his love for you.

But as you begin to seek the Lord face and his righteousness, you may encounter obstacles that you should be aware of and they are real, so being alert of the pitfalls that may be set before you is not a bad thing.  See below for a small link to an article on the three major obstacles the christian has to deal with.

http://www.dawnbible.com/1958/5812cl-1.htm

Wow!! From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your recommendations. I will make sure I read over that bible verse and I am going to read that article right now! 

Thank you for your support warrior12

[JohnD]

God cares.

It's so ridiculous to say, but we often shroud God with all these conditions that we can never meet (not with consistency anyway). Jesus said:

John 16:27 (AV)
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

God is practical.

When you get out of touch with him (note I said when not if) he prescribes the way we can correct this:

1 John 1:1 - 1 John 2:17 (read / study as a whole passage): 

1 John 1:1–2:17 (AV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. **
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

** John 6:28–29 (AV)
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

When we get out of the practice of walking with God daily or moment by moment... we only harm ourselves.

God waits for us to wake from our stupor... he cares about everything and will help us through anything... too often we figure we can handle this or that on our own... then we realize it's been six months or a year since we've even prayed...

Confess (lit "come along side" meaning to admit / face) your sins before God and he will keep on forgiving you.

And remember God cares. Always.