|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:51 am
Goodness, I have sinned to where I'm ashamed. No offence to anyone or anything of views at all, but for me, personally, I feel like I have sinned from it.
Today, I asked advice on my sexuality, and while some gave me advice, someone pm'd me, note, i used a mule account so my friends would not see, because I was unsure myself. But, I've sinned. I've been intimate with my male fiance, but not to the point of losing my virginity yet. Yet, when we've been intimate, the only thing that arrouses me while we have foreplayed is the thought of the bodies of other women.....while if anything it should be of the love and passion of how much my fiance means to me and the bond under the lord that we are lucky to have! I've tried and tried to dismiss these awful thoughts, yet when i do, i'm not arroused and don't get arroused. Even before I know it's a sin to see the significant other naked and do things to each other before marriage besides at the least holding hands, hugging, and a kiss (in some people's eyes). That I admit for sure. And what's worse, is that one person who responded to my advice, didn't necessarily answer my question, but began to encourage these thoughts and i only replied through the mule to answer the question and not mean anything sensually as i stated to the person before and it started to get out of control so i stopped responding but by answering i felt as if i went against the lord.........i felt like i had sinned........i'm straight.....yet with these thoughts.........the encouragment, i feel like i've let Him down, and let myself down as well. My head was spinning, I was burning inside on a new level, like i had been scarred deep down by this and I want salvation! I've never been baptized yet i've asked numerous people and even a couple churches on how I can but no one will start the process or help me start the process..........
Also, I have recently went to the gynocologist for the first time a month and a half ago, and the only way i can get through to where once my fiance and i are married, to have sex, is to start masturbating........and always since i was little i thought it was disgusting and sickening, and unnatural for one to do it to themselves. Yet, by the doctors advice, i have been...........yet, by doing this, besides enjoying it, my fiance pressures me into losing my virginity and i can only fend off so much. Have I sinned for masturbating under a doctor's orders? I don't think I have in that case, but I don't know how long I can last before we end up caving in. I've always held my virginity to be sacred.....and now....idk.....
I'm sorry if this offends anyone or is silly..........but honestly i need help, salvation, i'm burning inside from these sins! I've been reading the bible, i wear a cross daily and while wearing the cross while i've done these sins makes me feel like i have shamed even worse........i pray daily as well...........yet, even when i ask forgiveness i wonder if it's enough, i need help advice and answers.........I'm so sorry. Thank you.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:53 am
I feel morally messed up, like my relationship with the lord has been severed because of this. i don't know who to really go to.........so i thought i'd ask help from fellow christians......
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 12:17 pm
As far as baptism goes, the ritual signifies that you have chosen to repent and it illustrates the changes that are about to take place: namely, that you've chosen to submit to the Father's will, you want to be washed by the water of the word, and you're dying to your old self to become a new creation through the renewing of your spirit. The verses that have led me to this conclusion: Quote: Matthew 3:1111 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b ] the Holy Spirit and fire. Footnotes: a. Matthew 3:11 Or in b. Matthew 3:11 Or in Quote: Ephesians 5:25-2725 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Quote: Galatians 5:19-2519 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Quote: Ezekiel 36:25-2725 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Quote: Philippians 2:1313 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Quote: Ephesians 4:17-32 (ESV) 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Footnotes:a. Ephesians 4:22 Greek man; also verse 24 It wasn't until I confessed my sins to our Heavenly Father (and repented towards him, away from my sinful lifestyle) that I started exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (self-control over all carnal appetites for one; my sexually immoral behavior and desires were quenched, along with my anger issues). That's how I knew I had received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what we need to stop living like Gentiles, as slaves to our carnal desires.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:50 pm
real eyes realize As far as baptism goes, the ritual signifies that you have chosen to repent and it illustrates the changes that are about to take place: namely, that you've chosen to submit to the Father's will, you want to be washed by the water of the word, and you're dying to your old self to become a new creation through the renewing of your spirit. The verses that have led me to this conclusion: Quote: Matthew 3:1111 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b ] the Holy Spirit and fire. Footnotes: a. Matthew 3:11 Or in b. Matthew 3:11 Or in Quote: Ephesians 5:25-2725 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Quote: Galatians 5:19-2519 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Quote: Ezekiel 36:25-2725 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Quote: Philippians 2:1313 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Quote: Ephesians 4:17-32 (ESV) 17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Footnotes:a. Ephesians 4:22 Greek man; also verse 24 It wasn't until I confessed my sins to our Heavenly Father (and repented towards him, away from my sinful lifestyle) that I started exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (self-control over all carnal appetites for one; my sexually immoral behavior and desires were quenched, along with my anger issues). That's how I knew I had received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what we need to stop living like Gentiles, as slaves to our carnal desires. So, what you're saying is that after repenting the sinful lifestyle, you recieved the Holy Spirit. So, I don't have to be baptized in order to recieve it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:41 pm
I won't discourage people from going through the ritual, but I didn't go through it. Not even as a baby. The physical water represents that he is cleansing and burying you (because baptism/baptizo means "immersing"; people would be submerged under water), and when you resurfaced out of the water, you're symbolically a new creature, cleansed of your old nature. The latter (in actuality) takes place in your day-to-day walk with YHWH and through prayer.
