Thinking of the unthinkable...

[Marathoner]

2 hours ago, Figure of eighty said:

I'm not chasing destruction.  Just trying to make my ends meet. I'm not an addict or anything just trying 5o keep a roof over my head and stay in my nursing program 

It all starts somewhere. Denial doesn't help. If you aren't intending to engage in prostitution, then don't state that you are. Simple. 

[Jayne]

7 minutes ago, Figure of eighty said:

Yes bc I just don't seem to thrive in trials. I don't care much about pleasing God. I just want to be a nurse to be financially stable for my kids. I see other Christians and they care and they want to please God and strive to. This makes me worry bc my heart isn't like there's I ask God to change it. I've been saved and baptized twice. I don't feel different. 

Well thank goodness that salvation is not about "feeling".  It's about a knowledge that you are His.

[Michael37]

26 minutes ago, Jayne said:

Yes, we all have struggled.  I've told you of my anxiety and depression.  It was not easy today in church.  I cried in Sunday School trying to pray and teach.  I cried in church while playing the piano.  I know people think I'm a nutcase.

Today was hard for me.  All I could think of was what a disappointment I am to God.  Which may be partially true, but I KNOW he loves me, saved me, and has a purpose for me.  And I KNOW that these negative feelings come from the devil.

If I could make a crazy suggestion, next time you experience unwanted emotional wounding think of a leaf from a tree. I have in mind an oval-shaped dark green glossy, shiny leaf, but it's up to the individual what leaf they visualise. 

This leaf symbolises one single aspect of your faith.

Now think of a whole tree covered in these leaves. I see an evergreen tree covered in healthy, glossy leaves that represent my faith,

If we are like trees planted by the water our leaves don't wither in adverse situations, meaning our faith flourishes whatever experiences we are forced to face. No spiritual climate change here, Praise the Lord.

[Jayne]

15 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

If I could make a crazy suggestion, next time you experience unwanted emotional wounding think of a leaf from a tree. I have in mind an oval-shaped dark green glossy, shiny leaf, but it's up to the individual what leaf they visualise. 

This leaf symbolises one single aspect of your faith.

Now think of a whole tree covered in these leaves. I see an evergreen tree covered in healthy, glossy leaves that represent my faith,

If we are like trees planted by the water our leaves don't wither in adverse situations, meaning our faith flourishes whatever experiences we are forced to face. No spiritual climate change here, Praise the Lord.

Not a crazy suggestion at all.  Thank you.

[warrior12]

1 hour ago, Figure of eighty said:

Man this is hard. It really makes me question my own salvation. Alot of people seem not to have difficulty doing this or don't get stressed but money,rent,school and basic things stress me. 

Idk how you all got to this level or trust or faith in God. I'm not sure how to reach that.

I think you are not alone in what you are going through. It is just many don't want to state their problems on a forum for whatever reasons.   The Lord has kept you here thus far and it is all part of your training. Later on, you would have the skill and experience to teach your children and others who are in need and desparate for help that they too think is hopeless for them.    

Yes, shock and the trauma of Fear paralyze the victim, so the clear mental focus is not there.  These are the initial tactics the devil uses, when you stand up to his schemes and determine to live Godly, then his weapons becomes less effective.  You have to make a stance you are not going back into the world of depravity. 

The prodigol son, learnt his lesson and came home and surrendered.  A lesson is for teaching and pruning as difficult it may be.   

This is my encouragement to you. 

[kwikphilly]

7 hours ago, Figure of eighty said:

Man this is hard. It really makes me question my own salvation. Alot of people seem not to have difficulty doing this or don't get stressed but money,rent,school and basic things stress me. 

Idk how you all got to this level or trust or faith in God. I'm not sure how to reach that.

That might be exactly what you need to consider- " Is my spirit Alive," " Have I been Born Again?"

I can't answer this question for you and I'm not judging whether or not your are Saved but you've said yourself that you question your Salvation- now it is true that one can have a Seal of Redenption yet they are not living "Saved" as in a Life More Abundant BUT why then? Perhaps more people need to ask thdmselves the question

After all the years you've been here for example it seems you're asking the same things- I don't see a Renewing of the mind or a New Creature in Christ but more importantly- do you?

I don't know what your hearts desire is ,is it to seek God with all your heart,mind & soul? Do you hunger for His Word,a Relationship with God in Christ or for doing what you want to do,when and how you want to do it?

