Am I doing something wrong? (for Christians).?

Question

I was raised Christian. Went wild for a few years. Now trying to change my life and have a closer relationship with God (I never stopped believing). I am trying so hard to let the Lord guide me in life, but am still feeling so distant from Him. I know he is there, but I am not feeling it. I can't worship with others as I live in a part of the world where there is no Christian church. I am learning more about Christ through personal study/online services and fellowship. Why am I feeling like I am just not getting anywhere?

Thank you for the wonderful answers so far. Thank you for praying for me.

Answer 1

Hi Sweetie,
I can relate to you on this. I went through a "wild" phase when I was younger, but I never stopped believing, just stopped practicing. Pray, Pray, Pray!! Over everything. Little things and big things. A prayer doesnt have to be a long speech where you are asking for blessings. Offer prayers of thanks and praise for everyday things. Choose to see the world and its wonders for what they are, His blessings. If you see a beautiful group of trees coloured with fall colors, say" Dear Lord, thank you for those beautiful trees" Having a delicious cup of tea/coffee? "Thank you Lord, for giving us delicious things to drink", Any little good thing that you encounter, any kindness that is done to you, anything!! As you do this you will realize the many many wonderous blessings that He gives you every day and you will understand that He is still with you. Try joining on-line chat rooms that are for Christians to have fellowship with us. Love to you--MissDelanne

Answer 2

Try going into your Prayer Closet (where you pray by yourself), shut the door (close out all Thoughts except How Good GOD (Jesus) is, and Start Praising HIM (outloud) over and over!

GOD Inhabits the Praises of HIS People!
GOD will soon, Fill the Atmosphere around you While you Praise HIM and the devils (the ones making you FEEL so all Alone (away from GOD) will Back Up and then Feelings of GOD's Presence will come Upon YOU!

HE said the HE will Never Leave you nor Forsake you---it is the devils that make you feel that way, oh! be sure to Confess your Sin's too! Sinning will seperate you from the Feelings of GOD's Presence too!, but not from GOD or you Salvation.

If we confess our sin's GOD is FAITHFULL and JUST to Forgive our sins!
No matter what you've done, GOD will Forgive you, but Remember there are Consiquiencies for sinning!

Do your Best in Life for GOD.
Read your Bible, Pray, Praise HIM EverDay and Have a Good Day!

Hope this Helps!
Dit================to!

Answer 3

First of all let me tell you not to listen to any of this anti-god garble going around here. I have been where you are and I think I can help you. Don't be discouraged by things not happening right off because it is not magic. The bible says, "draw close to God and he will draw close to you". You are doing the right thing by studying about God and fellowshipping with other Christians you can get in contact with. What you also must do is pray. Pray all the time, literally. Tell God specifically what you want. Everytime you feel discouraged or you just feel like talking to God, get on your knees and pray. Pray sitting down or standing up, he will still hear you. That is how you draw close to him. That is how you talk to him. In time, if you practice prayer, you will have a close friendship with God and he will never be far away from you. It is comforting and gives me great joy to be able to have a relationship with God. He is my closest friend. If you need some encouragement or someone to talk to, add me as a contact. If I see that you have, then I will send you my email address and we can keep in contact via email, because I keep my email private on this site. But, don't hesitate, start praying now. I will pray for you, too.

Answer 4

My first question is are you saved? If you died today do you know if you would go to heaven? Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; So realize you are a sinner and need forgiveness, ask God to forgive you, if you have certain sins that you can point out do those instead of just generalizing. Believe Jesus was sent to the cross for our sins, and that through Him is the way to God. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Church membership, being a good person, taking part in the Lord's supper etc. will not get you there. Epheisans 2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Just call upon the Lord and ask Him to enter into your heart and protect you and do what He has promised. I will pray for you right now and may God bless you.

Answer 5

Part of it is probably because you are not around the church. It is very difficult to feel close to God when you are alone. I think this is probably even more true for those that were raised in the church, and are now trying to get back to God on their own.