Meditating on the word and asking for discernment through prayer, it became clear to me that neither the physical water nor the priest are doing anything. It's the state of your heart, your inner-being yearning to turn back to YHWH, acknowledging that we're sinful creatures and wanting to be absolved of the guilt the human race carries, that shows the true repentance.
After I did that, it was like YHWH put me through trials to show me the stains in my character and I would repent of them too, asking for his strength, essentially handing over those parts of my life to him: giving him reign over the words that came out of my mouth because I just couldn't hold my tongue; over how I spent my free time, because I just simply could not out of my own strength choose him over TV or online games (entertainment was my idol), et cetera, etc... He showed me how I sinned, I resisted for a bit (lol), but eventually I acknowledged "yeah, this is sin; I don't want to be a slave to this anymore". I found myself not even finding it tempting anymore.
edit: oy, how could I forget: the baptism process also prophetically speaks of the new creations we will become when we get our resurrection bodies, the same kind of glorified/imperishable body our Messiah currently has (I recommend reading 1 Corinthians 15).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:45 pm
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,
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Water Baptism is a public testimony - the outward confession of an inward experience. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord.
Water Baptism is a picture representing profound spiritual truth:
Death - “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
Resurrection - “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.” Romans 6:4-5 (NIV)
“He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." Romans 6:10-13 (NLT)
Cleansing - “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 3:21 (NIV)
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)
If that helps you understand baptism.
Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. Once you ask for forgiveness then forget about what you have done. God does. Make sure you read and meditate on the Bible daily. Also you may just want to see your boyfriend in public so you take away the temptation. How is he with God? Make sure you are not unevenly yoked. One a believer and the other is not. If he truly loves God he should not be pushing you to have sex before marriage. He should want to wait as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
iamlost4ever Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:48 pm
real eyes realize I won't discourage people from going through the ritual, but I didn't go through it. Not even as a baby. The physical water represents that he is cleansing and burying you (because baptism/baptizo means "immersing"; people would be submerged under water), and when you resurfaced out of the water, you're symbolically a new creature, cleansed of your old nature. The latter (in actuality) takes place in your day-to-day walk with YHWH and through prayer. Meditating on the word and asking for discernment through prayer, it became clear to me that neither the physical water nor the priest are doing anything. It's the state of your heart, your inner-being yearning to turn back to YHWH, acknowledging that we're sinful creatures and wanting to be absolved of the guilt the human race carries, that shows the true repentance. After I did that, it was like YHWH put me through trials to show me the stains in my character and I would repent of them too, asking for his strength, essentially handing over those parts of my life to him: giving him reign over the words that came out of my mouth because I just couldn't hold my tongue; over how I spent my free time, because I just simply could not out of my own strength choose him over TV or online games (entertainment was my idol), et cetera, etc... He showed me how I sinned, I resisted for a bit (lol), but eventually I acknowledged "yeah, this is sin; I don't want to be a slave to this anymore". I found myself not even finding it tempting anymore. edit: oy, how could I forget: the baptism process also prophetically speaks of the new creations we will become when we get our resurrection bodies, the same kind of glorified/imperishable body our Messiah currently has (I recommend reading 1 Corinthians 15). So anyone who tries, (whether baptized or not), who believes, can actually be saved? I mean, I know God can forgive your sins, but I was unsure if baptism helped as a symbol that you really are trying, like devotion. I don't doubt him when I ask for his help, but I always get this feeling that every day when I ask for help, every day, that I am asking too much. It's weird, I mean, I don't believe I am since we all ask for help. But still. I guess I just yearn for that touch that I've heard so many people say they have gotten. Just that spark to inspire that I'm doing right and go down that path with more confidence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 7:00 pm
