Jump to content

Recommended Posts


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  1
  • Topic Count:  490
  • Topics Per Day:  0.06
  • Content Count:  2,726
  • Content Per Day:  0.35
  • Reputation:   5
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  05/06/2004
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  02/25/1990

Posted

I remember the many series of messages talking about it, and it finally struck when I saw a post titles "My Jesus I love Thee" as that has become as of my favorite songs. During the invitation at church I heard that song.. and my pastor always says, "Sing it like you mean it" or "If you truly love God, sing out!" ... The message, "Do we really love God as we should" or "Do we really trust God and seek Him in our lives?"

I can honestly say I don't. Don't get me wrong, I am no where near proud of it. I just know that no matter how much I try to convince myself that I love God and that I trust Him, it isn't true. If someone were to ask me before, I would yes because that is what the right answer would be.. right? Yet, it isn't true... I know it isn't. God is not real in my life.. the ressurection isn't real in my life... I believe in God, the one thing I know is that He is real and that He died for me on the cross and that I accepted that because I didn't want to go to hell...

But God.. his characteristics.. who He is... isn't real to me. I don't even have the slightest tug at my heart.. the slightest tear or emotion when I hear of Jesus dying on the cross.. never have. I can't say that I trust God. As a matter of fact, I could probably say I use God. Kind of stick Him in my pocket when times are good and then pull Him out when I need Him. Don't forget sticking Him back in when those hard times are over. I don't love Him. I dont' mean "I dont' love Him as I should".. I dont' love God.

The bible, although I know it is the true Word of God, it seems more like a book of stories or even a book of judgements... that isn't what it is. That is only a small portion of the entire thing. "Jesus is coming back" ... to me that is like, "Yeah, I know... so.. what's for lunch?".

I am not trying to complain.. just trying to find an answer. I do devotions most times.. and I pray... I go to church four times a week(visitation on Saturdays and two services on Sundays and youth group on Wednesdays).. I go on visitation on Saturdays to try and win people to the Lord.. we are teaching lessons in my sunday school class.. I am in the choir... I try to help out on the bus ministry.. I try to get rid of unconfessed sin("take some spiritual lysol" :whistling: ).. yet... I can't even love God.. I can't trust him in the simplest of areas... He isn't real in my life...

I don't know where to turn from here... all matter of pray seems to do nothing... the thought continually goes to my mind to leave this "whole church thing" but I know I never could.. I love it too much and .. although God isn't real in such a way.. I know that that is where I am supposed to be and I love seeing the children's faces and hearing the messages. What I just said, however, is competely irrelevant to this as I think nothing of it except as simple thought through my find quickly swatted away as I know it is the devil trying to get me out of where I need to be.

But how does one come to the point where they know they love God? Although I am young, I have been taken through some rough(not as rough as others however) situations and I slowly learned to trust Him little by little. Yet, it is still so little. I don't know where to turn at this point. Does someone have an answer other than prayer and serachign God's Word? I have that answer and I am following through with that... but is there another answer that would help with it(along with God's Word and prayer)?


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  32
  • Topics Per Day:  0.00
  • Content Count:  5,258
  • Content Per Day:  0.72
  • Reputation:   42
  • Days Won:  3
  • Joined:  06/16/2005
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  07/22/1960

Posted

Kitty, I have felt exactly that, at times in my life.

Fortunately we know this is a common spiritual condition, it is called spiritual dryness, it is normal it comes and goes over your life, it is part of our cross. But our faith, your faith and mine are not based on our feelings; love is not based on our emotional feelings. Do you always feel like you love your mother or father or sister or whomever we love? No, I often don't feel like I love them, but I do. Love and faith are beyond our feelings and thankfully are not dependent on feelings or emotions.

Sometimes we just have to trust and go on, power forward.


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  1
  • Topic Count:  490
  • Topics Per Day:  0.06
  • Content Count:  2,726
  • Content Per Day:  0.35
  • Reputation:   5
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  05/06/2004
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  02/25/1990

Posted

I completely agree that that probably happens.. but.. even little children say "I love my mom and dad. I may get upset, but I still love them"... one can come out and admit they love their brother or sister if they would just get past their pride...

