As Christians are there signs in our journey to a closenes to God.?

Question

I came back to God after leaving the church at 19. I'm 31 and have been a firm christian for four years, i have had trials and tribulations and am having that have made my eyes water, cried and got emotional loads, and things are just getting hot now baby. This year has been amazing. Shocking, Frightening, Inredible, but the journey isn't over. I got questions, NO TEXT BOOK ANSWERS PLEASE, OBSERVATIONS AND SEARCHING PLEASE.

Answer 1

I think there are and they are unique to each person. I would say you are on the right track though. Satan tends to assault that which threatens him and he is losing you.

Answer 2

My journey has been a bit of a roller coaster as well. I will tell you my experience, and hope it isn't too textbook for you.

The key is The Fruit of The Spirit. This actually decribes the personality of The Holy Spirit, which becomes more and more a part of our personality. That in mind, here is a quick "quiz" that may help.

Love - Do you love those you used to not get on with? Do you love the outcasts of society? How easy do you find it is to forgive others or to accept forgiveness?

Joy - Do you have a positive attitude to life? Even when things should normally get you down? Do you find that, sometimes, you sail through troubled situations untouched by them?

Peace - Do you find that, when some crisis is looming, you approach it knowing it will all work out despite appearances and evidence to the contrary?

Goodness - Are you positive about other people? Do you encourage others rather than judge or criticise?

Kindness - Do you serve other people? Do you give gifts secretly or do a job just because it needs to be done, not that it is your job to do it?

Faithfulness - Do you always do those things that you say you are going to do? Even if it means you have to go out of your way to do it? Even if it costs you in some way?

Patience - If someone does something wrong to you againand again, are you as quick to forgive them the hundredth time as the first? Are you patient with yourself, accepting that, as you are not perfect, you will make mistakes?

Gentleness - Are you unaffected by insults and praise? Do you respond to other peoples anger with a quiet word or do you get into a shouting match? Do you suffer from self-pity or a lack of self worth?

Self-Control - Are you able to pass up those things that you love to do something more important? If you have the choice of going to the movies with your friends and seeing a relative in hospital, which do you choose?

Answer 3

The great thing about the trials in our lives as Christians, it that they act in the same way for our souls, the way lifting weights do for our bodies. Consider the trials and tribulations in your life, like a spritual workout. Praise the Lord for all of them, because they build your faith, and your spirit. You build resistance against satan and his tricks and traps, because you are more aware that the triasl and tribultions are all products to weaken your faith in God. Dont give satan any power over you mind, body or heart and soul like that.
Do not give satan power over your faith. But draw more strength from your relationship with Jesus every day, by talking to Jesus, more and more every day. Even though you cannot see Jesus with your eyes , you can see and feel Him with your heart and soul. Jesus will lift you up from the inside as a true sign in your journey, that you are becoming closer and closer to Him and His Father.

Spend some quiet time alone every day, and pray. Make that you and Jesus time alone to just share the space together. After you say something to Him, spend some time in silence and allow your heart to feel what Jesus is saying to you. This takes time and patients and practice. And above all, Do not let satan steal your joy of being a child of God. Because you are a Child of a king. Prasie the Lord.

Answer 4

I agree with other posts, your own journey is unique, but the fruits of the Spirit are the same. God has drawn me really close to him recently. I have been very fearful and afraid to trust him in the past., and I have been trying to control my own life instead of trusting him. I had something I really wanted taken away from me and I came to a place when I was trapped between fears about my life's direction. Yet this turned into a blessing. God has taken me into his Father heart and love. My trust in him is growing and I am not controlled by fear anymore. I have seen he is the expression of complete love and I am feeling a peace I never had before. It will be a long journey to be completely free of fear but it will be worth it. Hope that helps!

Answer 5

First, I am so very happy to read you've come back to your faith!

The answer to your question is yes -- and you're experiencing one of the most dramatic proofs of that right now. God is using these trials to bring you closer to Him. All too often, people are told that the Christian life is easy, blessed and problem-free; however, they are never told that God tests us in order to strengthen our faith and build our dependence upon Him.

These trials and tribulations are undoubtedly designed by God to do just that. At this time, remember Paul's advice and "in all things, give thanks." Each and every morning when you wake up, praise God and thank Him for what He's done (and doing) in your life. Acknowledge to your Heavenly Father that, although these circumstances are painful, you realize He's doing this out of love; you left Him before and He must strengthen your faith, or you'll fail again. Pray to Him continuously throughout the day about EVERYTHING. Regularly read His Word, the Bible, to give you strength and inspiration. But don't just read it -- incorporate His Word within yourself and understand that Book you're holding is His love letter to you! Develop a deep feeling of love and respect for Him, and grow to understand how He thinks and what He wants from you. Once you've come to a place in your faith where you can honestly say you're completely dependent upon Him for all things, you've reached the place where He wants you to be.

If you do these things, before you know it, your life will change DRAMATICALLY. I can't promise this will happen right away, but I can promise this: it WILL happen!

May God bless and keep you.

Answer 6

I believe that the closer you are to God, the more like Christ you will be. Your actions and the way you handle the difficult situations that you face, indicate how spiritually mature or close to God that you have become. Trials come to everyone, whether close to God or far away. Are we able to remain at peace when trouble comes to us? Do we trust God when we don't get the answer to prayer that we want? These all attest to our spiritual growth. And, of course, our continuous improvement in overcoming sin in our life and the time that we spend in prayer and bible reading and doing what he asked, are also signs.

Answer 7

One sign is if the enemy is working overtime to destroy you. The harder he's working, the more likely it is for you to be strong in God.
He's not after the world because he already has them. He's after the children of the Most High.

If you have questions, you can contact me and I will try my best to help.
I have a website at www.cryingwisdom.com that I'm working on. You can read some of the understandings I have, "about me" and FAQ.
If you like what you see, then drop me a line.

Answer 8

First there was elation, hope & confidence. Next came evangelicalism, EVERYONE should and needs to do what im doing and if your not...well, i'll pray for you. Next my ego took over and i became the same person i always was, only now I did it in church. I wanted to be thought of as "spritual", highly regarded, etc. I did things to be noticed, not because I wanted to be helpful. I got my feelings hurt and I was critical of others shortcomings. I gossiped and tore down the leadership of my church.

Answer 9

Conflict, i think, is a good indication that i am being drawn closer to Him... a sign of progress,if you will, but there are no standard experiences that show your journey. Ask Him to lead you to a learned Spiritual Director,you will benefit greatly

Answer 10

I think suffering continues throughout life. Some of the things I suffer are undeserved, some are my own fault. I find the book of Job helpful as it is about a person struggling to find answers to the pain he is feeling...

Answer 11

Closeness to God, I'd say signs and miracles are a pretty good indication that your close to God. People who walk in faith experience these sorts of things all the time. I'd like to say I'm one of those people, but I suppose my faith isn't strong enough yet!