I have a couple of recommendations that might help.

First, get lots of Christian music that you like, and try to listen to it as much as possible. Set aside 30 minutes (or more, if your schedule will allow) to sing to God, either with or without the music.

Second, try to practice "prayer without ceasing." Constantly talk to God. If you are alone, talk out loud to Him. Tell him all your thoughts. Tell Him all your frustrations of the day. Talk to Him like a friend, and talk to Him like you "talk" to yourself.

One more thing, a relationship with God is like a relationship with a person in many respects. One of the ways this is true is that you will go through periods where you feel "closer" than others. That doesn't necessarily mean that the relationship is in any peril, however. If you keep living your life for God, you will have a close relationship with Him, even if it doesn't feel that way.

God bless!

Answer 6

Several things might be the reason. One, God is not mocked. What a man reaps is what He sows. You may be receiving the fruit of your "wild" times of disobedience. Also it is very difficult when your outside of a faithful congregation with faithful preaching, fellowship, and worship. Mere study cannot replace this. Especially the formal worship of God that is our highest calling. Besides all this God often brings a person down before He lifts them up. He teaches us our utter hopelessness apart from His grace and mercy. We, even though we would likely never say it, tend to think that we can do it if we just try hard enough yet Jesus is clear that "apart form Me you can do nothing". It is pride that thinks we have anything in ourselves and God resists the proud, so in mercy He humbles His own people so that they look only to Him. Lastly one other thought is that often God sort of withdraws His presence sometimes that the reality of our faith may be seen. Its when we remain faithful even when we seem to almost be cast out by Him that we look back and see how He tested and proved our faith. David went through this and some of the Psalms are great comfort when we see our lives in the same light. May the Lord grant you His peace.

Psalm 42:11
Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Answer 7

Many people find God in many different ways, some through music or sport, some through helping others and some in the peace of their own thoughts. Only you can know why you don't feel close to God, you need to look inside yourself not to the sky's and you may find you are closer to him than you think. Maybe have a look through the Bible you may find a familiar story. Peace

Answer 8

Sounds a lot like me. Personally I have too much of an attachment to sin to really submit myself to God, but I can still point others to the way. I don't know why I am satisfied with staying this way, but unless I gave up everything I had I could never wholly be transformed by Christ. I am too fond of the things I have here. So its like what Christ said, anyone who does not give up everything they own cannot be a true follower, and this is very true with me. But I cannot give up everything I own right now. I want to, I just want to also do that in a place where I have no friends or family to give me things. I want to be totally on my own so that the only one I could depend on would be God.

Answer 9

I remember feeling that way when I was 16 and seriously trying to get closer to God. I tried my head off and just kept feeling that I wasn't good enough.

Until one day I gave up. The moment I totally despaired in myself he was there. I'd never felt such peace before, and it's still with me most of the time, years and years later!

I was stunned when I read all this in Romans 7 and 8. Paul had the same experience as me and probably thousands of others.

Maybe you will go a different route, but remember that finding God has nothing to do with us trying to please him. Also, even when your emotions don't play along it doesn't mean that God is far. It's just a matter of you feeling that way.

Answer 10

If you lived crazy you need to ask God to forgive you for that period of willing disobedience obviously, that may be one reason you feel God is not close to you, He cannot draw close to sin. Your heart has to be pure for God to draw near to you and you need to make that effort to draw near to Him. You should read the Bible, that's how you draw closer to Him, understanding Him through His word and He speaks to you there. People that have heard God out loud have actually heard Him speak scripture before. That confirms that what is in the Bible is His word. For instance I know of a divorce attorney that was dealing with a case of a Christian couple seeking a divorce, the attorney who was a Christian went in the other room to pray that God would show him what to do and He heard audibly: "I HATE divorce". It was like a yell, but that's in the Bible. I have had a similar experience before. So read the Bible and yea, listening to sermons can help you understand because God has given different gifts to different people. I like marshillchurch.org and RZIM.org both which have tons of mp3s.