Years ago I went to a church where everyone was happy and the doctrine that was taught if you ask for Gods protection no harm will come to you. I also was taught both directly and indirectly that if I do everything right, read my Bible, Pray, save myself for marraige I would be blessed. I am blessed because God loves me but I have gone through some firey trials over the years and as a result I have had to reevaluate my realtionship with God, I have learned the hard way there are no quarentees and bad things do happen to good people.
My question is how can I start to change and be realistic about God and faith and How can I renew my mind from the false hopes and prentesnes that I was taught?
2006-09-12 06:54:59 · 21 answers · asked by encourager4God 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
no matter how much you read your Bible, pray or how much faith you have, God never promised us an easy life. God said He would always be there but it doesn't mean we won't have trials & tribulations in your life. I really believe that faith gives us the ability to keep going during those trials.Continue to pray & ask God to give you the strength, courage and faith to get through those tough times...He will help you.
2006-09-12 07:01:16 · answer #1 · answered by vanhammer 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Romans 12:1-2:
Romans 12
A Living Sacrifice to God
1And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
I would strongly recommend reading God's word for yourself.
Study it, get to know it. Use a translation that is easy to read and understand; one that you will use and apply to your life. Pray and draw nearer to God.
***The World Translation is not a translations from the original manuscripts***
God never said it would be easy. Jesus said we live in a troubled world. That is more true today than ever before. Jesus said He would always be with us and never leave us as orphans. He is faithful and true to His word! John 14:18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you.
Thank God for standing with us in our storms. You know sometimes, He will stop the storm. Sometimes, He stands besides while it blows over.
I would also recommend finding a Spirit filled Church. One that teaches from the Holy Bible only; one that urges a relationship with Jesus Christ and one that pushes away from religion and "rules" of you must do this, this or this to be holy and acceptable to God / Jesus. He loves us, no matter what.
We are all a work in progress!
Religion is man's way of trying to reach God.
Relationship is God's way of reaching us, through Jesus Christ.
Grace to you and God Bless!!!
2006-09-12 07:03:54 · answer #2 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there are very few of us that have been taught the truth of God's word. We seek God thru reading the Bible and praying for Him to give us understanding.We have to unlearn the lies that we were taught in our youth.The only way to do this is to renew our mind by letting the truth of Gods word convince us of how we are like the world then we can see ourselves the way we really are and confess; then Holy Spirit begins to change us from the inside out.
2006-09-12 07:16:35 · answer #3 · answered by darlin4071 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't get what you expect us to answer? Why do you need to find Book, Chapter, Verse & Line to guide your life. Can you think of a tribe of people who ware no clothes and have no books? How do you think they deal with God. You make your civilized life too complicated. Back to basics " one day at a time" And find a poem called the Desiderata. Naw here It is:
Go placidly admid the noise and haste & remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possiable without surrender be on good terms with all people.
Speak your truth quietly & clearly, and listen to others , even the dull & ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid the loud and agressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain & bitter, for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep intrest in your own creer, however humble , it is a real possession in the changings fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But, let this not blind you to what virtue there is, many persons strive for high ideal,s and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be your self.
Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity & disenchantmentit it is perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully srurrendering the things of youth.
Nurture stringth of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars, you have a right to be here.
And whether it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefor be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy. Max Ehrmann 1927
2006-09-12 07:53:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right. Christians are not magically spared from trials, pain and tribulation once we become Christians. If it happened to Job, Moses, Abraham, the 12 disciples, Paul, etc., then it can happen to us and we are not exempt from suffering in this world. One thing God knows about each one of us – is the load we are able to bear. And He will not permit that which we cannot endure.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
As Christians, we are called upon to serve God and to be changed. The Christian life is not to be lived out as we once lived.
Learn more about this passage here:
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2320
2006-09-12 07:19:01 · answer #5 · answered by TY 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Search for the truth found in the Bible. For example, Ecclesiastes 9:11 says that time and unforseen occurance befall us all. So good people may get hurt and die just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is very commendable that you have a relationship with God. Keep searching for the truth and your faith will be renewed and strengthened.
2006-09-12 06:59:33 · answer #6 · answered by 1big teddy graham 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are verses in the Bible that talk about God protecting us, and yet bad things happen. I've wondered about that, too, getting a little upset about it, God says He's going to protect us and then bad things happen, what's that about?
I've since realized that the point of many of those verses is that we can trust that no one can harm us without God's consent. In the days the Bible was written, ppl were more aware of the spiritual realm, and there was more worry about demons or other spirits harming you, and they sometimes offered sacrifices to keep the gods happy so those spirits wouldn't harm them.. Those verses were written to assure them that those spirits can't take you away from God. God is in complete control, and no spirit can take you from Him. In fact, even Satan is on a leash. When he tested Job, God said he couldn't harm him for one test, then that he couldn't kill him. Even the evil spirits who want to harm us can't go farther than God allows them to. He controls even them. So, don't worry about being taken away from God. Know that God allows bad things to happen to draw us closer to Him and to refine out bad qualities in us, to make us better ppl. Use those hard times to forge a better relationship with Jesus.
2006-09-12 07:02:16 · answer #7 · answered by STEPHEN J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find your self a good lawyer and sue. Then follow your own faith and goodness, for belief in yourself is the only way to go. Just be the sort of person you want to be. have true morality, that only comes from your heart, help to make this a beter place to live in.
Simply be, the sort of person you would like as a friend. then you will be the sort of friend everyone will want to be aquainted with. Then you shall be truly righteous.
2006-09-12 07:06:39 · answer #8 · answered by kelly 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Prayer and humility
Romans 12
1I 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.
2And 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.
2006-09-12 06:57:06 · answer #9 · answered by Robert K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Bad things can happen to good people. Jesus never promised us a rose garden. Look at the life of the Apostles, they were not living on ez street here. Despite all the apostles went thru they were still faithful to Jesus.
2006-09-12 06:58:48 · answer #10 · answered by WhatIf 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