Need advice regarding my spiritual life?

Question

Ever since i can remember, as a little girl, i went to church, and did everything i was supposed to do. But as i grew up, i started to slowly depart from God. Now, i feel as if i don't even have a relationship with God anymore. I've lisened to soo many preaches and now it's like I already know all that stuff and I don't feel as if i need it anymore- in another words, i feel "numb" to the Word of God. I need some help- I know i have to get back on track with my relationship, but i don't know how.- and when i pray, it's as if i;m talking to myself... I need some serious advice. (please no silly answers, and no "turn to islam" advices, please. Thank you.)

Answer 1

I think there may be the most important ingredient missing to your relationship with God. I do not know you , so I could be wrong, so please don't take this as judging. But when I read your question it seemed like to me the Lord was speaking directly to my heart these words for you.
"Going to church and doing everything you were supposed to do" does not constitute a relationship with God. The only way you can have one is through Jesus Christ. All the church going in the world will not get you there. You must admit that you are a sinner, in need of a Savior- once you do that and repent and He becomes your Savior, then you can grow in your walk, and become closer to Him. You may have already "prayed the prayer" when you were a child, but you may need to rededicate your life to Him. God promises that when you seek Him, you will find Him- you can only do this through Jesus however, so start at the Cross- He is waiting for you to come home- Ask God to spiritually open your eyes to Him, and you will see Him. Know that I will be praying for you - God loves you!!

Answer 2

Warning: before you read this, I don't have an answer. I'm just telling you what I went through. I used to feel the same way. When I was little and went to church it just seemed hypocritical. The services were like fashion shows, imperfect people were always judging everyone else, everyone was always nebbing into everyone else's buisness... and not for charitable reasons. I just started talking to God one day, saying whatever I wanted, not in prayer form, just regular talking. It just doesn't seem right that one should "need" a priest to communicate with God because the bible says God loves us all the same. Through talking with Him on my own level, I think I have a better relationship with him now. I love God and I know he's there, I can't explain why... maybe because loving God is trusting him and knowing he is there without looking for physical proof. But, if I was looking for proof, I know of many things that happened in my life where it seemed like someone was watching over me and getting me thru. I'm still looking for a church though... one where you wear what you want, is not too seemingly preachy-perfect, and people don't judge you over trivial things. Maybe you are looking for the same thing, hopefully both of us will find it one day. I'll pray for us both! Good luck!

Answer 3

I guess my question is when you say you feel numb to the word of God do you mean the Bible itself or the words of preachers etc..?

I have been in a very similar type situation and what brought me back was simply the realization that the bible clearly teaches that God does not walk away from us only we can walk away from the relationship. He loves you and if you have come back to Him and asked forgiveness for walking away then you must simply believe that he will. (I Thessolonians - "Faithful is he who has called you; who also will do it.")

A good way to get back on track is to set aside a special time each day to study his word and communicate with him. Work at really developing your relationship,remember its just like any other relationship in that it only survives if there is frequent communication. Finding a good devotional book would probably help. I personally really liked the Purpose Driven Life

Answer 4

You are proving your calling. You notice the absence of a vital part of yourself. That part is the part of you that God OWNS! Yes, that's right, he has laid a claim on you that is undeniable.

What you have to do is not wait too long to respond. What I see in your future is a scene where you just want to get away from everybody you know for a while. Perhaps driving on a lonely strech of road, crying your eyes out. That would be the best thing for you. It's true repentance in action. You wasted precious time wandering around and paying no attention to the things that matter. You were going your way for far too long.

So your heart is about to get bashed, your pride sunk, because you paid attention to yourself while leaving the God who paid the price for your sins.

You see, he died for you, and you acted like it was nothing important. If that makes you ashamed of yourself, that's the right reaction. Now get with him, and tell him what he already knows, that you love him more than life itself, and you want to never do what you've been doing all this time.

You see, some of us have been there already. That's how I know.

