How do you seriously remain faithful when...

[MsDeeDee82]

when everyone around is being blessed and prayers are being answered while you still waiting on God. It seems praying, begging and read the word according to my situation is not working per sa. I am a Christian but lawd knows it hard. This journey with God is not easy. erplexed

 

[Uber]

I had an experience when I really wondered why on earth I was a Christian. I wondered whether there were really any benefits of being a Christian. At this point of my life I looked back to how it was before Christ and I knew I sure did not want to go back there and so I prayed to God to help me believe in Him more and to understand the message of the cross.

I sincerely believe that anytime we waiver in our faith this is a testing time. And God wants us to rely on him even more. He wants to take us to a higher place of faith. A place where if God never blessed us again, all we want to do is thank God. And I always think that the mere fact that God gave me life, the opportunity to see a new day in every sense of the word, is enough reason to thank him.

I remember that delay is not denial.

If I feel that I am missing something or I haven't been blessed or I am still waiting on something it means that I haven't remembered to thank God for what He has done.

 

[MsDeeDee82]

Thank you Bess. I needed that. I am trying to remain faithful. Praying when i dont want too. I know the devil is a liar. I just wished I could talk to God in person. Like right now. Not an answer but have a conversation where he and i are talking live. I know that sounds crazy but i feel i cant hear God like everyone else says they do. Wheter its thru prayer or just hints. Idk but I am still keep on trucking because he brought me this far not to forsake me!

 

[Rainbow Dash]

This is what Im dealing with also. We are watching everyone receive their blessings while we still wait in faith. It has been hard for my husband and I. Our faith has been tested and yet even though we are disappointed. God still deserves the glory and praise.

When I get down, I ask God to speak to me and show me what is going on because I dont understand sometimes. But I know that He is working it out for my good.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9

 

[LifeafterLHCF]

This is may come off sappy but know that when you see others being blessed know God is growing you up.I know for me I couldn't understand why esp after my past life and doing things right in school why I couldn't get a good job,have a nice spot,have a man,etc and God is growing my faith and my stick toitness so that when thing get hard I lean on him and know God has done this in the past

 

[Uber]

Thank you Bess. I needed that. I am trying to remain faithful. Praying when i dont want too. I know the devil is a liar. I just wished I could talk to God in person. Like right now. Not an answer but have a conversation where he and i are talking live. I know that sounds crazy but i feel i cant hear God like everyone else says they do. Wheter its thru prayer or just hints. Idk but I am still keep on trucking because he brought me this far not to forsake me!

I know exactly what you mean. During my experience that was one time I did talk to him like I would talk to any other person. Granted I coud not see Him but I just told Him what was on mind. Like I'd say something like "God I don't know where you are right now, I dont know why I am a Christian." And through just speakng my mind and not trying to say the "right" thing I felt like I got an answer. I felt free. And I knew God was near.

 

[Guitarhero]

Such a blessing, all these responses. It is hard but for me sometimes, I have a wake-up moment in which I realize that I'm with life today, that I can eat, that I have sight, legs and full faculty of my mind. Some of the things I wish God would go ahead and give me aren't necessary to my life. Do I believe He will give them? Well, I hope so because they are good things. I realize He wishes to give us life and in more abundance. That doesn't always mean materially, but there are a myriad of ways I'm blessed every split second of the day. This is just one of them - I am not alone in my frustration. He had a word for me via you all!!! God richly bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you!!!!!!

 

[Guitarhero]

Thank you Bess. I needed that. I am trying to remain faithful. Praying when i dont want too. I know the devil is a liar. I just wished I could talk to God in person. Like right now. Not an answer but have a conversation where he and i are talking live. I know that sounds crazy but i feel i cant hear God like everyone else says they do. Wheter its thru prayer or just hints. Idk but I am still keep on trucking because he brought me this far not to forsake me!

Everytime you hear the rain drops, you hear Him. Every flower you see, you see Him. Every kind voice that speaks to you, it is Him. We all speak different languages and you might be surprised someday to find out that yours is incredibly unique and special. Maybe that if you don't feel He speaks to you like others, it is because He is intently listening to you as a patient and loving Father.

 

[LovingLady]

Whenever I see someone's prayers being answered or whenever they have received a blessing, all I can do is rejoice in their happiness. Everyone's life is not lived out equally, some people have to struggle for years while others have to struggle for a month or two. What really helps me is to focus on the positive things instead of the negative. When you get discouraged praise God even more, the devil likes to use your discouragement to his advantage.

