I once was afraid to read my bible because if I read about something you shouldn't do it would make me paranoid and crazy cause of fear of sinning. And whenever i read about God's wrath even thoe I'm born again fear his wrath. I fear that I might be a backslider. or a person who over all doesn't liv the way jesus wants me to. I'm only 14 and I just started to have an active spiritual life. And i went through a spiritual battle for SEVEN months. I don't want to go through that again. But I want to be clser to God.
2007-08-03 16:35:50 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dont be scared of Him, TRUST him...no matter how hard, or crazy things seem. That's just the enemy trying to get you caught up in those thoughts. God loves you and is waiting for you with open arms. Jesus has already set you free from your sins, trust in the Holy Spirit to help you (your flesh) from straying away from God. He doesn't expect us to be perfect, thats why we dont have to try on our own...we would fail EVERYtime. If you sin, YOU are human, nothing more. Christ gives forgiveness (to genuine confessions)
You are at a good age to start building this relationship with God, dont lose sight of Him, I know its hard, but you already seem to have Faith, enough to know that your God is real, and you acknowledge the fact that you NEED Him in your life, some adults STILL havent gotten that far...
You are truly going to be a blessing to many, and your desire to be closer to God will be granted, He wants you more than you know...
2007-08-03 16:45:18 · answer #1 · answered by karyzmatik87 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The Bible tells us, "Perfect love casts out all fear." This is why Mary Magdalene, the thief on the cross, Nicodemus and Peter were able to all fall short of the glory of God, yet come back with confidence and glowing in the mercy and grace of God. If you read your Bible stories carefully, I would start with Jonah (it is short), you will see that none of the great characters in the Bible were perfect by any means. Moses, David, Saul (Paul) are just a few examples of men who were former murderers.
Everyone backslides from time to time, there are even sins of omission (where you could of done something and did not because you simply did not think of it or remember to do it), so just relax and rest in your faith. I pray everyday that God keep me close. That kind of prayer will be answered.
2007-08-03 16:57:54 · answer #2 · answered by reasonfaith 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1st John 4: verse 18
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Understand my friend, that what God has done for you has already been paid from the Cross. Haven't you've realized that when you backslide or when you fall into that kind of torment, you are denying the very thing that will restore you, Save you and Give you eternal life?
I will say to you this, A born-again Christian is not a Lifestyle. Nor even merry walking in Sunshine and Rainbows.
It's a journey and a struggle on How you will walk through faith and How you will live-up your faith in Christ.
Where you are right now is what God is giving you. And it's called "the trial of your faith."
I went through that. Possibly, all people who choose to follow Christ will experience that. Why? Because God tests you out of Love and "Not" through fear.
I encourage you to Read Proverbs 3 and Matthew 16 in the KJV version of the Holy Bible.
2007-08-03 16:56:00 · answer #3 · answered by Edwardo L 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The fact that you are only 14 and a believer is just wonderful. Of course life will not be easy (as it is not easy for anyone) but you know that with God on your side, all battle will end up in victory for you, and you will grow stronger in your faith and that will help you face other battles.
I suggest you read the gospel of John, (it is a love gospel) and get to know your father, He is not only of wrath, but remember for His children He is fearce (against the enemy) He loves you, knows you, and knows all your true needs.
As when you go to school to learn, some go to the army to learn and others practice sports, all those things are hard at times but the more you practice the stronger you get. It is the same with Christian living. You MUST know your Father in Heaven, in order to understand Him and not live in fear all the time. He knows you're human, but with the Holy Spirit that He will poor on you, you will become better, stronger and will know His will. (That's the best way not to stray).
Before God, ignorance will not be an excuse, but knowledge, faith and strength in all that, will be the best weapons you'll ever have in your life. You are young, and God will not put you through anything you can't handle, furthermore you will see His Glory through what ever you will live through (even in good things, happy things as well as hard things) and that will reafirm your faith even more.
There is much to say, and I won't take the whole space here, but I know where you come from and I do help people in their faith, so if you ever wish to talk or ask questions that can be answered seriously, please go to my profile and email me.
God bless you and keep you and fill you with His love, peace and His Holy Spirit.
2007-08-03 16:56:08 · answer #4 · answered by monfille 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi, Da Saz Prince! Wow, there are sure some awesome answers on here so far! I hope they really encourage you, and I would just like to add some more points to what has been said.
That is so awesome that you are following God and want to be closer to Him! He loves you and wants to be close to you too. Remember the Christian life is about relationship with Jesus, not only what we do or don't do. When you read the Bible ask God to show you His heart for you, through it, and spend some time day by day just being quiet before Him and letting Him speak to you.
