How do I gain assurance in christianity?

Question

My faith in christianity has died, and I feel isolated and alone. I have prayed and read sections of the bible, but I can't seem to strengthen my faith. What is a method that you guys use?

Answer 1

By accepting Jesus christ as your lord and saviour

Answer 2

ask questions, quit reading words, be specific, test what you think you know against God's word. Believe God's word and put on a new personality.
For example : What happens to a person at death? Does his soul separate from his body ?
Ecclesiastes 9:5,10, Ecclesiastes 3:18,19. Ezekiel 18:4
There is not two ways a person can except these thoughts and God is not a God of confusion, Trust what the Bible says.
Always ponder over what you read. Mathew 5:5 ? Why did Jesus make this statement? Because he knew what his father promised in Psalms 37:9-11,29.
If you need help just ask. [e-mail]

Answer 3

Dear Friend,

You are experiencing what we call a dry time in your walk. These are due to many reasons and I do not know your specific circumstances, but I think this is the cure.

First, realize that you are living under mercy and grace and that they follow you all your days. (Psalm 23) This means that you do not have to feel condemned in your spirit if you have done wrong. You do however, need to repent and as the Lord to help you overcome these shortcomings. You are a work in progress and God knows how to complete that work if you allow him to do it and try your best to live a holy life. Always working to overcome the places where Satan can easily tempt you. Knowing these things helps you to hang on to the Lord with all that you have in yourself.

Next, it is the joy of the Lord that gives us strength. The way we experience joy in life is to live a life that allows for the blessings of life to be a part of what you are about. What I mean by this is that we are to enjoy life and not live in total denial that we need fun. God made man to laugh and to play and these are healthy things. Find people who know how to enjoy life, but without sin. This means that you can go to the fair and eat something good, ride a ride, and watch people if that is what you enjoy. Or You could take a ride to the country and go on a hike (short or long), bring a friend and visit. The Lord knows you need these things in your life and it is alright to do them.

Lastly, remind yourself that Satan is a tempter and he is seeking for your weakness and to cause you to fall away from the faith. Faith is where you need to be right now and let it bring you through this hard time. You will come through and the Lord's light will be even greater when you come through. Joy will be stronger in your life.

P.s., If the church you attend is not full of life and the annointing of God then find a different church. God is a living God and you should feel his presents when you worship day to day.

Answer 4

First recognize that ups and downs in your spiritual life are normal and that there is nothing wrong with you for going through a low point.

With this in mind continue with the habit and discipline of prayer, worship, service, and bible reading that I hope you established during the up period and all should work out in time.

A lot of Christians say that looking back on one of these low periods that they see it as having been a real blessing.

Be mindful that low periods can escalate into real clinical depression for which you should seek medical attention if you have any thoughts of suicide or such (see link).

When you are feeling better you might want to read the "Screwtape Letters" by CS Lewis.

Answer 5

Your problem is in your first line, "my faith in Christianity". You must put your faith in Christ. Now before you get all upset, we all go through dry spells, you say you have prayed and read sections of the bible. Have you asked God to reveal any sin in your life that you may be unaware of? Are you doing anything that you know God would object to? Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake you. That he will be closer than a brother to you. Confess and repent of anything you might have done, if there is nothing, then just go before God and tell him "Lord I need you, I need your refreshing spirit. I need your strength, He will not leave you, he may test your resolve, but He will never leave you. Talk to him, I have already prayed for you, if you wish to talk further email me. God Loves you. That is the truth.

Answer 6

2 Peter 1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you feel isolated and alone get hooked up with a good church like mine http://www.alcf.net where the Spirit of the Lord is at work.

In the mean time listen to the edifying and encouraging and sometimes humorous teaching of Pastor Paul Sheppard. Click on the My Pastor button @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/

Answer 7

Dude, try talking to someone about it. What are your doubts like, why are you questioning your faith. Seek the answer inside yourself.

It would really helped if you talked to someone you could trust, maybe a friend, maybe someone from your church

OK

Paz de Cristo

Answer 8

by reading bible and praying regularly,when you pray think that u r in a lonely place infront of jesus and tell all ur burden to him and ask him to forgive u, he is full of compassion defenitely he will forgive u, u cry and pray,u beg fo his mercy,it surely works,then u can feel like a new born baby,try this ,best wishes

Answer 9

Perfect Happiness: Now and Forever

[41:30] Those who proclaim: "Our Lord is GOD," then lead a righteous life, the angels descend upon them: "You shall have no fear, nor shall you grieve. Rejoice in the good news that Paradise has been reserved for you.

[41:31] "We are your allies in this life, and in the Hereafter. You will have in it anything you wish for; you will have anything you want.

[41:32] "(Such is your) ultimate abode, from a Forgiver, Most Merciful."

http://www.submission.org/suras/sura41.html

Answer 10

The same thing happened to me, that's why I'm an agnostic now, i don't think we can have any assurance in Christianity or other "holy books from god"

Answer 11

My faith in christianity has also died, but not my faith in God. I began to feel as though I lost my salvation, but I read the Bible extensively and mentioned some of the truths I found in Sunday School and was often told I took verses out of context. Since I believed the verses, I asked God if he would stand by his word. The differences between my church and I involved baptism. Their idea of Christianity seemed more like religion. I had heard that religion is man's effort to reach God, but Christ (and faith in him) is God's effort to reach man. I believe in the Christian faith and not the christian religion. Faith is believing in what is unseen.

When a person is baptized, he is baptized into Jesus' death in the tomb and into his resurrection. Those words are used in my church every time there is a baptism. Paul said, "I have no righteousness of my own which is of the law, but the righteousness which is of God, and "the things I would do, I do not, but the things I would not do, that I do." If a person is "dead" in Christ in the tomb, his death is not visible because it is of the spiritual realm. He is "dead" to the law and to sin and cannot sin because he is dead; therefore, there is no guilt and shame.

If a person is baptized into Jesus' resurrection, he is baptized into Jesus' perfection, which is why Christ was raised from the dead. If he is one with Christ, he has loved his neighbor as himself and given his life as a sacrifice for sin. That is the gift of righteousness, but it is unseen because it is of the spiritual realm, not the material realm. If a person is one with Christ, he is acceptable to God.

God has given man a free will to make his own choices. If a person chooses to trust in things that are material, God honors his choice. But in the material realm, a person fall short of what Christ has done and lives in the fall of Adam, and there is much guilt and shame. If chooses to believe in God, who is a spirit, he lives in the spirit and God honors that choice. He has the righteousness of Christ (which is unseen in the material realm).

In this material realm, the righteousness of Christ is invisible because his kingdom is not of this world. Although, in his flesh, a person who trusts God still makes many errors, he has a communication with God because he does not feel separated by sin. That has been taken care of in baptism. My church has been trusting in things visible and could not accept the truths of the verses I chose because they couldn't "see" them.

I could not trust God for my needs without his help. He set me free from trusting in the material realm. "If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed."

God still honors his new covenant when a person leaves his body whether or not a person believes in the spiritual; he has still been baptized into Christ. "If we believe not, he abides faithful. He cannot deny himself" - Paul.