Christians. . have you ever felt this?

Question

Do you sometimes feel like you are a great Christian, and you have a really good relationship with God, but then you see someone else who's relationship seems a whole lot better than yours?
I previously asked a question "How often do you pray?" The responses were unbelievable. Some people pray up to EIGHT times a day. I pray ONCE a day, and sometimes at night, I admit, I fall asleep.

After reading those answers, I now feel like a HORRIBLE Christian. Does anyone else have this happen?

Answer 1

Yes, definitely has happened before. I used to have that same mentality. The problem is that you are grading your relationship with God in comparison to others. And that is not the way things work. How you stand in your relationship is between you and God only. Prayer and study are not what make you a Christian, they enrich the christian life. Remember that christianity is not just a religion, a belief, and certainly not a routine. It is a lifestyle. The way you live your life morally, what you do with your body and mind, the way you treat others, etc.
If you worry about how your christian life is based on others, then you will always think you're either better or worse off than everyone else. And that is not the ideal life of a christian. You can pray 24 hours a day, but you may not be living a true christian life, and that is what matters. We are not saved only by deeds, but also by faith.
If you feel bad about not being a constant prayer and you feel the need to have a closer relationship with God, then maybe you should consider making a change. But remember that praying will not make you a better christian. And dont do it because you need to feel good about being a chirstian, but because you feel the need to talk to God and because that will help you grow spiritually.

Answer 2

Don't feel horrible. It doesn't matter how many times you set aside to pray - but it is your intent.

I strive to make my life a living prayer to G-d. That everything I do is in accordance with his will. That every action is fueled by love and Divine faith not out of human will. It's not an easy thing to accomplish and I know that I will never fully reach perfection on this.

You can pray at any time during the day. You do not need a special time set aside. You can pray while you are driving, eating, working etc. You can pray anytime any place. It can be simple as thanking G-d to having a conversation with G-d.

Don't measure yourself to someone else. What they say and what they actually do may be two seperate things. Instead, concentrate on you and your own relationship with G-d. That is the only measurement you need.

Answer 3

Do you feel horrible because you do not do the same as someone else or do you feel horrible because, in seeking to understand the actions of others, you were secretly seeking comparison and 'specialness', and finding what you were looking for, your motives came out and made you feel shameful?

Quality, always and forever, over quantity. What is the worth of a hundred repetitions said from ritual and rote and emptiness compared to a single prayer freely and completely given from the soul? Which gift is more pleasing: a rich man giving a million dollars (because he has 50) or a poor man giving a dollar (because he has 2?)

Don't forget, God invented sleep as well, and a good night's sleep can sometimes be the best prayer (when you wake up and feel great the next day, to whom do you really give thanks to for such a rest?)

Pray because you believe in it, not because someone else believes in it.

Answer 4

Christians aren't graded on a curve.
Pray when you think of it. A whispered prayer. A little thought prayer, to yourself. It's all good. He likes to hear from you whenever. This is what is meant by 1Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing. Your mindset during the day.

God bless and have a great weekend.

Answer 5

Your relationship with Christ is not based on how many times you pray. You should never cease praying. Always talk to God, even if it is just a quick hey God, help me out here, or Hey God, THANK YOU for that!! Or whatever you feel like talking with him about. Because one sits 8 times a day to pray doesn't mean they are developing a relationship with God. It doesn't mean they aren't either, but most important, always talk from your heart! Don't be ritualistic in prayer, it looses its sincerity.

If you talk to God from your heart, your not a bad Christian! Don't worry, it isn't a competition. God wants quality conversation not quantity that is empty!

Answer 6

Don't feel bad. Maybe you don't know how much you pray. Consider this excerpt from the writings of Mother Teresa:

Joy is prayer—Joy is strength—Joy is love—Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love. Never let anything so fill you with sorrow as to make you forget the joy of the Christ risen.

I came across this about 2 years ago. I love that quote. I hope it makes you feel better.

Answer 7

I know exactly how you feel. I used to compare myself to other Christians I knew and I always ended up feeling like I was less than them, like I wasn't as good as them or as worthy.

It took me a long time to realize that you should never compare yourself as a Christian to someone else (that could be said for just about anything in life; the grass is always greener on the other side and you always end up feeling horrible). I think it is good to examine what other Christians do, think and feel in their faith, but only approach it in a way that is about a desire to improve your relationship with God, not comparing yourself to another.

Now when I feel like a horrible Christian, it is because of my own faults and vices, not because I feel inferior to someone else. I'm still working on the whole not feeling like a horrible Christian at all thing. Being a Christian means having a relationship with God; that relationship takes a lot of nurturing, love, and patience. It's not about being a PERFECT Christian, but accepting that we are not perfect and always striving to improve. I know all this, but I'm still learning to accept this in my heart.

Answer 8

Uhhhh.... do you mean more than once a day?
You know, Casting Crowns has a song called "Stained Glass Masquarade" where the main line goes something like "if I can make them believe me maybe I'll believe it too"
The truth is that we as Christians are undergoing the process of sanctification "being set apart" and becoming more like Christ but just like normal growing up some are ahead of others. Don't judge your own relationship with God by looking at the relationship of others. You are accountable to Him alone.

Your brother in Christ, Michael

Answer 9

loss of perception is the suitable place. while given fact X (ie. God exists.), you do no longer purely might desire to %. "actual" or "fake". there is likewise "indeterminate", the place loss of information or motivation prevents you from making a determination. In serious thinking, that's not useful or perhaps proper to right this moment formulate an opinion on a project (ie. you're on jury to choose on the way forward for an accused murderer). knowledgeable each and every physique is slow to have self belief, yet can carry issues as possible or probable in all levels without moving over to a million side. Christians are gullible. they have self belief something at face cost, and are keen to spend their lives enhance a resume for heaven, and may even kill, all interior the call of an entity whose common existence can't be primary. Religions come and pass in the time of the a while. there isn't any reason to think of this one is particular or distinctive, noticeably with such a great number of contradictions and problems with morality linked with it.

Answer 10

Your relationship with God is a personal one. You should not let anyone make you feel like your relationship with Him is not good enough. God knows your heart. If you feel like you need to grow closer to Him, do it out of sincerity and love for Him and hunger for Him, not because of anyone Else's relationship with Him. None of us are perfect. We all drift away at times. I can tell you that from experience. The one thing is that we are ALWAYS accepted back, when we call on Him. So don't base your Christian life on someone elses, Honey. If you do you will walk around with guilt and guilt is from the enemy, not from God.