Came to believe? How does one build his faith.?

Question

I once had little, then had none, now have some, but want more. I am a very scientific type, have a hard time with many religious beliefs but am very willing and trying to have an open mind. I once had no faith, in fact I was a very angry and defient person all around. Life got impossibly miserable for me and forced me into resonableness. I now have the willingness to believe, I asked "god" for help, help came, I was dragged from my own personal hell by a force I cannot understand or wrap my mind around. I want to be sure I am following the right road, I ask for help and guidence daily. I would like some input into how others have built there faith and what to expect. I do read the bible. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I have three pieces of advice for you:

1) Don't just read your Bible...investigate it: turn it inside out; read it in context; read between the lines; try to fully understand what God is saying; read the Old Testament in context of the New.

2) Pray to God - not with a list of items you want, but converse with Him. Tell Him your doubts. Be honest with Him. And try to build a relationship with Him.

3) Join a group of believers. The church of Acts encouraged and helped one another. Although I'm sure disagreements arose, sin leapt forward and imperfections annoyed one another, they supported and built each other up. We are supposed to live this Christian life together.

I thank you for keeping your open mind. God wants openness - with true openness, God will reveal His truth to you in time.

Answer 2

Hi Denis,I can relate to what you have said,I too went through the same experience and it was only when I was at rock bottom that I cried out to God and He did not abandon me,I once heard a song by Leonard Cohen and in it the lyrics said this;
`There is a crack,a crack in everything, that`s how the light gets in`
Somehow we need to experience an event in our lives that leaves us utterly helpless and broken and without any self power to begin our journey into God.
I do not however get bogged down in the faith thing,Jesus remarked that if we only had a little faith that we could move mountains,of course other will always seem to have more and stronger faith than us, but what of it we are all unique, it is what we do with the faith that we have that is really important.
I feel also that as individuals we all progress on this faith journey in stops and starts,trials and error, but we can only really progress at all if we stay connected with God in daily prayer, also I think that great solace and comfort can be had by reading the Psalms and the Gospels whenever we can, in the Psalms we can see how the writers experience the whole up`s and down`s of this life,and how they sometimes have to just cling on by their very fingertips and wait on the Lord.
The whole Passion and death of Jesus is really a personal gift of love and salvation for all of us that we should meditate on often,whenever this world leaves us despondant and losing hope the fact that Christ died for each and everyone of us has to make a difference I think to our tendancy to despair and give up the fight.
This pilgrimage of life is for all of us like a roller-coaster and no mistake,keep it in your heart alway`s that Jesus is now in your corner and no other gift in your life is going to surpass this fact.
Hope this may be of some help,God bless you.

Answer 3

I spent 11 yrs of my life as a ministers wife. I am divorced now and remarrying.
I have learned much about "christian people"
I have seen much, been hurt by much, healed from a bunch and grown a ton.
Here is my ADVICE:
DO NOT think a CHURCH will be the place you find God.
Every one can pray....He would LOVE to listen to you and He will accept you no matter what!
People will be fickle and mess up, they need grace- so extend grace to those even if none is recieved in return.
My answer again, is pray.
He doesn't need anyone's help to reach you, His arms are already open.
If you do find people to sharpen and define your faith with you, you have found good friends for a life's journey.
much hope I give you.
=)

Answer 4

Stay in the Word of God. The Bible helps us to increase our faith. We all want more faith and when I have asked for more faith the Lord gives it by trial or dream. Always record your dreams and read your recordings often, so you will see the dreams playing out in life. You will start seeing parking spots opening up just for you. Sometimes God makes life really easy for awhile, but suffering when you are out of you - is when God shows up, steps in and faith is increased because you know that you know that you know - you couldn't do it.

God will actually put words in your mouth sometimes and you don't know where those words came from.

There is a verse in the Bible that says "Call on Me and I will show you great and mighty things." Ask God to fulfill this promise that He gives in His word. Keep asking until God answers. God likes for us to continually ask until He delivers.
I got up one morning to a ball of light that I had never seen before in my life and have never seen since. This happened at 3:00 a.m. God likes for us to seek Him early.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Focus on the needs of others.

Know that trials will come and you'll be ready to face them in patience and hope.Don't let others steal your hope and new-found peace.

When you're ready... Ask Heavenly Father to guide you to His church. Do your best to build your family up! Be patient with yourself, but not complacent. Pray with a willing heart and real intent to your Loving Father in Heaven to help you know what He would have you do.

You seem to be on the right track...Keep at it! I'm so happy for you!

Answer 6

Get good teaching as much as you can by anointed teachers of God and your faith will grow.

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.

Attend and be active in a good Spirit-filled church, taking Communion, pray, praise and worship God alone and in fellowship will help you grow in your relationship with God and His people.

God be with you and bless you.

Answer 7

Sounds to me like you are doing what you need to do.

You'll never know for certain until you pass from this life into whatever lays beyond for us all.

Be moral. Be ethical. Live by the Golden Rule and you'll have peace within yourself and whatever God is out there will not disappoint you.

Answer 8

Prayer...lots and lots of prayer. The willingness to 'be still and know that I AM'. The willingness to learn to listen to that small voice.

And if you have someone to talk to, a spiritual director, that is helpful too.

I wish you well on your journey.




Julian - that's not insulting - it's true. Peace.

Answer 9

Continue to read your Bible.

Ask Jesus to come into your heart and guide you through your life.
Ask for forgiveness of your sins.

You won't be disappointed.

If find my Faith grows each day, because I learn something new every day.

It helps to be around other believers for encouragement.

Just always remember its all about Christ, not religion.

Answer 10

I like to compare faith to a seed. If you try it out a little and nurture it to grow, it begins to take root and sprout a little. They more you exercise faith and try it out, the more that seed grows and progresses.

By "experimenting" upon God's word and trying it out, you will see what it does for you and you can see it sprout and leave and take hold upon the soil of your life.

Faith begets more faith.