Im 21, and after attenting church once, the second time i changed over to become a Christian in which i surrendered my life to God. I feel really lost and confused a day after now.
I feel my life has become an empty shell now. I feel really goody goody, where before i was the naughty boy chatting up pretty girls in clubs and getting drunk, working out on my body and style. Now the feeling has gone away. Religion has taken away the pleasures that i once felt, and it feels a little depressing.
I feel my life has become an empty shell, and whilst i still believe in the power of Christ, i feel my surrender has come to early. I feel i want to revert back to old ways but my will wont allow me
Please help.
2007-04-30 05:43:14 · 24 answers · asked by Saywhaaat 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why not try a healthy balance? It seems like you are jumping too deep into either side. If religion makes you happy, do it, but don't let it take over you life. No reason to give up going out and having fun (if you don't let it rule your life). Just try to enjoy everything in moderation. Try to create a healthy balance. Believers will tell you to devote 100% of your life to Jesus, non-believers will tell you to devote 0% of your life. You have to figure it out for yourself and don't listen to others. My advice is a balance that makes you happy. It sounds like you had an empty life and tried to fill the empty feelings with religion. Maybe there are other alternatives to make you feel more fulfilled, like volunteer work, spending time with family, a new hobby like painting, ect. Religion is not always the answer.
2007-04-30 05:50:04 · answer #1 · answered by Justin 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Thanks for turning over your life to God.
Its not an easy process - and for you, its probably more dramatic than for most. It takes time to mold your character after Christ's - thats okay. Just read the word, be in prayer and join a group of other believers.
Remember, where once sin filled your life and gave you earthly pleasures, the Holy Spirit now fills you and will give you joy. Christianity is not supposed to make you feel depressed - its instead supposed to fill you with utter joy. You'll feel this as you live your life in worship to God and when you worship together with other believers.
As for life...as a Christian, you are to turn away from sin. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun. Did I stop talking to friends, playing basketball, dancing or working out when I became a Christian? No - I just tried to do everything for God's glory. Working out can be for the glory of God - so that's why I do it (or at least I try to make that my intent). Does flirting or getting drunk? No, that doesn't glorify God - so of course, you will have to cut much of your prior life out. But certainly not everything.
God bless!
2007-04-30 06:30:52 · answer #2 · answered by TWWK 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sweetheart, Surround yourself with other Christians.
Read your Bible, starting with the New Testament. Attend church. Your church may have services on Wednesday nights. Join Sunday School class at your church. You will most likely be in a group your age.
Call the pastor of your church and discuss your feelings with him. He Should be able to help you over come this.
What you are feeling is probably more grief of the lifestyle you thought was so much fun. As a Christian you Can have just as much fun as you did before your surrendered you life... just in a different way.
2007-04-30 05:52:07 · answer #3 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What you are experiencing is 'normal' ... your 'body' and your 'memory' is still 'the old you' but the 'feeling of being a new Christian' is EXTREMELY STRONG and is 'overwhelming the old you' at this point. Try looking at your 'life' in a 'different perspective' ... and sit down and make a 'long list' of the 'things' you think a 'GOOD Christian' would do ... it could be anything from 'reading religious books' to 'making meals for the homeless' at your church or with another group. That 'list making' is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to you right now. You can still 'chat up' a pretty girl, but your 'conversation' won't be as 'dirty' as it was before ... but it also shouldn't be 'OVERTLY CHRISTIAN TALK' either, unless the girl you are 'chatting up' is also a GOOD Christian. You can ask any girl about herself and what she 'likes to do' for fun ... or what she does for a 'job' or just about ANYTHING. Your 'religious beliefs' don't have to be 'worn on your sleeve for everyone to see' and you don't have to be an 'evangelistic freak' who tries to 'push Christianity' at EVERYONE ... and you should still 'work out on your body and your style' because it is 'a good thing' to be AS HEALTHY as you can get, and 'neat, clean, and TIDY' while still being 'stylish' according to what you think is 'good taste in a style you like' ...
After awhile it will be 'easy' to just 'be a good Christian' but for now you are going to have to 'work at it' ... or your 'will' will get 'weak' and you will go back to 'living sinfully and for yourself' ... and you don't want to have that happen ... so ENJOY this 'empty feeling' you've now got, and 'fill your life with GOOD THINGS' and you'll be JUST FINE.
