Prayer Board Requests - WHY does God reveal himself to some and not to others?

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WHY does God reveal himself to some and not to others?
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Posted by: Frederik

I am so happy for having found a few christians on the net which seem to have the same problems like me. I already feared that there are only christians which know God totally well and which hear his voice and which walk in signs and miracles. But it looks like I am not alone. There are also other christians which are frustrated and would like to know God more and would like to get a revelation from him. Otherwise the faith always stays vulnerable and this sucks. I don't want to be shaken by attacks on my faith wether it is in the media,the news or at the university. This really sucks and it costs a lot of strength. It's more or less a struggle. I have to keep my faith alive otherwise I'll go to hell. This is really depressing. The bible says that God allows himself to be found by those which seek him. I also seek him even though I don't really know how. I cannot pray for hours like some mega christians and I also cannot talk to God for hours. What shall I do? Whine and complain to him for hours?
How can I tell an unbeliever that God reveals himself to those which seek him when I cannot even get such a revelation?

This makes me feel like a hypocrite. And then there are these people which tell you: What? You're asking for a sign? You will not get a sign from God!
But in most cases these christians are exactly the ones which get all kinds of signs and see miracles. But if you do not hear God, if you have nothing at all and everything is simply so unclear then what do you have? Not much. This isn't a relationship. It's like you're a soldier at the front line and you don't have a telephone and no contact to your leader and you have no idea what's going on. You don't even know wether the others are still there or not. And then on the other hand there are the super christians which hear God, which tell you how God is and which tell you how easy it is to get into God's presence and when I hear such stuff I only ask myself: What the heck?!
Cause for me it's not easy at all. So why do some christians walk in signs and miracles and others have this dry,powerless kind of christianity? Are they simply more radical or more precious to God? Would I experience God if I was more radical? Or is it lack of faith or what is it?

Today it's like you cannot even talk about such things anymore. Once I was at a house meeting and we talked about knowing God and it was like all the others hear God and I didn't even dare saying that I don't hear anything, I felt like an alien.
I really don't understand it. There are christians which tell you the wildest stories and sometimes you think: Do I really believe this? I mean maybe they are a bit nuts or make this stuff up. It's simply so hard to comprehend why there are christians which experience all kinds of things and others have nothing, zilch.

I'm really at my wits' end. I tried to spend more time with God and talk to him but all it brought was frustration cause nothing happened. Do you think God wants to stay hidden? Sometimes I ask myself wether God maybe wants to stay hidden and maintain this state, where everything is so dim.
Does anybody have an idea? Any helpful input?

Posted by: Christian Commando

Frederik- is this you saying these things, or an opinion shared by another to you?

First of all, I'll say one thing. When I first got interested in learning about God and His Word, I didn't sit and wait for God to show up like many do. I spent all my free time reading and studying God's Word, then searching for resources to explain it better to me. then, as I learned more, God became more real to me.

No, I hadn't come in contact with my creator as yet. But, finally, after reading enough and researching enough to be sure I was learning the most accurate facts I could, I finally believed God was real and His Word true.

Then, I started sharing His Word to help others with problems. No... I still hadn't met the true God of Heaven yet. I never knew what it was all those first 7 years I spent sharing God and His Word with others, but was still always missing something. Even tho, 5 years after starting, I had a dream where God called me into the ministry. (He did not directly, but thru an example).

I'll admit, for several years I was irritated to see so many others have miracles and more happen for them when prayed over, but my life changed very little, tho I did make one choice to joyfully serve God. So, I was happy to an extent, but far from satisfied.

Finally, after meeting a special Pastor thru a friend of mine, God used Him to ask me the ultimate question. There were two things told me by this Pastor and his guest Pastor-speaker-

1- "You know what you have to do". I was in a relationship that was wrong before God and knew, even tho didn't want to lose the attention, I should get out of it.

2- God has blessed many others because of you, He wants to bless you now, if you will let Him.

Then the head Pastor asked me if I wanted to know God personally and have Christ as my Lord and Savior and be sure I was going to Heaven?