Christianity is a personal Relationship with our First Love,above everything and anyone- it's a Way of Life ,a lifestyle a New Life in our Living Redeemer....

Matthew 6:33   read it

When the spirit is made Alive you have a new life,the old self has passed away...doing the same ole ,same ole is not going to sit right,feel right,the desires of the heart change ...what about you has changed?Let us ask this question- what makes you Believe you ARE Saved.

Sometimes when we start to go left or right it's good to go back to the beginning,the Foot of the Cross on our knees    Whether you are or are not Saved is between you and the Lord- go back to the beginning and either submit and commit or " re- commit " --- the beauty of it all is at any moment we can start over anew as long as your heart is beating

With love in Christ,Kwik

 

 

 

 

[Figure of eighty]

11 hours ago, Marathoner said:

It all starts somewhere. Denial doesn't help. If you aren't intending to engage in prostitution, then don't state that you are. Simple. 

Denial? 

[Figure of eighty]

5 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

That might be exactly what you need to consider- " Is my spirit Alive," " Have I been Born Again?"

I can't answer this question for you and I'm not judging whether or not your are Saved but you've said yourself that you question your Salvation- now it is true that one can have a Seal of Redenption yet they are not living "Saved" as in a Life More Abundant BUT why then? Perhaps more people need to ask thdmselves the question

After all the years you've been here for example it seems you're asking the same things- I don't see a Renewing of the mind or a New Creature in Christ but more importantly- do you?

I don't know what your hearts desire is ,is it to seek God with all your heart,mind & soul? Do you hunger for His Word,a Relationship with God in Christ or for doing what you want to do,when and how you want to do it?

Christianity is a personal Relationship with our First Love,above everything and anyone- it's a Way of Life ,a lifestyle a New Life in our Living Redeemer....

Matthew 6:33   read it

When the spirit is made Alive you have a new life,the old self has passed away...doing the same ole ,same ole is not going to sit right,feel right,the desires of the heart change ...what about you has changed?Let us ask this question- what makes you Believe you ARE Saved.

Sometimes when we start to go left or right it's good to go back to the beginning,the Foot of the Cross on our knees    Whether you are or are not Saved is between you and the Lord- go back to the beginning and either submit and commit or " re- commit " --- the beauty of it all is at any moment we can start over anew as long as your heart is beating

With love in Christ,Kwik

 

 

 

 

I really don't know if I'm saved or not. I've said thr sinners prayer. I know about God. I've been baptized twice. I can kinda hear God speaking if I tune in or go to a spirit filled church... 

I do know I haven't fully surrendered. I feel bitter and angry about alot of things. Just taking it one day at a time. Im doing my best to change my life.

But yeah idk. You're supposed to bear fruit of the spirit. I can't say any within myself. I don't desire God like most people here or have convictionsfrom the HS-- idk what's wrong with me. Its been 10+yrs

I really don't know where to go from here since I've already been baptized and said the sinners prayer. 

 

But yeah much hasn't changed and it'd been 10yrs. My desires are still the same there's no aversion to my old sins... so idk I probably am not Saved. But I do believe in everything I said with that sinners prayer.

Edited July 8, 2024 by Figure of eighty

[1to3]

Hello @Figure of eighty;

You either have the choice to fight the good fight of faith in Christ or choose to get further entrapped in the lies of this world.

The choice is yours to make and peruse with fervour, for your very life depends on whatever decision you choose to take.

Your life has so much potential to do good and yet you are also battling with a side that wants to ruin your life and take you down.

please read for yourself Ephesians ch6, because you are in a very real spiritual battle that wants t take you down

What you were contemplating to do has been very sad for many of us to read. Because for many of us who have experienced already great suffering and pain and the consequences of sin, can see a life that could be so potentially useful and good  be led down a path so sad and destructive and very sad.

With Gods Word through reading and seeking Gods advice through the bible, you can STOP these self destructive attacks on your life.

Yes I would also suggest finding a good bible based church to follow so you can get involved with other believers who have a true love for Christ Jesus, who can lead by good example a life well lived in and through God and His Word.Seek well seasoned believers when you go to a church, so you don't get discouraged by bad example but get lifted up by seeing and experiencing good and Godly example in others.

The sad reality of it is, perhaps there are no spirit filled bible believing church near by you that are filled truly with Gods Word to help, teach and guide you by being in the presence of other true believers, Sadly to say there are now a lot of diluted  churches that present themselves as Christian when they are not truly Christian .

