Lost in sin

[lostsoul7]

I have become lost for a couple of years now I would say. Listening to my friends talk about God's no existance. Watching all of these things unfold on this earth. I have slowly begun to give way to my arrogance as a human thinking that I can and should be the one who controls my life.

Its not a matter of not knowing. It's as though I am rejecting God. I have been living in sin for sometime and I realize its not for me, but how can I change. I want that faith I had as a child before I started questioning things.

I wanna know how to get back. How can I live my life pleasing to the lord? It hurts so much cause I dont know how to get to where I want to go. What must I do to get back with God. How do I change my heart, do I just have to decide and go that way? I need help and prayers. THanks

[Mary_Magdalene]

Had you ever committed your life to Christ before? (i couldnt tell from your message)

You cant change your own heart but God can. I would pray about it. Read the bible every day so you can come to an understanding of what is pleasing to Him. although, I think most people know what is pleasing to Him, if they are really honest with themselves.

Go to a bible believing church, meet friends, get involved there so you have other Christians in your life to walk with.

Pray and read the Word. Put all 'worldly' things in the garbage, then light that trash from the world on fire and walk away.

[Svt4Him]

I think this is an excellent teaching.

http://www.livingwaters.com/listenwatch.shtml

[Pastor Frank]

You're really lucky that your problem has such an easy solution.One of the ten commandments will take care of it for you.It states,"Remember the Sabbath day (the whole day) to keep it holy."So what that means is that after you leave church you will have another 10-12 hours to fill with religious activites.One of the reasons that the United States has become filled with such incredible perversion and truly astonishing violence and evil is that most people spend more time worshiping the god of sports rather than the real God.

Your Sabbath day activities should include activites like Bible and Christian book and magazine reading, and listening to Christian music,radio and television programs.In fact if you start to listen to nothing but Christian radio seven days a week,both your faith and knowledge of Christianity will greatly increase.In addition,if you make some phone calls you should be able to find a church that holds Sunday night services which is a good way to end your Sabbath.Since you are caught up in sin,you also spend some time during your Sabbath observance communicating with an accountability partner you can hook up with in a church fellowship group ,who will help you break out of your worldly chains.

After a few months of living this type of high-power spiritual life,your faith will begin to really grow and you'll then be ready to start asking God to send you the baptism of His Holy Spirit which will give you your confirmation of salvation and bring you into a personal relationship with God which will make it much easier to live the life you want to be living.

[Adoniram]

lostsoul7-

First of all, do not despair. There are many like you. Many stray from the faith they had as a child. I was one. Gloriously, the Lord did not forsake me when I forsook him. As a matter of fact, he came looking for me, and drew me back to himself through the Left Behind series of books. I realized that I had to turn away from the path that I was on and walk the path that Jesus leads us down. I prayed for forgiveness and asked the Lord to renew my heart and mind; to bring me back to my first love. Rev. 2:4-5 (NIV) "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Now I am very happy in the Lord and do my best to serve him.

If you need some assurance that Jesus wants you back, read Luke 15. There are three parables from Jesus that deal specifically with the situation in which you find yourself.

Here we have the parable of "the lost sheep." The sheperd is so concerned about the one sheep that is lost that he will leave the 99 that are safe and search for the lost one until he finds it. And when he has, there is much rejoicing.

The parable of the "lost coin." Having ten coins, if the woman looses one, she sweeps the entire house until she finds it, and when she has found it, she rejoices.

The parable of "the lost son" is a particular favorite of mine. The rich man's son had all he could ever want. But, not being satisfied, he left the home with all he had and "squandered his wealth in wild living." Finding himself broke and starving, he took a job feeding pigs and ate their food with them. Finally, he came to his senses and, knowing that even the servants in his father's house were eating better than he was, decided to go home. When his father saw him coming, he ran out to meet him, overjoyed at his return. The son, feeling unworthy, begged for forgiveness. But the father joyiously took him back into his home, clothed him with fine clothes, and ordered a fine feast to be prepared. He said "'Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."

Luke 15:10 Jesus speaking, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

So lostsoul7, fear not; if you earnestly beg forgiveness, with God's help change your way of living, and do your best to live according to the Lord's teaching and his will, God will be faithful to you. He has to because that is what he has promised.

And, like one of the above posters said, find a Bible teaching church, and make new friends to hang out with. That, more than anything, will make your life choices easier.

May God bless you in your efforts, I know he'll rejoice at your return to the fold.

[lostsoul7]

I have read the left behind books. They are one of the reasons why I had become stronger in faith. Recently its like the light is gone. People ask me about Christianity and I can tell them so many answers, but yet I dont feel it in my heart.

One person said that if I listent to only christian things, and do only christian things that my heart will be filled. The same can be said of the opposite. Its not that I dont believe in God. Its not that I dont believe in Jesus. I just wish I had the same strenght in faith that I had when I was a child.

Sometimes I would sit in church praying vehemently to God, about all the things in the world. Hoping that he would help. Now that I am older, I understand more about the ways of the world and the ways of God. I wish more to take control over my own life than to give it to God. To sin and be happy, but I know that is not the way; but how can I pray to God when I have nothing left in my heart. If I pray I know it wouldnt be earnest. Isnt that blasphemy?

[ChrisB]

how can I pray to God when I have nothing left in my heart. If I pray I know it wouldnt be earnest. Isnt that blasphemy?