Taken by supprise, I was going to defend myself, when God spoke thru him before I could start. He told me, works will not save you, for you were about to boast of them.

I then said yes, I do want your offer. At thier home, the Pastor took me thru the steps of accepting Salvation.

Since then, I have come in contact with God and Christ many times. Not to see them as we do people, but thier presence has been so strong, it's been indescribable at times.

The majority of people leading defeated lives as christians may be living for God as I was, but not doing as God was guiding them for personal path. You can follow his word, but as a Child of his, we are expected to fulfill our part God chooses for each of us to do.

Because "works" won't save, living by the "letter" of his Word, does not bring Blessings as much as we think it should, if not following the path God chooses for us. God's Word is the general outline to live by, showing us our sin. But, seeking Him earnestly for what He wants of us personally and where He leads us to go are seperate things to that.

I would say it's pretty clear, something is missing in this person's life for bringing them to know God so closely and have a more blessed life in Him.

Lord- I pray, if this is from Frederik, you would lead this young man to know where he is at, so he can know where you want him to be for you. We pray that you enlighten this Child of yours to find the closeness and satisfaction and joy so many others have experienced from and with you so close to them, that he can finally feel truely free and happy in his life you've given him to live. In Jesus Name- Amen!!

Posted by: Frederik

This is from me!

I don't understand this. You said even though you believed and served God you were not saved??? How can this be???? How is this possible????

This is exactly the stuff which scares me. If you were not saved then maybe I am also not saved. Oh man. And now the whole thing starts all over again.

I'll go to bed now. This is exhausting. Really, I am so sick of being scared of maybe not being saved and all this. I did what I could do. If I'm not saved now then how shall I ever be saved? You cannot do more than repent and aks Jesus into your heart.

Posted by: Remnant7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frederik

This is from me!

I don't understand this. You said even though you believed and served God you were not saved??? How can this be???? How is this possible????

This is exactly the stuff which scares me. If you were not saved then maybe I am also not saved. Oh man. And now the whole thing starts all over again.

Fear is from the enemy. You have been ministered to so much, given so much wisdom and it seems to be falling on deaf ears. If you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are saved. It doesn't sound like you are victorious at all, mainly due to your very negative attitude and lack of faith. You do not trust God. Those who trust God, regardless of their FEELINGS, will have faith to believe that He can do all things for them. I, again, advise you quit listening to lots of voices out there... whoever these nay sayers are, and start reading the bible for yourself. You either trust God or you don't. You will either obey Him or you won't. The decision is entirely yours, not anyone elses. No Christian saved you, it was God Himself who drew you by His Holy Spirit, so start going to the source... God Almighty Himself, for answers. To suggest that He plays favorites and is a respecter of persons, reveals your lack of understanding of the Word of God and, therefore, God Himself. None of us are in a position to question God... did you create the heavens? I pray you will spend your time more productively and get off this self-pity trip you continually cycle into... it isn't doing you any good. If you go by your emotions, you will be jerked around constantly, because circumstances change and with them, our emotions change. So concentrate on getting to know the character of God, reading His Word, and trusting Him to draw you closer to Him, and smile by faith.

Posted by: Christian Commando

Frederik- Remnant7 is exactly right. What did I mention to you in another thread before about having faith and believing? If you would change your attitude from so negative to more positive, you'd see more positive things from God happening in your life.

God shows clearly what happened to those in His Word who had so negative an attitude for lacking in faith and belief, little if anything He could do for them.

Wake up my friend. Like she said, if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, then quit worrying about ether saved or not. You are and are safe my boy.

The only worry you will or should have now, is what you are doing, to store up treasures in Heaven. As with you and all others, we must grow in God, to learn more, gain more Blessings, do more to gain treasures etc.

As Remnant7 said, don't let satan convince you to worry over such things. As Akabezalel has stated in the past, you have been promoted and that means you've grown enough in God, you need not fear such things anymore.

God Bless!!

Posted by: Frederik

What shall I do now? Try to be happy?