Some Christian advice was given to me many years ago(over 23 years ago) when I began to notice that not all christian churches are true to Gods Word.

The ADVICE WAS TO READ YOURSELF THE BIBLE, PRAY TO GOD BEFORE YOU READ HIS WORD ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW SO TO UNDERSTAND HIM BETTER.

When you know Gods Word for yourself, you can better detect false teachings coming from either or both a person  or a church to make the decision to get out of a false church and continue on your own until you do find a bible believing church that can encourage you through a body of true believers and sound bible teaching.

We do have internet today, so that even if you are in a remote area with no bible believing church around,  you can find many good bible believing christian ministries that offer sound preaching of God Word to help encourage you to keep perusing a better way, a better life for yourself and your children.

There is also Christian radio to listen to like WCHP who offer sermons from the likes of Charles Frazier Stanley Jr or.,John F. MacArthur

 

 

Most importantly, Being a Christian is about having a daily relationship with God through His Word on a daily basis.

Only God can help protect you, guide in restoring, building and continuing a life more spirit filled in Him and less and less a flesh filled life influenced by all the traps of this world that seek to steal-kill-destroy all the good God has waiting for your life.

 

The spiritual battle is real, we have to place our armour of God on every day and use His Word everyday -sword of the spirit-to fight against the armies of wideness.

Mark Ch4 : 24-28

And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you–and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Allowing God to be your guide begins with a commitment to trust. God cannot lead you where you will not follow

[kwikphilly]

2 hours ago, Figure of eighty said:

I really don't know if I'm saved or not. I've said thr sinners prayer. I know about God. I've been baptized twice. I can kinda hear God speaking if I tune in or go to a spirit filled church... 

I do know I haven't fully surrendered. I feel bitter and angry about alot of things. Just taking it one day at a time. Im doing my best to change my life.

But yeah idk. You're supposed to bear fruit of the spirit. I can't say any within myself. I don't desire God like most people here or have convictionsfrom the HS-- idk what's wrong with me. Its been 10+yrs

I really don't know where to go from here since I've already been baptized and said the sinners prayer. 

 

But yeah much hasn't changed and it'd been 10yrs. My desires are still the same there's no aversion to my old sins... so idk I probably am not Saved. But I do believe in everything I said with that sinners prayer.

Well,all I can tell you is that being baptized with water is an outward proclamation and not a Baptism by the Power of Holy Spirit,it is a public declaration of one's Faith-symbolic of Jesus death and "Rising Up" from the tomb- and Surrendering ones Life to Almighty God in Christ

Its an 'act' of Obediencse" to Christ Jesus after you put your Life in His Hands ,Trust : the act I Believe that is symbolic of His Finished Work on the Cross.....

So being sprinkled or dunked in water will not Save anyone in of itself

The Sinners prayer--I don't know,can be a bunch of words recited  or can be words spoken out of a truly repentant heart than mean Jesus Knocked and was Invited in- then He Abides in you...... I only wish I could give you God's Blessed Assurance or say"" Hurry Friend,RUN to the Lord whilst you still can".....God Knows your heart ,I do not

I think mostly everyone can remember surrendering to the Lord and something definitely changed,I can't imagine going about life as if nothing happened unless nothing happened (kwim?)

If you truly want change and you think you are Saved  then you must Renew your mind,you've got to feed your spirit that you Receive Understanding,Knowledge,Wisdom by the Power of Holy Spirit.... if there is not a hungry thirst for the Living Waters then something is wrong- I know you agree,you've said so

I Encourage you once again to get on your knees,seek Him with all of your heart,mind and soul .... do you want Forgiveness? Like Jesus asked the man crippled  38 yrs    " Do you want to be Healed?" He layed there beside the pool at Bethesda waiting for someone to help him get in the water!!!

For 38 years?!!!I find that astonishing- I do think a paralyzed man could have inched his way in by his tongue in 38 YEARS!!Right?

Perhaps his comfort zone was in accepting being a cripple,being a poor me and waiting for someone to help - I don't know but that story always I leaves me thinking because he didn't even know WHO Jesus was!!!! And Jesus Told him- " PICK UP YOUR MAT"

He must've had a filthy mess from lying there 38yrs- Jesus Told him to clean his mess up.... maybe Jesus is Telling you to clean up your mess,to help yourself because He Sees you,He Will Help but you need to make a move.....

With love in Christ,Kwik