But I can't honestly say I ever loved God.. if this is a phase... I think over 3 years(actually starting serving God... went for assurance for salvation) is a long time for a phase... I have never seen anything other than this "phase" in my life...


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  3
  • Topic Count:  366
  • Topics Per Day:  0.05
  • Content Count:  10,933
  • Content Per Day:  1.49
  • Reputation:   212
  • Days Won:  1
  • Joined:  04/21/2005
  • Status:  Offline

Posted

Kitty,

Our loving God is not so much a matter of feeleings as it is doing the things God has defined as showing we love Him. It is an act of will on our parts


  • Group:  Advanced Member
  • Followers:  1
  • Topic Count:  18
  • Topics Per Day:  0.00
  • Content Count:  377
  • Content Per Day:  0.05
  • Reputation:   1
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  01/24/2006
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  01/31/1977

Posted
I remember the many series of messages talking about it, and it finally struck when I saw a post titles "My Jesus I love Thee" as that has become as of my favorite songs. During the invitation at church I heard that song.. and my pastor always says, "Sing it like you mean it" or "If you truly love God, sing out!" ... The message, "Do we really love God as we should" or "Do we really trust God and seek Him in our lives?"

I can honestly say I don't. Don't get me wrong, I am no where near proud of it. I just know that no matter how much I try to convince myself that I love God and that I trust Him, it isn't true. If someone were to ask me before, I would yes because that is what the right answer would be.. right? Yet, it isn't true... I know it isn't. God is not real in my life.. the ressurection isn't real in my life... I believe in God, the one thing I know is that He is real and that He died for me on the cross and that I accepted that because I didn't want to go to hell...

But God.. his characteristics.. who He is... isn't real to me. I don't even have the slightest tug at my heart.. the slightest tear or emotion when I hear of Jesus dying on the cross.. never have. I can't say that I trust God. As a matter of fact, I could probably say I use God. Kind of stick Him in my pocket when times are good and then pull Him out when I need Him. Don't forget sticking Him back in when those hard times are over. I don't love Him. I dont' mean "I dont' love Him as I should".. I dont' love God.

The bible, although I know it is the true Word of God, it seems more like a book of stories or even a book of judgements... that isn't what it is. That is only a small portion of the entire thing. "Jesus is coming back" ... to me that is like, "Yeah, I know... so.. what's for lunch?".

I am not trying to complain.. just trying to find an answer. I do devotions most times.. and I pray... I go to church four times a week(visitation on Saturdays and two services on Sundays and youth group on Wednesdays).. I go on visitation on Saturdays to try and win people to the Lord.. we are teaching lessons in my sunday school class.. I am in the choir... I try to help out on the bus ministry.. I try to get rid of unconfessed sin("take some spiritual lysol" :blink: ).. yet... I can't even love God.. I can't trust him in the simplest of areas... He isn't real in my life...

I don't know where to turn from here... all matter of pray seems to do nothing... the thought continually goes to my mind to leave this "whole church thing" but I know I never could.. I love it too much and .. although God isn't real in such a way.. I know that that is where I am supposed to be and I love seeing the children's faces and hearing the messages. What I just said, however, is competely irrelevant to this as I think nothing of it except as simple thought through my find quickly swatted away as I know it is the devil trying to get me out of where I need to be.

But how does one come to the point where they know they love God? Although I am young, I have been taken through some rough(not as rough as others however) situations and I slowly learned to trust Him little by little. Yet, it is still so little. I don't know where to turn at this point. Does someone have an answer other than prayer and serachign God's Word? I have that answer and I am following through with that... but is there another answer that would help with it(along with God's Word and prayer)?

I often feel apart from God. I also don't love God as I should. Often I go through life doing my own thing but the desire of my heart is to hear," Well done good and faithful servant" when I die. I am often cold when I think of Jesus but sometimes I am so touched. Do I not care about Jesus because I am cold sometimes and when I am touched do I love Him? I am often confused of my feelings for God. I hope that I love Him though. All that I am saying is that you are not alone in your struggle. May God bless you greatly as you continue to seek Him. :whistling:


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  0
  • Topic Count:  32
  • Topics Per Day:  0.00
  • Content Count:  5,258
  • Content Per Day:  0.72
  • Reputation:   42
  • Days Won:  3
  • Joined:  06/16/2005
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  07/22/1960

Posted

When we love others we ARE loving God. God literally exists in them in the form of the Holy Spirit.