Answer 5

I think you might find that if you changed denominations you would hear some new things in the sermons. And the other differences might make you feel more excited about the church. I'm not sure however that you can ever regain the relationship you had with him as a child, because that relationship was determined by the way your brain worked at the time. You need to find a way to be with him as an adult. Try rereading your Bible. You may see it in a whole new light.

Answer 6

I hear ya... it happens to me sometimes too. I don't know if there's any quick-fix to this... but in my case, I just stick to it. Go to church even if there are times when the words just pass through your head (the same reason why you still eat at least once a day even if you don't have an appetite)... surround yourself with spiritually enriching friends... serve others... don't hesitate to ask for prayers, and try to pray yourself and ask for more of God in your life (I know, it could be very hard to do so, I'm experiencing that myself)

There are times where I struggle with issues similar to yours, but I sincerely believe that anyone who earnestly seeksGod and wants a relationship with him will have it -- read Mat 7:7-8.

You can also read some of the answers some people gave for my question, I find them quite encouraging. God bless!

Answer 7

You need to repent and make Jesus the Lord of your life.
You need to be sure you have been born again.
Fast and Pray and ask God to guide you, (read the Bible)
God should guide you to a good church where you can serve.

When you have been a Christian a long time, you have pretty much heard all of the sermons. Then you need to be teaching others and praying and witnessing to others..
Once you are saved then it is all about service to others.. Works don't save you, but they are what you do to serve God once you are saved.. They will also bring satisfaction to your life as yousee others grow..
The lady below 4HIM has a good testimony..
the Adorehim lady has very good advice too..
I would say that God is speaking to you through these people.

Answer 8

Your story sounds like the one I had. I was very unhappy with my life at one time and didn't know why. I finally just sat down one day while I was alone and told God that I didn't love Him. I asked Him to help me love Him.

Within 2 weeks some events started to happen in my life. I was introduced to Jesus as my friend. I had always had a belief in Him but, not a personal relationship with Him. This was around 25 years ago and I have not tired of Him. I love Him more every day. I will pray for you to have this wonderful relationship with your Lord and Savior too. May God bless you.

Answer 9

Go find something by C.S. Lewis.

Everybody's spiritual life has its ups and downs and dryspells. That's not unusuall at all.

I know what you mean about going to Church and having heard it before.

So I'd recomend two things. Keep praying...even if it seems like you are talking to yourself, just keep going. Prayer is like exercise (the Catholics call it "spiritual exercises" even) and exercise sometimes gets dry and uncomfortable and it takes a while to pay off.

Second, like I said, go find a Christian author who interests you. C.S. Lewis is probably the best there is... The Great Divorce is my absolute favorite book by him, get a copy if you can...Screwtape Letters is well thought of too. If you really want a challenge go for St. Augustine's Confessions

They will get you going again.

Good luck and God bless.

Answer 10

In name of GOD, The Beneficient , The Mercifull.

Dear Friend, that's great, that's nice, and is the most beautifull thing and shows the purity of your heart that u feel to be going away from GOD- you have no idea, neither me that how much reward this feel may have already bring into your life, it totally represents your affection towards HIM, this is the most precious gift a man(humans) can give to GOD, to tell HIM that you feel HIM somehow. and listen, GOD says in Quran or in some saying of our Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), that "GOD loves his people 70 times more than the mothers".
at one more point there is a sying that, "Whenever a person goes one step towards HIM, he comes 10 steps towards the person." so what this all reflects is that GOD surely loves us, we are too much blind and too much materialistic to see HIM, how shame is this that we human in today's most technological world are unable to see our creator, u just keep on remebering HIM even if it feels dumb to you, and LISTEN TRY to CRY FOR HIM, TEEL HIM, YOU NEED HIM, and even then if tears do not come into your eyes, PRETEND in front of HIM that you are crying, and u better do it secretly on night before sleeping. BAPTIZE you heart with the tears of your EYES. Surely HE will show you the right path.
MAY HE BLESS YOU, AMEN