I feel like I am praying just to get though the motions because I know I need to. I read my bible but I am not absorbing what I should. I have questions but not a good support system right now to turn to and ask my questions. I feel like God is calling me to be closer to him but I just keep putting him off. What is my problem? Does any one have suggestions for a good bible study, or something to get me out of this spiritual yuck?
2007-01-02 08:47:45 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
well if it is true you are only praying because you "think" that is what you have to do, I would say that is your first problem. In my opinion he does not like robots, he wants you to come to him because you want to. And some times when you just keep asking questions, your not going to hear an answer because you keep talking. It is a two way road, if you feel over whelmed about your questions, just relax, and focus on one big one, or even stop for all of them.
When I first started studying I did the same thing, question after question and felt like I was being ignored. So I backed off and soon the answers just started coming to me, either from random people I met, or new places, or even the same places I read in the bible.
2007-01-02 08:52:51 · answer #1 · answered by allaboutme_333 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello Deedledee,
I would suggest that you get involved with a local church where they have a weekly bible study group, Also on Sunday there is Sunday School groups. This is where I get my spiritual growth. I understand what you mean when you say you are just prayer to ge though the motions.
The reason I felt that way was because I was not growing in the word of God, so you get this feeling of being disconnected from God. If you feel like God is calling you to get closer to you then it is very important that you listen to his voice and find a local Church where you can worship the lord and study his word.
There is know other support system other then the church, study groups and bible study. Here is a number to a pray line (1-800-204-3772), Prayer partners are available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday thought Friday.
If you call when they are busy praying with others, you can leave your request on voice mail and you will be prayed for, by name and need. The name of this minister is called PLUS (the power of faith) A Guideposts Publication by Norman Vincent Peale.
2007-01-02 17:14:31 · answer #2 · answered by Lil bit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might start looking for a small women's Bible class where they really do spend the time looking for answers from God...and not just talking about others.
Besides asking God every day to lead you to such a class, you might also ask a friend who at least seems to have an interest in getting closer to God.
Or, you may have to visit a few Christian churches near you and look for one where the the Bible is the center of teaching and the members show real love for one another and to you.
James 1:4-8
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(from New International Version)
God DOES answer prayer...all the time.
2007-01-02 17:46:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is one of the classic questions of spirituality!
On the one hand, God is everywhere. So the question isn't whether God is present, it is whether we are aware of Her presence.
On the other hand, it is legitimate to ask what kinds of situations or practices help you to feel God's presence most fully. You might want to try some forms of meditative prayer, or perhaps forms of prayer based on listening patiently for whispers from God rather than a recitation of words.
In the end, prayer should be about a relationship with God, IMHO. This should include both speaking and listening. But I think we benefit most from the listening part.
Blessings and best wishes to you.
2007-01-02 17:06:22 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are in the spiritual doldrums - where nothing seems to move. I've been there - it's not fun. Perhaps what is most needed is silence - be still and allow God to reveal Himself to you.
If you're an American, yours is a life of noise. Go somewhere for a day where you can be in the quiet, by yourself, with no one and nothing around, and calm your mind. Think of the small, still voice in 2 Kings 17.
2007-01-02 17:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by Veritatum17 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should try exploring other belief structures and techniques-- Zen Buddhism, paganism, etc-- not to convert, but to see other ways of joining with the Spirit. Many people, myself included, find that kneeling by theri beds every night just isn't doing it for them. Try going out into the desert or woods for a walk, and just thinking on the beauty of God's creation. The Bible has great advice, but if you're needing an extra bit of oomph to get you motivated spiritually, you need to put down the Book and be out in the world looking for tiny miracles. I am not Christian, but folks of all faiths have this problem from time to time. I could never sit down with my hands folded, and start in on a "Dear God" conversation.
Try meditation instead. -- Close your eyes in a quiet room and just think about all the blessings in your life and thank your God for all of them. --Think on the phrase "God is Love," and remind yourelf of all the love you receive and give every day. --Following the order of Creation in Genesis, each day think about the things that were created on that day. --Try to visualize Jesus overturning the moneychangers' stands in the Temple, or the journeys of the Israelites through the desert with Moses (what did manna really feel like in your hands, how would it taste, for example), and really let your imagination run wild.
2007-01-02 16:57:56 · answer #6 · answered by Angela M 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
god will be ready for you when you are, somehow or another you would rather push away from a closer relationship with the divine, once you are ready to head over in god's direction, the big man upstairs will be waiting for you, hope it works out for you
2007-01-02 17:02:29 · answer #7 · answered by relaxin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
umm well im telling you from personal experience that you cannot go by fellings usually what i do is pray even tho i dont want to or go to church even though i dont want to and usually god touches me its ok just a little spiritual battle :)
2007-01-02 16:57:42 · answer #8 · answered by dessire 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In your own words:
I am praying just to get though the motions because I know I need to.
I read my bible but I am not absorbing what I should.
I feel like God is calling me to be closer to him but I just keep putting him off.
