My boyfriend and I desperately want to get our relationship right as we both want to get married but not while our relatinship is the way it is - it's not awful! But not great, like it could be - we've not grown much spiritually in two years (I have more than him I think) but he's not that happy in himself - he's slightly overweight (not loads but teeny bit tubby which I love!) He drinks more than he should, he smoked but he's now on a diet and we're heading down a brand new pathway! What can I do to encourage him more & release him more?? He's been asked to go to Egypt for a week in Sept on a conference re addictions - our pastors now asked him to head up an addictions group!!! Yay! So proud & happy for him! Anyway, I desperately want to get closer to God at this time too but I find it hard with the Bible - I mean, where do I start, you know? I tend to read snippets then think that's enough for the day, so my reading's all over the place!
Any advice would be much appreciated! Thx!
2006-07-26 02:15:17 · 17 answers · asked by Bridezilla 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
You sound like the two of you are searching and it's definetely in the right direction. You won't go wrong improving you lives by using the Bible as you guide. Remember that we are human, but God has a plan for us all. He knows our hearts. Take on changes slowly as far as weight loss and improving ourselves physically but be consistent with the godly changes you both want to make. While making these changes these problems your encountering and will continues to encounter other problems because as humans we are weak and will fall short but we are not alone and we need to remember that. When we give our problems to God and leave them there and ask for his guidance then wow he will answer our prayers the way he feels is best for us and thank goodness not what we think is the best. At this very moment you can make any changes you and your boyfriend are willing to make to improve your relationship with the Lord. God is good and he is here for us all the time, we are the ones that walk away. I hope this in some way encouraged you. If you want to email me you're more than welcome to. God Bless You both.
2006-07-26 02:27:19 · answer #1 · answered by ddy'sgrl77 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
This has honestly worked for me and dedication from your part I'm sure it will work because it was said in the Bible.
1) Pray to God and just communciate with Him
2) Praise Him for the great God that He is, even when going
through trials still just continue praising Him.
3) Thank Him for everything (it's almost the same as praising), except you thank Him for everything we usually don't think of like health, eye sight, life, and the list goes on.
4) Read the Bible everyday, in the morning, afternoon or whenever (for instance I love the new testament so much that I start from there all the time)
5) This is something most people find difficult to do but done right it's the quickest way to communicate to God and it is FASTING.
Do all these and you'll be closer to HIm. May God bless you and may His Grace fall upon you.
2006-07-26 03:54:58 · answer #2 · answered by sweetdivine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your Pastor can't help you, you need to find a new church where the gospel is preached and you see miracles.
Start reading the gospels - not just snippets but all the way through (may take you a couple of weeks) - And read them more tan once, so the word really gets inside you. Hang out with the right people - Christians who know what is right from wrong - You will soon change. But fin a good church with a strong, Bible -based leader - That is crucial
2006-07-26 02:21:38 · answer #3 · answered by Perkins 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, I congratulate you on your decision to draw closer to God. It's what He's seeking, too.
One thing that has really helped me in my study of Scripture is a good, everyday language Bible (Contemporary English, Revised Standard, etc.). If you go to a Christian bookstore, they can probably help you find the translation that best suits your needs.
Pray before you open your Bible. Ask God to open your heart and mind to what He's saying through the Scriptures. Try starting with the Gospel of John. That seems to be the one that's easiest for most people to follow as they start out.
Skipping around in your reading can be confusing and a bit dangerous. It's too easy to take something out of context.
You might also ask at that Christian bookstore if they have any study guides. These can be especially helpful for someone just starting out.
Blessings!
2006-07-26 02:37:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to my Pastor's website @ http://www.enduringtruth.org and you can download a daily Bible reading plan off the main page. Then check out some of the messages from the Catalog like Making Marriage Work, or Things Singles Do To Mess Up Their Lives, or whatever you feel led by the Spirit to check out.
Go to my website @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/ and on the Free Stuff page you can download the free e-Sword software along with different versions of the Bible, various commentaries, the KJV concordance, and a lot more all for free so that when you study the Bible you can see what the original words were and what they mean and how they are used in different passages and what scholars had to write about the verses.
If you want to listen to my Pastor before you commit to getting one of his teaching series you can hear him @ http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/enduring_truth
He's a great teacher who makes you laugh while you learn and he always leaves you encouraged to go out and live your life God's way!
2006-07-26 02:31:40 · answer #5 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, you can't force it. I tried for years to grow closer to God, and it just wasn't happening for me. There were all kinds of excuses: I didn't find a church I liked, I couldn't believe everything I was told, I was too cynical, I saw too much that shook the faint beliefs that I did hold... On and on and on.
Finally one day I just relaxed and told myself to just stop. If the faith I wanted was to be, then it would be. I'll be darned if I didn't start to see things differently. I never was big on prayer, I didn't see the point, but when I stopped trying so hard and just listened, I could totally see it.
Good luck with your relationship, it's a toughy, but it'll happen!
2006-07-26 02:22:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read the Bible. If you get bored with that, pick up some good books, there are a lot of good ones. Go to church, associate with people who share your beliefs and can encourage you. Pray. Well, email me if you want, I can tell you a few good books I've read if you're interested.
2006-07-26 02:25:47 · answer #7 · answered by mye77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you both go to a Bible study group - takes about an hour a week...
And you can both join and discuss things later - let him do what he feels God is calling him to do but please don't let pastors/priests tell you what you should do with your lives! Many people have become very bitter doing things that their 'church familiy' expects them to do?
Do you guys pray for each other?
Do you pray together and do you ask for blessings on your relationship?
You should!
2006-07-26 02:21:59 · answer #8 · answered by Chellie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
enable me merely say, congrats =) in any case. every person has those cases while they experience far far flung from the Lord. i be attentive to i've got had them. bear in mind that God is often there, yet in specific situations he maintains to be silent. have you ever heard of a few thing referred to as Footsteps interior the Sand? that's a quick poem/tale ingredient and that i think of you may examine it. merely google it and you're specific to locate it. God will try you each and every and each now and returned. even while issues are quiet, will you nonetheless be uncomplicated to him? proceed to make sure your Bible and pray, circulate to church on Sundays, artwork on getting related. once you pray, do no longer leap in and initiate talking good away. merely take a jiffy first and be quiet and nonetheless. "Be nonetheless and be attentive to that i'm God." Do you have a Bible yet? in case you do no longer, get one. in case you do, dive into it. Get a highlighter or a pen and shop it the place you shop your Bible and don't be afraid to mark any and all verse which you like or that circulate you. and finally "Be blissful continually; pray continuously,provide thank you in all cirumstances, for that's God's will for you in Christ Jesus." a million Thessalonians 5: sixteen-18
2016-11-03 00:53:50 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Communion is the best way for Christians to become closer to God.
Also, there are many "churches", but only one real Church of Christ. I'm an Orthodox Christian, and I believe that Orthodox Christian Church is the one formed by God. Maybe you should try to think about that topic.
Best regards from Belgrade!
2006-07-26 02:27:23 · answer #10 · answered by Mile 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