It sounds like you need (and we all do, I believe) a revelation of His love, and His Father-heart towards you. Here's some good resources about this:
Video Clip - The Father's Loveletter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKmdIdQg3Ks
The text version of this clip can be found here:
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html
Also, there is a very good article on the same theme, at:
http://www.keithgreen.com/articles/fatherheart.html
You might also enjoy, and be encouraged by, some of the stuff available at:
http://www.extremeprophetic.com
http://www.soaking.net/downloads.htm (very good music for waiting on God)
http://www.worshipmusic.com/hunforgranop.html (Scroll down to "Worship Music Radio" for great music.)
http://www.cscc.org.sg/cornerstone/spiritualfood/spiritualfood3.htm
The site above has 3 awesome videos by a missionary called Heidi Baker. To get to them, scroll down to where it says "2006 Archives", and then scroll to these 3 titles:
The Secret Place of Anointing
Revival Has a Face
The Call for Servant Lovers
Each is about an hour long, but I think you will be very blessed watching them.
If you live in a town where you can go to a good church with a good youth group, that can be very encouraging too, and you can make friends, and have them pray with you and help you through things.
God bless you, bro!
2007-08-03 17:48:30 · answer #5 · answered by Friend 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You came through that battle OK, didn't you? So now you're stronger and better able to defend yourself and your faith in God. But Satan hasn't given up on you and he never will. From now on you know that you're bound to stick with one or the other--God or Satan. So you mustn't stop reading the Bible; that's exactly what Satan wants you to do!
It's wise to fear God's wrath but not actually to be afraid of God Himself, whose love and grace is all we live for. He is angered *only* by continuing sin and disobedience, so you can use that fear to help you avoid sinning. You're on the right track, brother, so hang in there! Keep on reading your Bible, praying all the time, and being in fellowship with other Christians. Blessings to you!
2007-08-03 17:08:01 · answer #6 · answered by words for the birds 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to concentrate on the New Testament. God loves you so much that he sent his only son to die on the cross for you. He knows that we are not perfect, and will sin, and yet, he still loves us.
Look at the way Peter denied Christ 3 times, and yet, after the Resurrection, Jesus still loved Peter. Stop being so hard on yourself and realize that you are going to backslide sometimes. You're human. Just ask for forgiveness, and try to not repeat your mistakes. You're 14 years old, and trying your hardest to be close to God. You sound like a wonderful person!
Good Luck and God Bless
2007-08-03 16:46:05 · answer #7 · answered by justanotherone 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay, first of all, God is incapable of wrath. That means, he CAN'T be wrathful. Oh no, blasphemy!! No...not blasphemy...simple logic. WRATH is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, the sins that will damn you to hell if you die before being forgiven for even one of them. So...1+1=2, right? If WRATH is a SIN, and GOD can't SIN, then GOD CAN'T BE WRATHFUL. So don't let all the righteous "fire and bimstone" nonsense scare you. God doesn't even hurt people, an Angel does, (Loki, Angel of Mortal Retribution). God created this angel AFTER Adam and Eve left The Garden, and commanded this angel to punish man as he saw fit IF, and only IF, man disobeyed the Immortal Law (Ten Commandments). And don't even worry about Loki, he was banished from Paradise long ago...remember the Twelve Plagues of Egypt? Well, with the Plague of the Firstborn, Loki kind-of crossed the Divine Line, and punished man far worse than he deserved...so he was banished and now serves to guide man to the pearly gates instead of damning man to Hell . So...if you love God and Serve him in the best way that YOU can...you'll be fine.
~hayden~
2007-08-03 16:48:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Study the Word. Jesus forgave all your sins, past, present and future. If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you have received salvation. Focus on your hope. Read the Word and pray everyday. John the baptist prayed, "I must decrease, but He must increase." You get closer to God by growing. Some fear of God is healthy but don't let it become anxiety. Jesus loves you. He wants to give you hope and a future.
2007-08-03 16:43:36 · answer #9 · answered by wassupmang 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Being a Christian is part of a journey. You will learn more and more as you grow in Christ. Don't be afraid of God. He loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you on the cross. You have to accept that & personalize it. Say to yourself-"He died for ME because I am worthy of God's love and forgiveness". All Christian's are sinner's & are tempted every day. You will never ever be free from sin because you are a human being. Perhaps you should speak to your pastor or youth pastor about the feelings you are having. God bless you!
2007-08-03 17:05:26 · answer #10 · answered by Emily & her mommy love Da Bears! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