Don't you think I'd like to have more faith and trust in God? Of course I would! I also pray about these things. But somehow nothing changes.

And where does Aka wanna know how much I have grown? Can you tell me this? I think I know much better where I am and I don't feel like I've grown very much.

Posted by: Remnant7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frederik

What shall I do now? Try to be happy?

Frederik.... no, I don't think you want to trust God more, otherwise you would be doing it. I think you want God to work on your terms, whatever they are. I will say this again... stop seeking advice from all over the place, you are only getting yourself more and more confused. It's really very simple.... YOU get on YOUR knees before God and seek His face for answers. This endless debating has no purpose other than to waste time and cause confusion and frustration... you are causing your own misery, not God or people. It is time for you to take responsibility for where you find yourself. Instead of going to bed in depression, go to God and cry your heart out to Him. He hears you, but you are stopping Him from working in your life because you don't hand things over to Him and leave them there... you take them back and try to solve them yourself, in your own understanding and abilities. I guess some people have to learn the hard, harder, and then hardest ways before God has their attention and can move in their lives. I pray you stop beating your head against the bricks, so to speak, and just start trusting God and His Word.... you won't regret it.

Father, I pray Frederik will submit himself to you completely and without reservation. I pray he will take up his cross and follow you daily, reading your Word and communing with You, even if he doesn't feel like it. Just by faith. Surround him with Your peace, as he takes steps to draw closer to You. Your will be done in His life, in Jesus' Name, amen.

Posted by: Christian Commando

My boy-

Remnant7 is right again. You are going to have to learn to quit being so impatient. You are going to have to learn to let go of things at Christ's feet and let him handle them for you.

You are going to have to learn to be responcible to do your part, than trying to argue childish points with people who God has given you so much direction thru, to go. Quit using excuses that are no longer valid. You have proven you have grown enough in your understanding of God's Word, you can go further. But you must want to.

Seeking our advice is useless for both sides, if you won't put forth the effort to improve your relationship with God yourself. We can't do it for you and you should quit complaining how others appear to have grown more than you, when it's evident, they put more effort into thier relationship with God, than you do with yours.

Your silly and unacceptable childish responces of- "I'm not in the mood" and more are clear enough proof you do not want to do it.

Either lie down and be quiet in the bed you've made for yourself, or work to straiten it out and make it worth yours and our time to help you grow.

You are a good young man, but truely need to get your priorities strait for how you want to live and be blessed by God.

God Bless Brother-

Posted by: MarkSentMe

Frederick, man, I love your questions because they cause me to pick my brain and the brains of those around me! If we stop asking questions and stop seeking God, then our faith will surely become nothing more than ritual, tradition and trite. Kind of like the religion I belonged to for 19 years. It was all about the traditions and no one that I knew then or know now has heard a peep from God! They think I am a full-on nut! That's OK. I keep sharing my joy with them, I have plenty and the Lord always provides more.
One time a non-believer friend of mine asked me how many of my prayers have been answered. I truthfully said,"ALL of them!" God is not at my beckon call and I don't have everything I asked for, but my prayers have been answered. I either get a "yes" a "no" or a "not now, be patient" or a "wait".
A few weeks ago, maybe a month or so, I asked God for guidance about a house we looked at to buy. I said that it was "in Your hands, Lord, and if this is the house from us, then Your Will be done." I then went to bed. At some point in the middle of the night, I "heard" (not with my ears, though) the word "NO!" Loud and clear and very stern. A few days later, a situation regarding my house in NC was revealed!
I then was walking my dog and praying about my house in NC. I said,"Lord, thank You for the revelations in the situation of our house. I give it to You Lord. I only ask that Your will be done..." As I walked I saw what appeared to be a quarter (25 cents) on the ground. Then I could see that it was too big to be a quarter, so I figured it might have been a Chuck E. Cheese token. I bent over to pick it up and could feel that it was a plastic coin. I looked at it and on it is written: "GOD IS FAITHFUL" 1 Corinthians 10:13 God spoke to me!