What is my problem?
The problem is your heart.
John 4.23-24
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth."
In this text, the word worship technically means to bow in reverence with a heart of admiration that honors the office and the person.
But the hidden wisdom is much deeper.
To worship God the Father in spirit is to actually COMMUNE with your Dad from the heart by being raw with Him about what matters to you most.
With the hidden wisdom revealed by translating the word worship to commune, the deeper meaning becomes clear.
John 4.23-24
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall (commune with) the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to (commune with) him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that (commune with) him must (commune with) [him] in spirit and in truth."
Communion is having a deep philosophical discussion with your Dad about the meaning of things both big and small. Your dad is a Master of detail - just look at His design of DNA (over a billion chemicals in something invisible to the naked eye that shaped your body). You are inviting your Dad to your secret place to engage Him in intimate conversation about what is important to Him, what He thinks, and why what is important to Him is - just to know Him.
John 17.3
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Jeremiah 9.23, 24
"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD."
The most important thing to your Dad is that you know Him. The only way for you to know Him is that He reveals Himself to you.
John 14.21, 23
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
Christ is saying that those who seek to learn and know His commandments to willfully choose to voluntarily live them from the heart without reward, love Him; and it is such individuals to whom both the Father and Christ loves more intimately and to whom both the Father and Christ voluntarily approaches, to join Themselves with in communion, fellowship, and friendship, to give the gift of Themselves in an intimate relationship, where Christ manifests (reveals) Himself (and the Father) to them.
John 14.9
"Jesus saith unto him, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
James 4.8
"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."
You also said:
"I have questions but not a good support system right now to turn to and ask my questions."
What do you think communion with your Dad is for?
It is to know Him when He reveals Himself to you when you ask Him questions and you study His answers, and then you take those answers and ask Him more questions about the answers. This is the "Revelation Relationship" that you will have with your Dad through the Holy Spirit - Who IS God and is EQUAL to The Father and The Word.
The Holy Spirit is Who indwells us when we are born again, and He is our interface with Christ and The Father.
John 14. 16-17, 26; John 16.13
(16, 17) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
(26) But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (16:13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
Romans 8.26, 27
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God."
Without God the Holy Spirit, you cannot commune with The Father or Christ intimately, neither can you understand the Bible without the Holy Spirit interpreting its hidden wisdom (no matter how you study the Bible).
I Corinthians 2
"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
The Word of God is the expression of God's thoughts and ways, which transcends man.
Isaiah 55.8-9
"For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
God gave us the Bible as a BEGINNING of the knowledge of God - not the END - for God Himself is the END of the knowledge of God (from Whom you learn about Himself, His thoughts and ways, and His principles hidden within His commandments, to convert them into a your way of thinking, your way of being, and your way of living, as He changes your heart into His heart).
When you study the Bible, you ask God the Holy Spirit to bring to your attention what He wants to teach you, and to put questions in your heart to ask Him about what you notice, and questions about God and His principles. When you ask them, God the Holy Spirit will relay the information between you and The Father and the Word.
Whatever God teaches you, ask Him to change your heart and harmonize it with the principles He reveals to you, so that you will live His principles from your heart as an expression of who you are.
But remember, communion with your Dad is intimate and honest. So when you talk to God, don't call Him God, call Him Dad, and be raw with Him in your own words from the heart. Just be yourself without pretense. Let your hair down with your Dad. And talk to Him in your thoughts where you are.
If you don't know how to know Him, that is what you ask Him to teach you. If you don't know how to have a relationship with your Dad, and that is what you want, ask Him to give you His heart, so that you can commune with Him in spirit and in truth.
The key is simplicity. As a daughter is with her father, who loves her dad and says, "Daaad...." Be that way with God, YOUR DAD.
That is all He wants and expects from you.
Matthew 18.1-4
"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Someone asked this question:
Do you pray or talk to God?
Pray as in Our Fathers, Hail Marys etc...Talking as in conversing with God, silently of course...why?
My answer was chosen as the best answer:
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
I don't "pray" to God as if He is some mystical being "somewhere out there" - hoping that He will be merciful to me and "listen to and answer my prayer" as if He is some type of cosmic Santa Claus.
I am a "son of God" who is "born of God" who is adopted by God; by which I have taken on the "family name". So I have "communion" with my "Dad" as His son; and fellowship with Him continuosly in my thought life.
As His son, I am responsible to Him for exploring Him to know Him, asking Him questions about Himself and about everything He revealed in scripture that He provided to me (to talk to Him about), and conversing philosphically with Him about the meaning of things - to learn the principles of life (that governs life) in harmony with His being, to know them to live them; and to personally know Him as my Dad (Who just happens to be God) as a living Person Who adopted me - to understand what He values and why the things He say are important to Him.
After all, He IS the TRUE and the LIVING God.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AprmaS.EoX4LUS7Cxqczfgnsy6IX?qid=1006042714391&show=7#profile-info-AA11179268
2007-01-02 16:54:31 · answer #9 · answered by Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