That thought helps me bring God closer sometimes.

Also some of us are just not the lovey dovey types, I don't have deep emotional feelings that is just a part of who I am. Don't let others define for you how you should "feel" love toward God. I see some people who just weep and weep to Christ, and I fully believe they are honest and really feeling that, I know that I never will, it is just no who I am.


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  1
  • Topic Count:  490
  • Topics Per Day:  0.06
  • Content Count:  2,726
  • Content Per Day:  0.35
  • Reputation:   5
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  05/06/2004
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  02/25/1990

Posted

Hey, thankyou all.

Smalcald, I understand what you are saying when you refered to some people are just not "lovey dovey".. that is just one of things that seems weird to me. I attach easily to people and very "lovey dovey"... I can be.. well.. I am extremely emotional at times and it seems the one area of my life with no emotions at all is my spiritual relationship... that seems weird to me. When I go out and tell others about Christ, it seems as though I am just telling them this story.. not something that really happened.

I know the spiritual life isn't all about emotions... and I know that emotions doesn't define a lot of things... and it doesn't define love. The thing is... I can't say I don't love God.. I know it... it is like you see that person at your work or in your school(depending on age).. you know them pretty well and they are great and all.. but you dont' love them...that is what it is like...

The relationship I have with God.. He doesn't seem like a friend or a father to me as it says in the bible... I know for a fact that I don't trust God with just about everything...

I want to have a better relationship with God.. but I can't even honestly say that I love Him for what He has done.. at times.. I say in my mind that I hate what He has done.. for whatever reason that may be.. but that is a different story.

All the problems I have ever had.. it always seems to come back to this.. do I really love God? If you love God.. fear Him... obey His commandments...

Maybe I have the wrong definition of what it means to love God.. but... I don't know... I had better stop now before I say anything that would not be fitting for a Christian to say...


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  3
  • Topic Count:  97
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  5,853
  • Content Per Day:  0.79
  • Reputation:   132
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  03/19/2005
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  08/11/1911

Posted

You could probably form a very large encounter group on this topic. I know God loves me because He has brought me this far despite myself. It does disturb me that I cannot reciprocate that love. :whistling:


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  1
  • Topic Count:  490
  • Topics Per Day:  0.06
  • Content Count:  2,726
  • Content Per Day:  0.35
  • Reputation:   5
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  05/06/2004
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  02/25/1990

Posted

It seems as though I cannot communitcate what is really going through my head properly.. i never seem to be able to...

When I accepted Christ, it was because I didn't want to go to hell... I didn't love God.. For about five years.. I "played Christian" and I pretended to love God and to pray for my family and everyone around me. For the past two-three years.. the Lord has been slowly helping me to come out of that shell... However.. it seems that everythign that ever happens.. any problems... comes down to this one.. I have never known what it means to love God... It isn't that I love God and have gotten a harden heart... the Lord has gotten me to a place where I can say I can actually talk to God and it doestn' seem as though I am talking to this brick wall or barrier between God and me... I have never known what it means.. I have never loved God.. and it is killing to me that I have to be honest enough to say that... I dont' trust God except with salvation(which is a big step.. but... not with everythign else in life.. that is after life)... and it seems to mean nothing to me that Jesus died on the cross..

I don't love God.. and I don't know where to turn anymore... not for this... simple things like prayer or something that I can't stand... I can't deal with that...but this... loving God? I do pray and I do read my bible but... I can't pray to God and tell Him that I don't love Him after everything that He has done on the cross...

My heart didnt' become hard.. it has to be soft in the first place to become hard... I don't love God even though I have said it for the past seven and a half years... and I dont know where to go ... can nobody help me???