iamlost4ever 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, Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Water Baptism is a public testimony - the outward confession of an inward experience. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord. Water Baptism is a picture representing profound spiritual truth: Death - “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NIV) Resurrection - “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.” Romans 6:4-5 (NIV) “He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." Romans 6:10-13 (NLT) Cleansing - “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 3:21 (NIV) “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” I Corinthians 6:11 (NIV) If that helps you understand baptism. Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. Once you ask for forgiveness then forget about what you have done. God does. Make sure you read and meditate on the Bible daily. Also you may just want to see your boyfriend in public so you take away the temptation. How is he with God? Make sure you are not unevenly yoked. One a believer and the other is not. If he truly loves God he should not be pushing you to have sex before marriage. He should want to wait as well. I would, but he's my fiance and we live with each other. ^^; And, we are going to be married in September, but I'm still trying to hold off as much as I can, even though the temptation is like a leech on my back. So, any time I try to take my mind off it. I do pray daily for sure, but I probably could use more than a day or two a week to read the bible. He is good with God. He believes, got baptized when he was young. His parents sent him to church when he was real little and he's very good at telling about how people are. He believes going to a true church where word isn't just used or said or pressure of society falls upon it as far as most places we've been they just try to suck out mainly for money for the church or the pastor seems creepy. But, we both believe in God very much. I on one hand, focus more on the devoted practice side where I pray daily, have my own coffee table I use as an alter with the 10 commandments, the bible, an inspiring christian true story novel, and little plaques with various bible versus on them. I sit and pray in front of it and light the two tealights in one of my plaques with one of John's versus on it. While he's more of the relaxed, live each day to the fullest, honest, simple lifestyle. If he prays, then he does it in his mind. ^^; I mean, his temptation has grown more in the past few months and gotten worse recently. Yet, he always let's me have the final say, but the fact we have the same conversation about it a few times a week seems more pressuring to me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:18 am
BAPTISM AND THE REMISSION OF SINS
by Cornelius R. Stam
Printer Friendly Version
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).
The twelve apostles preached and practiced exactly this. When Peter's hearers at Pentecost were convicted of their sins and asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do" Peter did not tell them that Christ had died for their sins and that they could receive salvation as the gift of God's grace, apart from religion or works. Rather he said:
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:3 cool .
Years ago, in a series of debates on dispensationalism, the author asked his opponent: "Suppose, after a Sunday evening service, some of your hearers were convicted of their sins and asked you and your co-workers: 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Would you tell them what Peter told his convicted sinners at Pentecost?"
"Why, of course!" he exclaimed.
"In those words?" I persisted.
He thought for a moment and then replied: "Well, I guess not exactly in those words."
The fact is that this pastor would not at all have said to his hearers what Peter said to his. Even though a Baptist, he would not have said: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins," for he believed that subjection to water baptism should be left to each person's conscience, and he did not believe that it had anything to do with salvation. He would doubtless have said to any inquirers what Paul said when the convicted Gentile jailor asked: "What must I do to be saved?" Like Paul, he would have replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.. ." (Acts 16:31). Peter at Pentecost preached what he was commanded to preach under his commission: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16), but when God raised up Paul, that other apostle, He sent him to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" and the finished work of Christ.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:21 am
IS WATER BAPTISM A TESTIMONY?
by Cornelius R. Stam
Printer Friendly Version
Let us suppose that you have been saved, but live a careless life and bear a poor testimony before the world. Would water baptism change this? What would it be worth?