I sometimes get frustrated with people who have been Christians longer than I because sometimes they try to snuff my joy. When I talk to the young people at my church and I tell them some of the incidents where God spoken to me, they get it!! Adults sometimes are too, I don't know how to say it, like they lack wonder. And the Bible does say that you have to become like a child in your faith. My son is 5 years old and when he speaks of the Lord, he is so animated and his eyes light up. He is on fire for the Lord and he hungers for the Word. Yet when I talk to my family, they are dead spiritually. It's like they need a burning bush or the sea to part for them to believe. I mean they "believe" in God, but they are not in a relationship with Him.
Several years ago, I had slipped into a situation where I had become an atheist. I believed in God, but I rejected Him. He could have kicked in my front door (and my front teeth too) and I would have denied Him! But I still did good deeds and volunteered and donated money. Now I know that all of those things, while benefitting others, were not pleasing to God. I did not do what I did for God; I was more self-serving than that. I did what I did as a kind of "insurance", so as to say that if I donated I could keep fate from visiting my house! I know now that my good deeds were filthy rags before the Lord. There is NOTHING we can do to make God love us more...or less.
"Not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:9)
I don't know what to tell you that hasn't be said in previous posts, or re-hashed. I cannot make you "feel" like a Christian. It seems like you spend an awful lot of time "yard-saling" for a religion or a spiritual experience. I have read your posts about the charasmatic mass and this service and that church. God will lead you to the church you where need to be. And it will happen when you open your heart. The Jews, so steeped in ritual, laws and tradition, were so busy worrying about what the law said and being seen doing what they were doing that they totally missed the Messiah!
Don't make that same mistake! People have answered your questions and it seems like it's just not good enough. I don't know what you expect. Guarantees? Faith is believing in the unseen. Faith in God isn't about how we "feel". There are times when I am on fire, hit the ground running, ready to put on my WonderWoman cape and share the Good News. And there are other times I feel like a lazy servant.
Only God has the answers you seek. Pray to Him and ask what He wants you to do. But don't expect a text message for an answer! Keep your eyes, heart and mind open to what He has in store for you. And be prepared. He will use you where HE sees fit, not necessarily where you want to be. So long as you keep looking for God to conform to your expectations, He will continue to be aloof. When you surrender and accept the free gift He has given you (salvation through Jesus Christ alone) God will speak to you and you will see things that were always there, but hidden in plain view.
God Bless.

Sharyn

Posted by: Stacy H.

I had a few thoughts when I read your post...
About the revelations from God. I,myself,am not one of those Christians who prays non-stop for hours or spends time in the Word everyday. To be honest it is burdensome for me to pray or read the Bible longer than an hour. Sad but true. Growing up I used to force myself to sit and read the Bible out of guilt and I really hated it. Even though these things are hard for me to do and though I don't do them enough God still talks to me. I have dreams,I've seen spirits and angels and God has used many sources like TV,magazines,people etc. to talk to me. If you ask me why God chooses to speak to me like this all I can say is that I do not know. I have been told by people that God talks to me this way because I am weak and that is what I need. I've also been told that if I really had a good and proper relationship with Him then He would not speak to me as much and all all I'd need to hear from Him is my Bible. I don't know why God speaks to some louder than others. I can say that I've learned that He is speaking constantly to us. It might be that people cannot hear Him because they are not listening or they have Him on a timetable. If it's especially the latter then really who are we to tell God to hurry up and answer? He rarely answers those kind of demands it seems. What I can suggest is what I've told lots of people and also do myself. I pray every day before I go start my workday that my day go according to His will. That He would rid me of my,sinful, will and replace it with His. And He has honored that prayer so many times and in amazing ways. I also pray that He gives me eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart that understands and desires to know Him. And the Lord honors that prayer as well. So why don't you try that maybe? And if it does not seem like it's working right away then just keep praying and waiting. Be diligent in asking. If it's His will for you to hear from Him in a more tangible way then He'll answer that prayer in that way. It's funny though. My sister and I are completely different in how the Lord talks to us. My sister does not hear from the Lord like I do. She just reads her Bible and sees results to her prayers. She doesn't understand the way the Lord talks to me and thinks I'm nuts and making it up because I'm depserate. But I myself don't understand why God doesn't talk to her in the tangible way that He does me. It could be that the Lord knows what we need. Also too if you look in your Bible you'll see the scripture about how blessed are the people who have not seen but still believe. That would be my sister. She's more blessed than me according to scripture! I'll pray for you about this.
And,lastly, your emotions. I read the other post-ers replies and I agree. You CANNOT go by your emotions. They will lead you down the wrong path over and over. God is constant and our emotions are not. That is something I am struggling with myself and it is very very hard for me. Also,I think,being a woman, it's nuts due to PMS etc. I envy guys who don't have to go through that every month! Imagine hating the world one minute then loving it the next and then wanting to die and end your life and then you're feeling happy again. All those emotions within an hour all day long for a week! I pray so much during those times especially since I often forget what's going on. I pray and cry and ask God for help and thankfully He helps me by reminding me it's my hormones and emotions that are out of whak. That He is constant. So in short stand on the Lord's promises during the times of too much emotions. They'll help you keep focus when it seems that you can't. You can't trust them but you can trust God.
Take care...
-
Stacy