  • Group:  Royal Member
  • Followers:  3
  • Topic Count:  97
  • Topics Per Day:  0.01
  • Content Count:  5,853
  • Content Per Day:  0.79
  • Reputation:   132
  • Days Won:  0
  • Joined:  03/19/2005
  • Status:  Offline
  • Birthday:  08/11/1911

Posted

Should we be so presumptious as to think we can love God anywhere near as much as He loves us? :whistling:

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • You are coming up higher in this season – above the assignments of character assassination and verbal arrows sent to manage you, contain you, and derail your purpose. Where you have had your dreams and sleep robbed, as well as your peace and clarity robbed – leaving you feeling foggy, confused, and heavy – God is, right now, bringing freedom back -- now you will clearly see the smoke and mirrors that were set to distract you and you will disengage.

      Right now God is declaring a "no access zone" around you, and your enemies will no longer have any entry point into your life. Oil is being poured over you to restore the years that the locust ate and give you back your passion. This is where you will feel a fresh roar begin to erupt from your inner being, and a call to leave the trenches behind and begin your odyssey in your Christ calling moving you to bear fruit that remains as you minister to and disciple others into their Christ identity.

      This is where you leave the trenches and scale the mountain to fight from a different place, from victory, from peace, and from rest. Now watch as God leads you up higher above all the noise, above all the chaos, and shows you where you have been seated all along with Him in heavenly places where you are UNTOUCHABLE. This is where you leave the soul fight, and the mind battle, and learn to fight differently.

      You will know how to live like an eagle and lead others to the same place of safety and protection that God led you to, which broke you out of the silent prison you were in. Put your war boots on and get ready to fight back! Refuse to lay down -- get out of bed and rebuke what is coming at you. Remember where you are seated and live from that place.

      Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses … to the end of the earth.”

       

      ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
        • Thanks
        • This is Worthy
        • Thumbs Up
      • 3 replies
    • George Whitten, the visionary behind Worthy Ministries and Worthy News, explores the timing of the Simchat Torah War in Israel. Is this a water-breaking moment? Does the timing of the conflict on October 7 with Hamas signify something more significant on the horizon?

       



      This was a message delivered at Eitz Chaim Congregation in Dallas Texas on February 3, 2024.

      To sign up for our Worthy Brief -- https://worthybrief.com

      Be sure to keep up to date with world events from a Christian perspective by visiting Worthy News -- https://www.worthynews.com

      Visit our live blogging channel on Telegram -- https://t.me/worthywatch
      • 0 replies
    • Understanding the Enemy!

      I thought I write about the flip side of a topic, and how to recognize the attempts of the enemy to destroy lives and how you can walk in His victory!

      For the Apostle Paul taught us not to be ignorant of enemy's tactics and strategies.

      2 Corinthians 2:112  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

      So often, we can learn lessons by learning and playing "devil's" advocate.  When we read this passage,

      Mar 3:26  And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 
      Mar 3:27  No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strongman; and then he will spoil his house. 

      Here we learn a lesson that in order to plunder one's house you must first BIND up the strongman.  While we realize in this particular passage this is referring to God binding up the strongman (Satan) and this is how Satan's house is plundered.  But if you carefully analyze the enemy -- you realize that he uses the same tactics on us!  Your house cannot be plundered -- unless you are first bound.   And then Satan can plunder your house!

      ... read more
        • Praise God!
        • Thumbs Up
      • 230 replies
    • Daniel: Pictures of the Resurrection, Part 3

      Shalom everyone,

      As we continue this study, I'll be focusing on Daniel and his picture of the resurrection and its connection with Yeshua (Jesus). 

      ... read more
      • 13 replies
    • Abraham and Issac: Pictures of the Resurrection, Part 2
      Shalom everyone,

      As we continue this series the next obvious sign of the resurrection in the Old Testament is the sign of Isaac and Abraham.

      Gen 22:1  After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
      Gen 22:2  He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

      So God "tests" Abraham and as a perfect picture of the coming sacrifice of God's only begotten Son (Yeshua - Jesus) God instructs Issac to go and sacrifice his son, Issac.  Where does he say to offer him?  On Moriah -- the exact location of the Temple Mount.

      ...read more
      • 20 replies
×
×
  • Create New...