I sincerely asked Jesus and God into my heart... why didn't anything happen?

Question

Okay, I was snarky before with the Doritos question.

But honestly, once (in fact, several times) I absolutely, unquestioningly, unconditionally, truly asked for Jesus to come into my heart and change my life. And then I waited. And waited. I begged for Jesus to come into my heart, to change me, to make me understand.

I can't tell you how much I wanted this - I wanted some sort of meaning to my life, a meaning that at that time, I thought only Jesus and God could give me, and so I sat there in my bed in the dark and begged, please, God, please, Jesus, give me a sign, anything at all, I am opening my whole being to you, anything, anything at all, please! I wasn't looking for a thunderbolt, just even a feeling that maybe there *was* something out there bigger than me.

And nothing happened. Nothing at all. No change. Nothing.

So you say that I'd better straighten up and fly right, but what actual evidence can you give me? Anything? Anything at all?

...and of course the answer is "you didn't ask hard enough" or possibly "you should have kept asking" or "Jesus only comes to those who ask pure of heart." In other words, the problem was me. I call BS on the whole thing, as I have for 20 years now. Oh, and my life is freaking awesome without religion, I don't miss it.

Also it bothers me that at least two people here have suggested that "I didn't want to give up my sins." I was thirteen years old at the time. My only sin was the one that you did too when you were thirteen, and don't try to tell me you didn't.

Also why wouldn't it be the time that God ordained? I mean... if it was God's plan that I should give up religion forever, then... what the hell is the point? I didn't ask for "proof," I asked to just have inside of me some idea that I was heard. I didn't, of course, because I asked honestly, and listened honestly, and so I didn't imagine that I heard something.

Answer 1

You forgot to open the door??
or they didn't listen - might have been sleeping

Answer 2

I couldn't tell you why nothing happened. I wasn't there, and I don't know your heart. And I don't think there are any words of wisdom that I can give you that will help you.

When I first became a Christian, I didn't feel anything either. It was more gradual. Over the last year since I became a Christian, I've noticed that my priorities have shifted. I WANT to read the Bible (which I understand better than I ever did before), I WANT to be around other Christians, and I WANT to go to church (though I rarely do. Too many fundies.). The changes didn't come at the very moment I asked Jesus into my heart. I was still skeptical (and I still am), and riddled with doubts. But enough of my doubts have been relieved so that I can believe.

Being a Christian is a unique and personal experience. It's different for everyone. God knows what's best for each of us, and He won't push us, even when we THINK we're willing to be pushed.

I don't know if this helps. It's just my experience. Yours would probably be different.

Answer 3

Your question doesn't have a definite answer but can only be addressed by suggesting some possibilities.

1. Even though you made the request it was not the time that God had ordained for the request to be granted. For instance, many people ask Jesus to come into their heart but they don't want to turn away from their sins or accept Jesus as the Lord of their life. They don't want to go to Hell and they want some of the benefits of the Christian faith but they still want to sit on the throne of their life and God leaves them as they are until they finally come to the end of themselves and are ready to submit to His authority.

2. The request was not from the work of the Holy Spirit drawing you to Jesus and giving you the gift of faith but originated only from yourself. People have been know to try out different religions seeking some personal benefit from them and they don't have faith but are looking to have something handed to them and then they might believe, at least for a while before moving on again.

3. You were expecting something dramatic and when it didn't happen according to what you thought should happen you assumed that nothing happened. The Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit has to give a person new life in Christ. Some people have a dramatic experience while other people do not see the change immediately but are only aware of it later on when they look back at how their life has changed over time.

If you have faith that God has heard your prayer then you should start taking those steps that would accompany that faith. Finding a good local church to attend and reading the Bible are some examples of first steps. Click on the Get Saved button @ http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/cornerstone0/ or check out the Answers button or some of the links on the Free Stuff page to access more resources on your question.

Answer 4

I understand what you are saying, because I did that too, several times, with no result, and wondered what was up.

Then, one day, I got a response...I wasn't asking Jesus to enter my heart or anything, I was just at the end of my rope. Feeling completely hopeless, wondering why "God" had never responded. And then, I knew...just like that I knew...that i had been looking for "God" when the truth was something else entirely.

I was looking for that guy people had told me about, and by focusing only on that, I completely missed the reality of what the Divine is. Then, when I finally, truly gave up on seeking, searching, and beseeching "God", I was able to experience the Divine for what it truly is.

Anyway, that's my story, I was looking so hard for a certain thing that I missed the truth.