Posted by: MarkSentMe

WOW, Stacy! That was right on the mark! Thank You.

Posted by: Frederik

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian Commando

Your silly and unacceptable childish responces of- "I'm not in the mood" and more are clear enough proof you do not want to do it.

Oh man, you don't even understand what I mean when I say I'm not in the mood. You come off very judgemental. Who gives you the right to say that I don't really want it?

* Remnant

I have tried to seek God but I really didn't know what to do. I felt so dumb. I tried to talk to God but it led nowhere. I wanted to finally achieve something but I achieved nothing. I don't even know what to expect. What happens when you actually FIND God? A flashing light? A booming voice? What can I expect?

Anyway, the problem is I really didn't know what to do. I cannot pray for hours. It was so frustrating! I was really hungry but in the end I didn't know what to do. I didn't last longer than 1 hour. I talked to God and prayed my usual stuff and that was it. After 1 hour I had no more ideas and I was frustrated. Imagine you want something and at the same time don't know how. This is how I felt. I tried this during the holidays for a while. Every night I took my time and I would have had a lot of time. I would have loved to spend time with God for hours cause like I said I had the time and I was hungry but after about 1 hour I was done with my stuff and didn't know what to do now.

Maybe God also wants to show me that I am not the one who determines when something happens cause I always thought that as soon as I really start searching for God something will happen. I always thought this way cause I heard from others that they seeked God and then something happened.
But you also get so very different advice. Some people will advise you to spend a lot of time seeking for God and others will advise you to not do this cause this would mean you try to earn getting into his presence. So it's not even clear what to do about it. And there is also a danger. If you seek for God every day and invest a lot of time for this then you'll also have huge expectations and if God doesnt show up then you might become angry. I would become angry, I know this. I easily become frustrated and angry. This also happened to me during the holidays. I started and was totally enthusiastic but after a few days the fire was gone and I became frustrated and then I stopped seeking God and then I tried to motivate myself again and asked God to motivate me to get back into this routine of spending time with God but somehow it didn't work. I did not really achieve much during the holidays even though I wanted to. I had a lot of time but I didn't really reach anything cause time is not even the crucial factor. The dumbest thing is wanting to seek God and not knowing how.

And now I'm gonna read Mark and Stacie's replies cause first I wanted to reply to you two.