But suppose you have been saved and live a godly, consistent life before the world. Is a water-confession necessary? How much is it worth? Don't be afraid to answer this question honestly. How many "baptized converts" there are who cannot even give a word of testimony for their Lord among the lost!
In a sense, however, the baptism of believers by water in this age is a testimony -- a bad testimony. When the Galatian believers submitted to circumcision it was a bad testimony (Gal.5:2,3). Circumcision, while a part of Peter's "gospel of the circumcision" had no place in "the gospel of the uncircumcision" committed to Paul (Gal.2:7). And just as circumcision was connected with "the gospel of the circumcision" so water baptism was con-nected with "the gospel of the kingdom" (See Matthew 3:2,6; 10:5-7; cf. John 1:31; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:36-38; Acts 3:19-21).
We solemnly declare that the present day practice of water baptism is a reflection on the grace of God and a confession of a lack of appreciation of the finished work of Christ, and the believer's completeness in Him (See Ephesians 1:6; Colossians 2:10). Furthermore, it betrays a poor understanding of the heavenly character and position of the Church of this age (See Ephesians 2:6; 1:3; Colossians 3:1-3).
Be a Berean. Search the Scriptures and see whether these things are so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:23 am
Acts 8:36-38
King James Version (KJV)
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 6:26 am
Tohchiru So anyone who tries, (whether baptized or not), who believes, can actually be saved? Robotic Chewie pretty much answered it: yup. Tohchiru I mean, I know God can forgive your sins, but I was unsure if baptism helped as a symbol that you really are trying, like devotion. To use my family as an example, they lived in a Hispanic country where everyone was pretty much a Roman Catholic; my mother and her siblings did the whole water-sprinkling baptism, communion, rosaries thing, but their characters didn't change (it also didn't help that everything the priests spoke in Church was spoken in latin, not spanish, so it didn't edify anyone). They were forbidden from reading/owning a bible too (well, during my grandparents childhood they were forbidden, but as a result "bible-reading" wasn't a habit my family developed). By the time I was born they had long departed from all of that. Their lives weren't dedicated/devoted to him at all even though they had gone through all of those rituals; they were, however, dedicated to some traditions while remaining ignorant of what the word actually said. Had it not been for their "decorations" (cross necklaces, rosaries, "sacred heart" paintings, saint bracelets), I would not have been able to distinguish them from the rest of the world because what actually came out of their mouths and how they interacted with each other was wordly, not Christ-like. But "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." — John 13:35, not by a ritual, nor by the images we make. You declare to other people that you want to devote yourself to YHWH by going through baptism (granted, by living a life that reflects him you also declare it) but he already knows your heart. That is what he judges, not the physical appearance/outward show. Again, Robotic Chewie helped clear this up, but I wanted to provide an anecdote to support it. Tohchiru I don't doubt him when I ask for his help, but I always get this feeling that every day when I ask for help, every day, that I am asking too much. It's weird, I mean, I don't believe I am since we all ask for help. But still. I guess I just yearn for that touch that I've heard so many people say they have gotten. Just that spark to inspire that I'm doing right and go down that path with more confidence. I ask him for help the moment I realize something is burdening me, weighing me down with anxiety or worries. When you fall into ditch, you'll yell for help, even if you fell the day before and yelled for help then. Another troubling moment, another call. But most helpful for me, and I'm not sure when I started doing this (some time in my second year as a believer, between 2010-2011), but I decided to get up daily, in the morning while it's still dark, to read scripture, to meditate on a chapter, asking for discernment and wisdom so I could apply it to my life or help another person with any revelation I received. That daily "'feeding" of the spirit set my mind on a spiritual course and not a carnal one for the whole day, especially since I type notes and log what I eat in the same journal, so I'm constantly glimpsing back and reminding myself of what I read earlier; every time I physically eat, I continue the spiritually feeding/digestion too. 3nodding edit: the more time I spent seeking him and learning about him, the more I was able to see his hand manipulating the circumstances around me. I don't know if that's the personal touch you're talking about, but spending time in the word opened my eyes to a lot.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