Answer 5

Don't give up, maybe you're not asking the right thing from God. The only way to experience God, is if you truly repent of your sins and confess to God that you are a sinner and that you need His help. That way He can get rid of your sin and become closer to you, because really what is getting in the way of you and God is our sin. It's not an overnight thing, you should start going to church and find out more about God and how He can change your life. I'll pray for you as well. :)

Answer 6

You must be consistent and show him love.
And perhaps he smelled the cigarette smoke.
Smoking is a way of worship. You cannot have strange god's before him.
Personally, I/ we (my family) have received many answers to our prayers, so I can tell you from experience that he cares, Is personal, and will help you once he believes your sincere.
But don't expect a personal appearance of expect to hear his voice. That is not going to happen. But, by watching your life change for the better, you will see him in it. Active and loving.
Another note......You must serve him giving up bad ways, and preaching the Kingdom.

Answer 7

the problem you had, was that you seem to have a rational, logical mind to start with, this would prevent you from feeling anything, because in the back of your rational brain, you know nothing will happen. The only way to accept what the bible says is to give up your mind and free thought, you have to be able to take what they say as gospel and never question it. Anyone with a logical mind can not do this.

Answer 8

When I asked for forgiveness and asked Christ into my heart, I knew how sinful I was, I admitted what I did was wrong and wanted more than anything to change...to be saved from my sins.

It wasn't an instantaneous change...but I did change, by the power of the Holy Spirit in me...I didn't see it, and I didn't feel a rush of power...I could see the things in my life that needed to change...things that needed to go. My language was cleaned up and that did seem to happen very quickly...things I had in my home that needed to go were made known to me...they came to mind very much so...and I rid my life of that material decay. What was right became clearer and I am still being changed for the better each day in faith.

Sometimes people undergo a radical change, sometimes more slowly, but the important thing is believing what God says.

We must believe that we are sinners, we must agree with God that we deserve to pay the penalty for our sins against Him. We must repent (ask forgiveness and turn away from those sins and believe that Jesus Christ/God in the flesh, died for us and was resurrected. Ask Him to save you and you will be saved and the Holy Spirit will live within you to sanctify you for the remainder of your life on this earth.

If a person lives their life, believing they have done nothing wrong against God, believes that they have not in fact broken His Law, that they do not "deserve" to pay the penalty for their sins, and they continue living in those same sins they always had, then how is that having faith in Christ?

Nothing is beyond the authority and power of Almighty God.

If you truly seek Him and truly repent and ask Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, and to be the Lord of your life. He has and He is. If you think God has not given you signs...He has. You have His Bible. You have the written testimony of the people God chose to record His interaction with the world throughout history...so that we can know what is expected of us. So that we will "know" when we are saved and have eternal life in Him.

Herod also asked Jesus for a sign when Jesus was brought before him, but Christ did not give him one. Herod truly wanted to see a sign...a miracle...something to make him believe, but his heart was not right. His motivation was all wrong. He wanted "God" to do a trick for him.

Seeking Christ means acknowledging who He is. He is Lord and He suffered the full wrath of God upon that cross so that we, guilty sinners would have a chance to be saved from the penalty of the sins that we willingly committed. He suffered more than any human being could suffer and then died for us. He rose again to prove to us that we would also be raised from the dead by faith in Him.

As I said, God knows our hearts and there is nothing that can be hidden from God.

If you repent, and turn from your sins...ask for forgiveness and for Christ to save you and to be the Lord of your life, then you are saved by faith in Him.

It is by faith we are saved...no one can earn it, and no one deserves it. Believe God, or call Him a liar. Does your life demonstrate your faith?

I pray you begin living your faith daily because God loves you and put you here for a reason.

Take Care and God Bless!

Answer 9

You are only opening your heart and self to Jesus Christ but not surrendering and making Him as your God and Father.

It is like asking the girl to marry you and you are offering her your love without knowing that you are only asking for a short time of a relationship and thinking divorce.

Answer 10

im really looking forward to answers for you because i can say the same. its just so hard to not recieve anything when we think we're trying so hard to get a little light from god to give us hope and strength. personaly, i've been in your shoes and asked god for the same thing. dont listen to any of the flammers who are going to mock you for your belief, but do accept that somtimes the good things will come to those who wait. i've learned to live a little ever since my experience, and have thought that if god loved me, why hasn't he answered me. now i just live, and wait for his answer with doubts and negative yet happy feelings of him.

Answer 11

If You are speaking the truth,I do not understand.If You call upon Jesus he will come to You.Did You challenge god, was it a O.k. prove it? you can not test God.If Your heart is open Jesus will come in.