2007-04-30 05:55:37 · answer #4 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I hope your will wins out. At first it may seem like you have no pleasures. But I assure you if you hang in there for Jesus the pleasures of living FOR Him will FAR outweight the pleasures of living for the devil. THe Bible says you shall enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. But all seasons end. Congratulations on surrendering your life to Jesus you will find you will be much more happy. Another thing is, when you surrendered your life to Jesus the devil didn't like it because he lost a soul. So the devil is going to immediately come against you, which he already has, with feelings of depression and that "let down" feeling. God gave us authority over the devil however. All you have to do is pray. Just talk to Jesus and tell Him how your feeling and ask Him to lift your spirits. I'll be praying for you and please feel free to email me any time. I'd be glad to talk to you and answer any further questions you may have. God bless and Praise the Lord!!!!!! Welcome to the family!!!
2007-04-30 05:54:57 · answer #5 · answered by lisaandpathailey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Satan loves to do this to us, dear one. You have amazing riches in store. Get involved in your church - and begin by asking to speak to the Minister there. See if he can help you find a good Christian Mentor to help Disciple you.
Spend time in the Word. A good Bible will be a wonderful asset to you. Your Minister can show you some of His favorites.
Find out what people your age are involved with in your church - and try participating.
When you begin making friends and participating, you will feel much more fulfilled.
Ask your minister about getting a prayer partner. This is someone that can help you through the rough times as you learn more and more about Jesus.
Remember - Our God loves you SO much - He will not leave you lonely or forgotten. Please reach out, dear one, so others can reach back.
Peace precious.
2007-04-30 05:54:12 · answer #6 · answered by Depoetic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 Corinthians 10:23
[ The Believer's Freedom ] "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial.
Don't get caught up in the rules. Even though you should probably stay out of the bars your life style does not have to change that much...no one is telling you you have to give up everything you enjoy. Matter of fact I wouldn't give up anything...instead I would pray and just talk to God about it. Ask him to make his wants your wants his needs your needs etc...allow him to take out of your life what he wants out.
Don't know where you live but if you're in a decent sized town get yourself plugged into a college age ministry. Allot of AG churches have them. You don't have to be in school to participate. You will make good Christian friends and even pretty girls to chat up. Being a Christian does not have to be boring...have fun and enjoy life!
2007-04-30 12:12:57 · answer #7 · answered by † H20andspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I appreciate your transparency and willingness to speak about your struggles; this testimony will help others who might be going through the same thing. With that said your situation is a perfect example of why so many people get disillusioned with Christianity. They go into a relationship with Christ thinking that life is going to get so much better now that they’re a believer and the problem is that so many Christians support that rose-tinted belief. There is a high drop out rate in Christianity because of that belief and it is a belief that needs to stop being peddled. What good is someone committing their life to Christ if a year later they’ve dropped out because someone promised them a perfect life filled with complete happiness? They leave feeling like the Bible is false and that Jesus lied when in reality…the church lied…which is unfortunate because as Christians we are supposed to be the mouth-piece for God. The Bible never says that your life will suddenly become perfect when you accept Christ…accepting Christ means to surrender…surrender is NEVER easy and requires a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. You are trying to break 21 years of habit and coming out of a society that embraces sin. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Stand firm and bear against the pain of change. Also, think of your future wife…do you think she’d appreciate you going out a partying and hooking up with random girls? Think of the big picture. My husband wasn’t saved when we met and it was very hurtful to me when he told me about his old life and about the girls, the partying, and the drinking…it kind of made me feel like what we had was cheapened…which was the wrong attitude to have, and God renewed him in my eyes, but it still hurt to imagine the situations. Sin might feel good now, but in the long run it hurts you or someone else one way or another. You can still hang out with your friends, you can still have a drink (just don’t get drunk), you can still be one of the guys…it just boils down to whether hanging out with the people you used to is going to tempt you to fall back into your old ways…if that is the case get into a men’s bible study and make new friends who will build you up and promote the changes you’re trying to make in your life.
2007-04-30 06:12:24 · answer #8 · answered by stakekawa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If God saved you, then you have the power to resist all temptation. If you feel like that-you may be in the wrong environment. Satan is murder on a new Christian. He knows where your goat is tied. Get into the Bible, and stay around other Christians.
Satan will also lie to you and tell you that you are saved-so you will not continue to learn about salvation. Remember Satan is the father of lies.
2007-04-30 05:53:13 · answer #9 · answered by DATA DROID 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think you feel that way because you dont have any direction. When someone get's saved...it does change them inside and out...the things you used to do, you dont want to do anymore and even some of the company you kept , you no long desire to be in their presence. You need to find someone in your church to help you , and guide you. The Bible is a great place to start.. Pray before you read it and ask the Lord to guide you to where you will find the most help that applies to your situation.. The Bible says He will sustain you..ask HIM to give you what you need to maintain your salvation..I pray that your will is greater than your want and You allow God to be YOUR GOD and order your steps...
2007-04-30 05:57:15 · answer #10 · answered by onetel4u2love 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