Posted by: Frederik

* Sharyn

What makes you think I'm looking for religion? I don't want religion. Really.
I simply miss these things which other christians have. I mean even if God did giant miracles for me every day then I would still miss the direct communication with him. You know if I pray and God grants a prayer then this is also a way of communication. I know that he heard it. But it's not direct. So even if all my prayers were granted I would still miss this direct communication with God. Imagine you call your father every day and leave him a message on the answering machine and he always does what you tell him to do but you never talk to him live, then this also would be a bit strange. This is how I feel. There is no direct communication even though I'd really like to know how God is and how he thinks. There are so many things which you can not find in the bible. Often I ask myself what would God say about this or what would God do now and then I realize that I don't know how God really is. Is God funny for example? Does he have humor? I'd simply like to know Him personally and not only from the bible.
And I really don't understand why are there people like you or Stacy which experience all this stuff and other's don't? Somehow I feel like I've already become one of those christians which you described which have a hard time accepting such things which you talk about cause often I also ask myself wether these things which others talk about are real or maybe imagined.
And I've also been disappointed pretty often. When I first came here a few users told me stuff like "God wants to zap you now, just try it..." and I tried it and nothing happened. This was not good for me. After trying such things a few times you become frustrated and you also get the feeling that this will never happen. It simply becomes unreal to you. And now I feel like through all these disappointments and expectations a giant wall has been created. It simply becomes so hard to imagine that it might ever be different or that I might ever be closer to God. I mean this would be such a big thing, it's almost scary. I don't even dare to think about how it could be cause these thoughts drag me down cause I don't have it and I don't want to think about something I don't have.

As for the blessed thing...
I don't see it this way. This would mean that people like Benny Hinn or whoever hears from God and sees stuff are less blessed than a regular church goer who experiences nothing. This makes no sense.

I would love to experience stuff.

* Stacy

I already have prayed to God to open my eyes,ears and my heart. I do all these things. I also just started to pray every morning and to give the day to God, whatever this means.

But then again I think what if I give the day to God and ask him to take control and then he wants me to do something and I don't dare to?

Anyway, it would be so cool if I could do something for God. For example if he showed me people to pray for. I'd love to do this.
I really don't know what's the reason why things do not work the way I'd like them to work. Maybe there is something which keeps me from getting all these things, I don't know.

I also wanted the baptizm of the holy spirit and had laid hands of various times and nothing happened. No idea why. In the end I simply don't know why. Imagine there is a reason which keeps me from getting all these things and I don't even know the reason, this upsets me.

Posted by: MarkSentMe

Quote:

And I really don't understand why are there people like you or Stacy which experience all this stuff and other's don't? Somehow I feel like I've already become one of those christians which you described which have a hard time accepting such things which you talk about cause often I also ask myself wether these things which others talk about are real or maybe imagined.

Have you ever worn WalkMan headphones? And your friend comes up and he's talking to you. You see his mouth moving, but the music is drowning out his voice. This is what you are experiencing with God. No, God isn't going to come down in a blaze of glory, fire and brimstone, lightning and wind to talk to you! God speaks to us though various means. Our stubbornnes and intellectuality and arrogance are the reason some people don't hear anything. Even if God came down and rolled out the red carpet and gave you a solid gold engraved invitation "To Frederich", would you even believe? Or would you give God a litmus test to prove to YOU, puny mortal, who he is? This is why some people's prayers go "unanswered". It's not because God forsake THEM it's because how many times is God going to put someone or something in someone's path before he says "NEXT!" and moves on to the next person. God doesn't work on our timeline. So your no getting what you want when you wanted it may be the reason you are disappointed.
Try reading "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.

Quote:

Is God funny for example? Does he have humor?

Sure He does. Just tell Him your plans!

Quote:

This would mean that people like Benny Hinn or whoever hears from God and sees stuff are less blessed than a regular church goer who experiences nothing.

Benny Hinn is a joke. Period. "Regular church-goers" who experience nothing are called "bench warmers". They experience nothing because they give nothing. They do not give of themselves and they do not give God their whole life. They have hardened their hearts to God and He has become aloof. When they get over themselves and surrender to God, they might see something!

Posted by: Christian Commando

My boy- If you say you are "not in the mood" but mean something else, I suggest you say what you mean.

You've come down on us for things you've said we replied to, yet you claim to not mean what you said. Ok then, say what you mean, so we can respond correctly in understanding you.

You get quite irritated with us for not understanding you, yet you have no idea how hard it is, to explain things to someone who isn't sharing things the way they mean them and are misinterpreted. So please, lets try to get on the same page of understanding for this my Brother in Christ.