It seems to me that the Holy Spirit has allready been working in you convicting you of your sin. If you now pray for His help in guiding you away from that sin that isn't blasphemy by any stretch of the imagination. It seems to me that it is too easy to fall into the error of either thinking that you're too sinful for God to bother with or that Goid will forgive you anything so you may as well indulge yourself to the full. You have to see that sin and redemption are two sides of the same coin; accept Jesus as your saviour and He will welcome you back as a prodigal returned, with your inheritance restored.

As has been suggested find a church where solid Bible teaching is a priority, join it's Bible study group or nay groups it runs for new Christians. Finally rejoice that God wants you back in His family - where you belong :clap:

[Blessed-one]

It seems to me that it is too easy to fall into the error of either thinking that you're too sinful for God to bother with or that Goid will forgive you anything so you may as well indulge yourself to the full.

great advice there from Chris, Lostsoul. I've had trouble accepting God's forgiveness simply because i thought He shouldn't be forgiving me.. but thinking back, i understand more literally on how sin can separate us from God! here i'm a sinner, yet i'm so ashamed and arrogant i suppose.. that God's too good and that i can live on without His forgiveness.

so yeah.. even though your heart's not in prayer, you can actually be sincere. It's like, you really want to be sincere but you're unable to control your heart to make it feel sincere. (hope i'm not confusing you here). But the key is to keep trying and keep praying, because He will never reject someone seeking after Him. I'm sure you'll get over this hurtle with some time.

[Church Punk]

It seems to me that the Holy Spirit has allready been working in you convicting you of your sin.
:clap:
WORD UP!
I totally know where you are coming from. I was once walking without the Lord and He called me back (thanks again God). The fact that you are making a post like this says alot. He wants you, so do it! In the words of Steven Curtis Chapman.... DIVE IN! Call on his name, get into His word, pray and let the Holy Spirit work.

[Adoniram]

One person said that if I listent to only christian things, and do only christian things that my heart will be filled. The same can be said of the opposite. Its not that I dont believe in God. Its not that I dont believe in Jesus. I just wish I had the same strenght in faith that I had when I was a child.

You've heard the sayings "you are what you eat," or "garbage in, garbage out." Well, I would say those things are true. But Jesus said "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." So there you have it. By reading the Bible daily you will be able to counteract those "worldly feelings." BTW, Jesus was quoting from Deut. 8, which is an interesting chapter and may have some relevance to your situation.

Now that I am older, I understand more about the ways of the world and the ways of God. I wish more to take control over my own life than to give it to God.

Paul was quite familiar with the feelings you are expressing. I won't post it here, but take time to read Rom. 7:15-8:25. It expresses the conflict between the spirit and the flesh, and the rewards for those who overcome the fleshly desires and patiently wait for the hope that is ours.

I might also suggest that you get into studying prophecy. That certainly rekindled the fire in me. To know that we are living in the end times and watching God's plan come together before our eyes is very invigorating. It also encourages us to live in readiness for his coming. It could be today, it could be tomorrow. For truly, no man knoweth the day or the hour. It's exciting to me.

God Bless

[lostsoul7]

I had recently saw the passion of christ again. One of my friends from church gave me Isiah 53 to read. Everything that was written almost 700 years ago had come true. You cant refute stuff like that. Also Psalms 22 also talks about Jesus. It was amazing to see how God works through history. I have always believed in God and I have more confidence in my belief. Thank you everyone for your inspiring words. I now have to take the right step to make myself one with God. One day at a time.

[Deb4given]

I have read the left behind books. They are one of the reasons why I had become stronger in faith. Recently its like the light is gone. People ask me about Christianity and I can tell them so many answers, but yet I dont feel it in my heart.

One person said that if I listent to only christian things, and do only christian things that my heart will be filled. The same can be said of the opposite. Its not that I dont believe in God. Its not that I dont believe in Jesus. I just wish I had the same strenght in faith that I had when I was a child.

Sometimes I would sit in church praying vehemently to God, about all the things in the world. Hoping that he would help. Now that I am older, I understand more about the ways of the world and the ways of God. I wish more to take control over my own life than to give it to God. To sin and be happy, but I know that is not the way; but how can I pray to God when I have nothing left in my heart. If I pray I know it wouldnt be earnest. Isnt that blasphemy?
I have a 25yo son that could have written your post, LostSoul. He was raised in church but has gone on his way doing what he wants. He is miserable with this tug of war in his soul. Mostly because God isn't going to let him go. He isn't going to let you go, either.

Just like the father of the prodical son, that is a picture of our Heavenly father. He's there waiting and will run to meet you with open arms. He is just waiting, and He is very patient. But, he wants you to want Him for yourself. Not what your parents had, or your friends, or what your teacher has told you, He wants you to find out who HE really is for yourself. Sometimes we hit the pigsty before we realize what everything is about.

Let go and let God do the rest, He will be there to catch you and place the ring and the robe back on you.

I will be praying for you.

[Kelly]

There's some really good advice here. All I can say is the more time I spend with God, the nearer he comes to me. Try to start and end your day with quiet time devoted to God. Try to be in the word as much as possible. If you don't have time to study the bible (or your eyes start to glaze over when you study alone) there are other ways you can get involved. Listen to Christian AM radio - bible studies, etc, join a bible study group or accountability group at your church. Having others with you who are farther along in their walk is always helpful.

[Blade]

Wow I got blessed just reading all this thank you..