When the time is perfect your blessings will flow out of heaven. :Rose:

 

[Prudent1]

As we grow in our walk/ journey with the Lord it is normal to have the feelings everyone has described here. I don't know anyone (saved or not) who hasn't felt envy or jealousy towards others for what ever reason at some point in time. I will say something again here b/c it is true. This is a journey not a sprint with God. So, things are always changing, always new as we steadily transition into His image. IOW, don't feel bad for having these feelings. Once you know and are honest verbally with God he really starts the work needed to help you overcome impure thoughts and heart issues (James 4 comes to mind). It cannot happen if he is not allowed to bring it to your attention or if we are in denial. Whom the Lord loveth, he corrects. It helps me to write down good things that happened in my past only God could be credited for. Big and so called little things. On the days where I feel those negative things creeping into my mind (from my heart) I make myself remember the goodness of God. I make myself sing, I make myself pray b/c I know ultimately I am not wrestling against flesh and blood you know? Once again, these things take TIME. Keep a song in your heart. Study and memorize scriptures so that you can spit those 'bad boys out' in your times of need. Keep praying. Don't feel like there's something wrong with you or like you will never change. Thank God for loving you enough to show you your flaws. Then buckle your seatbelt as he works that stuff out of you!

I heard one person give this analogy. We as Christians, all start out standing on piles of dirt with shovels in our hands. We all start digging b/c in everyone's pile there are equal amounts of gold and precious stones. They are however arranged in different orders. If I start looking at my neighbors as they dig (perhaps they are digging faster than I am and have uncovered something I don't know I have already in my possesion) there's no way I can be as focused on excavating my own pile. The moment I return my efforts to my digging and realize I progress at my own rate, I am content again. I become distracted only when focusing on those around me. Stay faithful. This too shall pass.

A series that helps with this is called It came from within by Andy Stanley.
http://resources.northpoint.org/store/shop.do?pID=910

An excerpt from and old school song by James Cleveland that carries me through some tough times...
I don't feel no ways tired,
I've come too far from where I started from.
Nobody told me that the road would be easy,
I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.

Vamp:
I don't believe He brought me this far
(repeat as desired)

I've been sick (I don't believe),
but God brought me (He brought me this far).
I've been in trouble (I don't believe),
but God brought me (He brought me this far).

I've been friendless (I don't believe),
but God brought me (He brought me this far).
I've been lonely (I don't believe),
but God brought me (He brought me this far).

 

[Laela]

I will share what I've learned:


We stay faithful to Him through Prayer (act of Faith):
As God's Children all we need to do is ask.
To ask more than once (persistently ask Him for the same things over and over), shows a lack of Trust/Faith in Him. Be mindful it is only when we submit to Him (walk in Love/obedience) that He gives us the desires our hearts. (Psalm 37:5-7).

We stay Faithful to Him through reading His Word (act of Faith):
Reading God's Word is one of the ways we Honor Him. We read to get to know Him, not only for when we have a situation or we need Him. I don't know about you, but when someone communicates with me ONLY when they need something, I feel less than appreciated and loved. Think of how God regards those who do this concerning Him. God is not a Genie, His Word is not a lamp. We read His Word, just because we love him, just because we want to keep a relationship with Him. It's only when we do this that we find ourselves applying His Words to our hearts and we see the manifestation of what we read/believe in our very lives.

We stay Faithful to Him through our Love Walk (act of Faith)
There is the Spirit of Competitive Jealousy that Leviathan ** uses to discourage us from obeying the Greatest Commandment. Instead, when we rejoice or mourn when others in the Body of Christ are rejoicing or mourning -- God blesses us. It need not be an outward expression: sometimes just interceding for or praying for someone, or asking God to bless them or just being happy for them in our heart is all it takes. The Love Walk isn't a cake walk and is very challenging but with God's help, it gets easier the more we get to know Him.


Romans 12
(gives instruction on these things and how Christians ought to interact with one another

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: **

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

when everyone around is being blessed and prayers are being answered while you still waiting on God. It seems praying, begging and read the word according to my situation is not working per sa. I am a Christian but lawd knows it hard. This journey with God is not easy. erplexed

 

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

Read Psalm 37.

Meditate on it.