I recently became catholic and wish to deepen my relationship with God?

Question

How can I do this?
I have a bible but I have no idea what to read
I rarely go to mass.

Please don't say provide links or say "read this"
I am asking for YOUR experience with the question .
thanks!

Answer 1

Congrats on your conversion! I'm a convert too. As of this past Easter actually. =D

It's so hard to have a relationship with God sometimes, I know. You get busy. Life gets in the way. Things come up. What I always try to do is read a little bit out of my prayer book or bible every night. Even if it's only a psalm or something. Try starting with Psalm 1. Read it. Then place a bookmark there so you don't lose your place later on. =) Try to remember to read it every night before you go to bed.

When you're doing work around the house, playing on the computer, or just chilling, turn on the radio! Turn it over to your local Christian station (or if you want I can e-mail you the links to some nifty Catholic internet radio stations) and start singing along! There is some great upbeat music playing nowadays. I've always heard that singing is praying twice over. XD

I have dozens of little ways that turn my mind to God and His son. If you want I can e-mail some others to you later. It's almost 3am and it's waaaay past my bedtime. Just let me know ok? I hope that these ideas help a little bit though.

God bless,
=)

Answer 2

In a word - Read. Read the Bible, read the Catechism. Read Church documents. Read the writings of the saints. Do this and you will acquire more knowledge of Catholicism than you ever thought possible in your wildest dreams.

Since you have a Bible, you should read it. Perhaps, before you read it, you should check out CATHOLIC books about the Bible. The more you know about the Bible, the more you will derive from it when you do read it.

Rest assured that, if it's in the Bible, it's worth reading. You might simply want to try openning it up randomly at any page. Read that page. I GUARANTEE you will find something of personal worth on that page, which ever it is. Do this, every single day from now on.

You recently became Catholic, but you do not go to mass? This is not a good start. Go to mass, we read the Bible at mass, and the priest - especially a prolific one - will help you understand the meaning(s) of the Bible passages read at that mass.

Answer 3

I am in the process of becoming an Orthodox Christian, which is similar. In my experience, praying a little bit every day helps. Also, there should be websites that will put you on a list to get the readings used in the Catholic Church each day- I get the ones used by Orthodox. For your own devotional reading, it's great to start with the gospels, then work through the epistles. After that, the Old Testament becomes more interesting.
Having said all that, I think your best bet is to go see a priest and get his advice- he's the expert, after all...

Answer 4

I was lead by God. Somehow some verses were telling me that bible is true. Whenever I read I saw how the reality is when I read the Gospel Mathew, Mark, Luke, John.
I read the greatest commandment said by Jesus,Mathew 22:36-40, I wanted to love God and others
then about the luke warm,Rev 3:16, I did not want to be luke warm.
I read about the kingdom of God Jesus said as parables, because I knew that Jesus came down from that kingdom, so he will tell it clearly than any one.
Since John 1:1-3 says that Jesus is the word, the words in the bible spoke somehow.
So seek God to lead you. He can lead u in any verse or anyhow if you seek.

I heard another testimony recently, which I was so peculiar that I remember. His name is Raja I think from Srilanka. He was a murderer, mob in that area. He was put in prison for life time for his wrong-doings. He dint get anything to read in prison also, but one day he saw a bit of newspaper and there these verses were written, " Those who are weary, come to me and I will give you rest" - Jesus. So without proper knwlegde, he told aloud, I come, give me rest. Within some days, he was released and he knew who did this to him. Now he has a rehabilitation center for drug addicts/alcoholics and they praise and worship God.
And also sincere prayer(In Spirit and In truth), God will listen.

I wrote this testimony of my life in this site, I am not refering you to some other site,
http://www.protectinghands.com/ladder_to_heaven.htm

You can read the home page also, I have written about having relationship with God. It was purely directed by Holy Spirit, I have no wisdom or knowledge about these on my own. All praises and Glory to God.

Answer 5

If you recently became a Catholic, why aren't you going to Mass? It's obligatory on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation.
So, firstly, go to Mass.
Next, introduce yourself to your Catholic priest and seek instruction. The Bible must be read in conjunction with the Church's teachings.

Answer 6

Pray first that God will lead you into all actuality. study the ten commandments, and learn the 4th, as wherein day God needs us to worship, then John 14:15 John, as properly because of the fact the different gospels, are some good analyzing. My favorites on the 2d John 15, John 17, psalms ninety one in case you % areal deep adventure with God, attempt a million hour an afternoon of bible learn and prayer and anticipate not something under to be completely blown away with the aid of the super and effective God of the universe

Answer 7

try to join bible study groups and organizations like singles for Christ.. Also, try to go to mass every sunday and keep on reading the bible esp the New Testament then supported by the Old. There are also a lot of inspirational books around. But the best is to be with a group of people who shares the word of God gives spiritual guidance. =)

Answer 8

I would say read the New Testament and the Psalms to begin with. Read them and keep reading them and read them from a non-denominational bible like the New King James version or the New International or New American standard version. Read it and read it and read it and then read it some more. Don't worry about what you don't understand. The stuff you don't understand you just file it in the back of your brain in that file labeled 'waiting for an answer'. The bible will explain itself in many cases. That's what I don't like about the catholic church. For the most part they don't teach the bible and the bible is your spiritual food. Jesus Himself told Satan in Mathew 4:4 that"man shall not live by bread alone(physical food) but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God(The Word of God.......spiritual food)". It's absolutely impossible to grow in your faith without the Word of God and the catholic church just doesn't spend much time teaching it. I like the Calvary Chapels. They are non-denominational and they teach the Word of God verse by verse from genesis through the book of revelation. All their services are bible studies. . If you go to http://maps.calvarychapel.com/, you can type in your zip code and it will give you the Calvary Chapel closest to you. God does Love you(John3:16).

Answer 9

I suggest you leave the catholic church or find one that preaches the gospel. all you have to do to have a deep relationship with God is ask. the Bible says we have not because we ask not, also it says seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened. Becoming a catholic does not make you anything but a catholic, If you think it makes you a Christian, then I guess you also believe when you go to Mac Donald's you will become a hamburger ??? If you call upon the name of the Lord with a repenting heart, He will hear you and he will open himself to you and save you but you have to ask. and by the way I am not dissing on catholics as individual people, only the system of Catholicism, which is not Christian at all.

Answer 10

Brother, i understand your request. I too have had times when i wanted to feel closer to my faith, When i did, i turned to a special little hymn that reminds me, just how special my faith is. And here it is.

There are Jews in the world.
There are Buddhists.
There are Hindus and Mormons, and then
There are those that follow Mohammed, but
I've never been one of them.

I'm a Roman Catholic,
And have been since before I was born,
And the one thing they say about Catholics is:
They'll take you as soon as you're warm.

You don't have to be a six-footer.
You don't have to have a great brain.
You don't have to have any clothes on. You're
A Catholic the moment Dad came,

Because

Chorus

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.

Let the heathen spill theirs
On the dusty ground.
God shall make them pay for
Each sperm that can't be found.

Chorus 2#
Every sperm is wanted.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood.

Hindu, Taoist, Mormon,
Spill theirs just anywhere,
But God loves those who treat their
Semen with more care.

*CHORUS 1*

Let the Pagan spill theirs
O'er mountain, hill, and plain.
God shall strike them down for
Each sperm that's spilt in vain.

*Chorus 2*

I hope this helps.