God Bless!!

Posted by: MarkSentMe

My next-door neighbor is a saved Christian and I put this discussion to her, since she has been saved a lot longer than I. She gave me this insight:
When we continue to question God (even the Bible scolds against it) and we continue to press God to do things our way and when we want them, God will harden His heart to our disrepectful and disobedient selves. He is polite and therefore will not force himself on anyone.

Outside our church on the marquee this summer was written:

"GOD IS REAL NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL"

Posted by: Frederik

This doesn't help me. You basically tell me that if God doesn't talk to me it's all my fault cause I am not really wanting it, cause I am intellectual etc etc....
How can you even know this? How can you know wether I want it? Do you think being a rather sceptical person is funny? It's not. I didn't choose to be this way. I think when you say that all those which do not experience God have either not surrendered to God or do something else wrong then you're making this a bit easy for yourself.

Posted by: Christian Commando

My dear friend, please understand it is your impatience is all. Like me when younger, you are pushing too hard, too fast. Let God work with you in His timing, that you end up learning all He wants you to know. Let God have the time to help you learn, so you can, as mentioned seeing others, gain more blessings from God also.

We all want this for you. You just seem to want things too quickly. God will have all things work out for you as He knows best for you.

God bless Bro in christ!!

Posted by: Frederik

Man I have been a christian for 4 years now.
What should God be waiting for? There are christians which just converted and already hear God but not me. This isn't normal.

Maybe there is something blocking me, I don't know.

Maybe time is not a factor here. Why should everything become better when only give time?

Posted by: Stacy H.

Hey Frederik! :>
And again these are just my thoughts...
I have a link to a devotional I suggest you read and apply to your life. Print the devotional out and put it in a place you'll see and be reminded every day. http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/devo...nt/1351207.html
I'd forgotten that I had this and re-read it this morning I thought it would be perfect for you! Especially since it has a prayer you can pray!
You asked me about what if you gave the day to God and He asked you to do something and you didn't do it? Well, my mother taught me that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not force you to do anything. So the choice is yours. You can say no and that means you'll miss out on doing God's work. We have free will and God honors that. Or you can say yes and do what He hsa shown you to do. When I've given my day and my will over to the Lord it means that both go according to HIS will and NOT MINE. It is giving Him permission to direct your day,your thoughts,your actions-everything! And you will begin to see things happen! Like for example when I used to work at the Christian bookstore. I'd have these dry spells where it seemed I'd hear nothing from the Lord and it would frustrate me. Then sometimes I'd remember to give my day and life over to Him and things would start to happen. I'd start having a string of people coming into the bookstore and I'd help them. I'd find out from them about things that they are going through or need help or prayer and funny thing! I know exactly what to say and how to help them. Perhaps earlier in the day I read an article pertaining to a similar situation they are going through. Or I read a book or someone else came and talked to me with similar or exact issues. Sometimes I'd be reading and studying up on a certain subject or issue and all the sudden I'd start running into people that had questions about the things I'd been reading about. Sometimes I'd have words just pouring out of my mouth for these people. Stuff that I did'nt know that I knew or that it came out so perfectly I was amazed especially since I didn't talk so eloquently. I knew that it was NOT me and that it was the Holy Spirit. That kind of stuff happend all the time when I prayed those two prayers. God used what I knew and was learning to help others. He also gave me the words to say. I didn't have to worry about where I was going to find the people or anything. He just put me in their path or them in mine! I just asked Him to replace my will with His and let my day run according to His will. And if you're worried about being afraid of what God wants you to do-don't worry about it. If God wants you to do something it just happens and it's usually painless and you come out the other side happy and anxiety free! Don't worry about the where's and when's and why's. Just GIVE GOD PERMISSION to use you how and where and when HE wants and He will. SIMPLE AS THAT!
Also you said to me "I really don't know what's the reason why things do not work the way I'd like them to work.". Did you see what you just said? "...the way I'D like them to work.". Maybe things aren't going the way you want them to work because that is not what GOD WANTS! You can't get God to do what you want when you want Him to. He works on His own timetable not ours. I used to have a roommate who used to ask why God never answered her prayers. She used to say that if God didn't answer her prayer by a certain day or time then she'd just go ahead and do what she wanted to do. She would do that ALL THE TIME! And then she'd say "I don't know why God won't answer my prayers!". I'd point out to her that God is not going to do things when she wanted Him to and that waiting on Him was important. That maybe there was a reason He was not awswering.But she would not listen and do things her own way and on her own schedule and just kept complaining and complaining that God was not answering her prayers! It was frustrating for her and for me! LOL! Remember that He can see your whole life and you cannot. There are reasons you may not be able to see that are why He's not responding to certain prayers at this time. And another thing to keep in mind. Be careful what you ask for because sometimes you might get it and you won't like it at all! I remember I once prayed and begged God to send me a boyfriend. I begged and pleaded and whined and got mad and yelled at Him etc. etc. And there was no boyfriend in sight for a long time. Then He DID give me a boyfriend and it was the worst year of my life. At the end of the year we broke up and I was so happy. But sadly my relationship with the Lord suffered. Because I wanted what I wanted and when I wanted it God gave it to me. And it sucked! So I say be careful what you pray for because you just might get it! That's why I say to ask God that HIS will be done and not ours. His will is perfect not to mention it will be done when we give ours over to Him.
About the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Wanna know something? I've been prayed for and had the Baptism of the Holy Spirit a few times and nothing has happened! People were being slain in the Spirit all around me and I was just standing there being prayed over and nothing was happening to me! Not a peep! I have experienced the Holy Spirit once physically but it was just a little bit and it was great! But I've not had an experience like that since. It was actually Jerry who prayed for me when I had that little bit of experience by the way. :>
So don't worry so much Frederik! :>Just keep handing everything over to Him and wait on Him! The Lord hears you and He knows you! He'll answer you but not always in the way YOU want. You have to remember that!
I'll keep praying for you! :>
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Stacy

