Spirituality, becoming closer with God?

Question

Religions have been argued over for centuries. Everyone and has the right to believe in their own God. Also, everyone believes THEIR God is the right one. I was born and raised from a Christian mother. Although I do believe in what most Christians believe, I don't believe in all. Christians please don't misunderstand. I love you all. It's just that the Christian religion has so many people interpreting the bible in their own way, which made it hard for me. I decided from this, I just want to be closer with God. No special religion, just HIM. I'm only 19 and been having a rough time in life lately, and I know that the only person I can turn to is Him since my mother passed away. I've been fasting lately (to humble myself, not starve). I've been praying constantly and meditating. My question is how do I become closer with God? Can you give me advice on what more I could do, or even a website that could help me on my journey to becoming one with Him? Serious answers only please. God Bless

Answer 1

I am sorry about your rough time. It's got to be hard. But allow me to counsel you about going it alone.

Jesus established the Church as His Body on the earth for a reason. To be a community of believers, so that each could be encouraged in the faith, and cared for during crisis or tragedy.

The reason it is the way it is, can be seen using an analogy that we see in nature. The enemy, Satan, does not fight fairly. No, instead, he and his minions are likened as pack animals, such as wolves, hyenas, and the like.

When pack animals are hunting prey, they follow a flock or herd of whatever animal they are stalking. They follow from a distance, and wait for the sick, or weak or lame to fall from the herd or flock. It is then that they strike.

The same is true for the Christian. Separated from the Body of believers, the Christian is easy prey for the devil. You will feel isolated, and as though God either doesn't care, or doesn't exist. And your faith suffers.

Fasting is a wonderful exercise to put yourself in a position to hear His voice. But it is not and end all in the Christian life. God doesn't expect you to jump through religious hoops, nor looks for ecstatic experiences. God looks for you to be faithful to Him. Learning his Word, becoming like Him. Prayer is the way to not only be heard, but to hear from Him.

If it is truly Him that you want, and not some gee whiz experience, or goose bump episode, then He will meet you where you are.

Answer 2

Well, it sounds like you've been trusting Him pretty well throughout your life, so just do it now. But i must warn you if you haven't truly with all your hear accepted Him as your personal savior, by admitting you were wrong and you're willing to give all of you to Him. Plus believing truly that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and is living today, there's not much he will do for you. Everyone may interpret the Bible in their way but there's only one true interpretation...God's, His opinion on everything should be the only thing that matters. Just trust Him and He will come through for you. Another thing, God has ways of answering questions, sometimes it's a yes, sometimes a no, or alot of times it's a maybe or just wait and i'll tell you when you need to know. God Bless. <><

Answer 3

First I want to say I am truly sorry for the loss of your mother.
I remember what is was like to be 19 and it was one of the hardest hurtful times in my life.

I would encourage you to read the Bible daily there are a lot of good devotions even ones you get read on line my manna is very good.

Second Let yourself be loved by God you are going through a VERY difficult time if you are angry be honest with God. A Christan grief counseling ministry may be helpful to you.

Also pray to God about everything and just rest in him. I have been a christian over 21 years and some parts of the Bible I choke on meaning I have a hard time accepting and I appreciate your honesty.

I am praying for you,

Encourager for God

Answer 4

You can only get closer to God through Jesus Christ, which I hope you already know. Read the Bible anew. Forget all that you've heard as far as interpretations go and ask the Holy Spirit Himself to explain the true meaning and He will.
Look even into other beliefs too and you'll see there flaws. Yes some may have truths about them but it's only mans own ideas and reasoning's.

If you are curious about why I personally believe in Jesus Christ as the only way feel free to e-mail me and I'll tell you.

Answer 5

You are on the right path. Prayer and constant communication with Him is the best thing you can do. The Bible is a great tool but it is not the answer. Christ said before leaving "I will send you the comforter (holy spirit) to teach you all things", he did not say I will send you a book to read. Religion has nothing to do with God. God is the only one that you should ever rely on.

Ask Him to lead you, ask Him to open your eyes to his truths, beg for forgiveness and to truly know Him. Ask to hear his voice and feel His presence. He will answer you. Keep seeking.

Though not finished I think my site may help you. You can also contact me through it and I can e-mail you lessons on things such a prayer and hearing Him.

Please be careful in who you trust, most church goers believe the same stuff, tru Christianity always has been and always will be an unaccepted minority.

Very sorry for your loss. Though never easy, sometimes bad things happen to make us turn to God.

Answer 6

You're on the right track.

Even though most religions focus on how they are the superior religion, I think they fail to realize how Zen-like Jesus was.

Don't rush things. Christians today are always trying to get to the next level, and although that should be a goal, maybe we're just not ready to move on. Our fast paced society has given us spiritual ADD. Although we shouldn't be complacent, we shouldn't try to move on.

Are you worshiping the Lord? I suggest going to church, even if you don't particularly like the religion. It's good for the soul to be around other people that are worshiping.

People will suggest stuff to you all day long, but only you can find the right thing for you.

Answer 7

I used to be LDS but I to had a problem with the bible and decided to leave my religion. I find that God is all around every where with a person no matter what faith they. I believe as long as you recognize this and you strive to better yourself, you will become closer to God. Through good and bad God has his hand in it, you must trust that he is leading you down the right path. Just my personal experience. Good Luck in your search.

Answer 8

Prayer and fasting are 2 of the simplest ways to get closer to God. The Lord also says "ask and it will be done", notice it doesn't say "pray and it will be done", so also just talk to the Lord.

Christian faith tells us if we earnestly seek the Lord, He will be there for us.

I think I understand what you are saying, you just want to worship the Lord and not necessarily belong to a certain denomination and that I'm sure is fine with the Lord! Good Luck and God Bless You!!

Answer 9

Well, I am 23 and have just recently learned how to get myself closer to God. (Sorry about your mother.) The only advice that I can give you is to keep doing what you are doing. (Don't over do the fasting though. LOL) I thank God everytime that something happens to me. I discuss all of my plans and problems with Him as much as possible. The key thing to remember is that God wants you to come to Him with everything. Nothing is too small or too big for God. He loves it when we are willing to share every small detail of our days. (Especially since He already knows about it anyway.) Good luck with what you are doing and God Bless.

Answer 10

I'm not as close as I want to be with God. And I do have a pretty tight relationship. He's brought me through a lot. And I'm grateful. But the more I come to know Him, the more I realize there's so much more to know, and it only makes me want to know Him more.

Honestly, the only way to know God is one-on-one. Everybody has their own opinion as to how to get closer to God - including me. But I haven't seen anybody walking on the water lately, have you? No publisher of a book or web site that I know of has walked on the water. And I haven't walked on the water, either. Maybe after I've walked on the water I'll have something to say worthwhile about drawing closer to God. Maybe not. Why take a chance on me or anyone else?

So instead of giving you my words of advice, even though you're not sure about Christianity, you can count on the words of the Bible. So I'm just going to tell you what Jesus said and leave it at that:

Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you. Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

I like the way the Amplified Bible says it:

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [the door] will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7-8