I just don't know how.......

[footprints_nthe_sand]

I do my praying in the morning and at night, I read my bible a little bit each day. But honestly i just dont feel him. I want to soooooo badly. I want him there i want to live the way he wants me to. But i feel like im doin it all wrong. Everyone is so inspired and almost brought to tears by just having him in their life. I know i could be doing more but i just dont know what...........I do believe in him, i just cant feel him there....

Its not like im new to this my family has raised me as a Christian since i was a little girl but it seemed like we just kinda went through the motions than really invited him into our lives. Now i want to more than anything but i have a feeling im going to need a little help...........Anyone have any hints? I dont really like my church at all so i just dont go, i would switch but my rents are very against it so that will have to wait until i leave for college in two years. Thanks for taking the time to read this

[twistedsketch]

Well, except for not going to church (which skipping out on this one may or may not be for valid reasons) you're doing things right from the sound of it. But you're not always going to feel God anyway. He's there, whether you feel Him or not, and He will not abandon you, whether you feel His presence or not. It takes an exercise of faith to be at peace with this. Memorizing God's promises to you is a good way to start getting there. They don't ever stop being true, and recalling these facts can help you whenever you feel this way.

[Jayangel81]

Twistedsketch brought up some good points, we shouldnt look for God in a certain type of feeling, its simply to say because He is more than a feeling. He is a real being. Often times people look for the warm fuzzies and it decieves them.

The fact that you want to seek him out like this tells me that in truth He is drawing you closer and closer to Him. We just dont seek Him out ourselves. Its Gods Grace for you. In your Christian walk these feelings of not doing things right will occur and often times its spiritual warfare.

Dont worry about how inspired people are :) We are all on different levels of our walk. Keep getting to know God, and root His Word deep into your heart.

Getting help from other Christians is great, edification is very important. But your real guide in showing what needs to be done is the Holy Spirit. He will be your teacher and guide. He will show you more than any of us could ever. Im joyed to see you came to our site, there are many people here who will be able to help out when needed:hug:

[suzybeezy]

Good advice so far. I'd also add to my prayers that desire to feel his presence. Maybe get involved in some groups at your church or attend some Christian concerts. Those are great ways to get closer to God. You're definately on the right track, just keep turning in to him and he is faithful and will answer your prayers. I remember my minister one time saying something that has always stuck with me, "Sometimes in the silence, he's doing the most work".

[tturt]

Agree you've already gotten good advice. Adding: believe scriptures such as - Draw close to Him, He'll draw close to you. Someone pointed out to me that we draw close to Him then He draws close to us. Also, you might enjoy reading "God Chasers."

[Bellicus]

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/knock.html), and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/egg.html), will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

It is important to know that God always hears our prayers when our prayers are after his will and not for our own gain. And it is his will to give us the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit can show us the way we need to go.

Acts 2,17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens (http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/handmaid.html) I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

What I notice here is: You were raised as a Christian. This might mean that you don't notice the Holy Spirit, because this is something that has always been a part of your life. And when I think about my own life, the times I have been brought to tears by the Spirit and had these strong religious experiences you probably are looking for, are the times when I have been away from God and gotten back to him. But now, when I am getting used to living as a Christian I get more and more one with the Spirit in all things, so I hardly notice much about it and the only reason I notice anything at all is because I have been really far away from God in the past and I know the difference.

Remember the story about the lost son in the bible and the other son that got no party, but had always had all the good things from the father instead of wasting it and getting into a life of sin and misery. The lost son didn't really get a party or something better, he just got what you have been having all the time, and you don't consider it to be a party, because you don't know what it is like to be in the hands of Satan. If you would know, you would be brought to tears, you would kneel down and praise God for the mercy he has given you.

I know a man that has been living as a Christian all his life, and I envy him and look up to him because he got the luck with him in all things. He got education, a good job, a place of his own to live in, a car, a boat, a wife, and he is healthy both physically and mentally. And when I look at my self I am nothing but a failure, I have been so far away from God that sometimes I wonder If He can ever put my life back together again.

Things that you can make you know the Holy Spirit by: Do you ever notice that if you consider to do or do something that you know is wrong or a sin, that you loose the feeling of peace, that something feels bad in your heart? If you notice things like this, then it is the Spirit telling you this, and telling you to come back to God again. Cause people that are not Christians don't feel things like this, the natural state of mind for them is to live in sin. Think about a sheep and a pig and a pool of mud. If the sheep would get into the mud it would try to get out of there as soon as possible, but for the pig it is natural to live in the mud. So this is something you can know if you are living with the Spirit or not: If you keep away from the mud, and if you are quick to get out of it, if you happen to fall into it.

Also look in the scriptures to see what the fruits of the Spirit is. If you think those fruits are something that is part of your life, then ask God to let you bring more fruits.

I hope this maybe answered your question. God bless.

[heymikey80]

I really like the input that went before. Just to add, you often don't feel things because you're not integrated into a communion of other believers. I've found that feelings can't be sustained while I'm not in that communion. If your current Christian communion isn't offering communion (not the sacrament: think fellowship) to you, then it's going to be hard to hold onto those feelings.

And it's not going to be a reliable feeling either. If you're "in good" with people who aren't offering you good discipleship, then you'll have the feeling without the progress.

Fortunately the feelings are for our encouragement, not for our salvation.

There're really good reasons for why these things are related to one another, theologians have been examining Christian life and salvation for centuries. But of course, "there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path."

[Mr.Cheese]

Our feelings change with the weather. So we have to be aware that feelings are not always the most reliable gauge of reality.
These days it seems like Jesus is used like crystal meth. Everyone always has to be in some blissful, euphoric state.

Volunteer at places. Jesus said "follow me." Learn how that fits in with your life and how you can follow him. You don't have to be like anyone else. Jesus wants you to be you.
The fact that you have these desires in your heart is wonderful.