Christians, how do you keep your faith alive? Because I have trouble in that.?

Question

I can be a very logical and rational person, and because I am Catholic, I sometimes question my own beliefs.

Honestly, I do not want to throw all of my years of practicing this religion out the window, but it can be difficult sometimes for me to just believe and have "faith".

It can be difficult to pray at night just to only feel like your praying to yourself in the dark.

So my question is, whenever you are in doubt, how do handle it? or do you?

Do look up on stories and articles to find some sort of inspiration?

Answer 1

This has been my best year ever in terms of my faith. Lately, I have taken to reevaluating. I look around me and I take stock of what is going right and I try to tell myself that though a few things might go wrong, they will get better.

I like to say that as believers, we are supposed to believe that Jesus knows all and that our lives take no turn unless he wills it so. So if we believe that as God's children we inherit the earth and that happiness belongs to us, then we have to act like it. Otherwise we are hypocrites Lately, when I have exercised this way, I have come to the conclusion that I am very blessed.

After I graduated, I stopped going to church and I really struggled with my faith. I never stopped believing Jesus died for me, but I just lost a lot of faith in God's love because I was so lonely and miserable. I really don't think I truly believed, and I shied away because I was born into my faith. But that left me no where, life got no better, it only worsened. Eventually, life took its turns and I have started going to church again. It helps that though I am Christian, I attend a non-denominational and multi-ethnic church. In the NT it says that every tribe and tongue will worship. I have really been encouraged by my church friends.

Answer 2

You will no doubt have many answers to your question. Many have the same doubts like even Mother Theresa and the Pope. You see it is because you are not yet truly born again by the water and the Spirit. Jesus said in John 3:5 that the only way to be born again and receive assurance of your salvation is through His gospel of the water and the Spirit.
I don't care which denomination or church you belong to, that does not concern me, but the very thing you must do is to obey the Lord. If you come another way He will call you a robber and a thief. I do care that you have assurance of faith in God, that is why I talk like I do.

If you should carry on doing what you are doing and not obey the Lord you will surely in time leave your church and faith, totally disillusioned, like many on this forum.

Answer 3

The Catholic church teaches things that are not true. Why not read the new testament starting with John 1 and see for yourself where the truth is. It is extremely important not to worship anything but God, or look to anything but grace for salvation.

Revelation 22 (New King James Version)
Now I, John, saw and heard[c] these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For[d] I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Answer 4

You question your beliefs BECAUSE you are a rational, intelligent person. The bible is repulsive in many ways. It tells us about things that have never happened (such as Noah's ark and a supposed flood that covered mt. Everest) and it tells us to "put to death" anyone who has sinned. That would be tens of million of innocent people. Anyone who works on the Sabbath day (sunday) should be put to death, according to "God." That would be pretty much everybody. Anyone who cusses at their parents should be put to death. Any teenager who drinks too much. Any person or place who do not believe in God is supposed to be destroyed. These rules by God are not followed, but some are. If he is an all-knowing, all-good god, then you can't simply pick and choose. You either follow all of his rules, or stop pretending this invisible being exists.
Check out www.pantheism.com
This makes more sense to me than anything else i have ever read. Albert Einstein, one of the most intelligent men to have ever walked the Earth, was a pantheist.

Answer 5

To me, faith = trust. I trust God for what He said, and if I am in doubt I can generalize and say to Him and myself that He always keeps His word. If I want to get specific, I can get into the Bible with a number of commentaries and Biblical dictionaries and find out what I am trying to figure out.

When people say the word 'pray,' they tend to mean getting on the floor, knees bent in a particular way, hands clasped together and speaking in 'churchy' tones. I don't mean it that way. Prayer to me is communication with God. So I set aside tradition and just talk to Him. With all of religious ceremonial 'duties', there is also just being real. Committing to an act of Faith; especially prayer, and doing the act without pretense. I make it meaningful by pouring my real thoughts into it, not the ones taught by a priest in church or at Mass.

Answer 6

The Christians I know including myself have had doubts from time to time if not often. But trust and faith have much to do with continuing to believe.

Do read your bible, do speak to your Christian friends. There is plenty of help in both of these resources.

God knows you feel like that, so trust Him enough to pray to him to give you strenghth not to waiver in your faith.

I seems to remember someone once asking the Lord something to which he asked the person "do you believe?". The person answered, I do believe, please help me with my unbelief.

This idea is surely not new. Keep seeking. Keep being logical and rational too. God does not need idiots. He would like you to use all your gifts that He has granted. Bring honour to His Name.

With Christian love,

Lisa

Answer 7

Having a strong-binding faith requires developing a personal relationship with our creator. How do we do this? Firstly, by acquiring accurate knowledge of Him through regular Bible study and prayer. Attending meetings and socializing with others who share our same faith also helps keep us close to God.

Answer 8

I was raised a Lutheran and I became an Atheist. I got saved at a Baptist Church, but I did not follow God. Over the years, God would prove Himself to me and I would drift back into my sins and it felt as if He left me. I got filled with the Holy Ghost at a Pentecostal Church and I no longer need faith anymore because God is with me continually. My best advice for you is to seek the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and in the mean time, keep seeking God's Presence. He is a rewarder of those who believe that He is God and diligently seek Him.

Answer 9

It's something that probably every Christian struggles with at some point. I think the best thing to do is pray for stronger faith. Fellowship with other believers and just reading the Bible can help too.

Answer 10

you've gotta believe. I'm not a catholic but our religions are pretty similar. if you don't wanna hear from someone outside your faith then you can stop now but, I think you need to pick what's right from what's not. if Catholicism doesn't feel right maybe you should see what else is out there. I'm not saying you should totally abandon your faith or your religion just that maybe there's something better.