Posted by: Stacy H.

Can't find the delete button for this message!

Posted by: Frederik

Thanks Stacy.

But the thing is that even if I just try to do these things and try to be patient I am simply not happy. Actually I'm very unfilfilled and not satisfied with my life and these are things which I cannot simply suppress even if I wanted I cannot simply switch to being happy. Sometimes I simply feel so empty and sometimes I cannot even name a reason.

Posted by: Christian Commando

Frederik-

You know what God's secret to my happiness and blessing was, even tho it didn't start right away?

My being more interested in helping and blessing others. By doing this, God started Blessing me as time went on, more and more. I quit thinking about myself and my situation and concentrated on others situations and needs more. I figured I had to start being glad to be Blessed where I was at, with what God had given me already.

When I took my focus off myself and quit wallowing in self pity and started thinking of others more, strangely, God Blessed me. Then, out of the blue, God showed how I'd been Blessed before, I just couldn't see it back then as always thought others were better or further along than I.

Think about it Frederik. Maybe this is part of it.

God Bless!!

Posted by: Stacy H.

I agree with CC.
One of the surefire ways to get yourself out of unhappiness and unfulfillment is to serve others. Even in tiny ways. Ask God to show you and give you opportunities to serve others. When you serve others then you are serving Him and He will bless you. But don't serve others for the blessing! Serving others gets you outside of yourself and you stop thinking about your problems. I had an example given to me once to tell someone from the Holy Spirit. I'll share it with you too. We are like a waterwheel that God pours Himself and blessings into. Our job is to take those blessings of Himself (and whatever else He gives us) and keep them flowing away from ourselves into other peoples lives. (Our time,our prayers,our finances,our energy can be used to help others. If we do that by being good stewards with what we are given then God will give us more blessings and more people to pass them on to. And you may ask "What do I get out of this?". What you get is the joy and peace knowing that you are doing what God wants you to do. He will bless you with more of Himself and that is the greatest blessing of all!) BUT we can reverse that waterwheel and cause it to constantly flow backwards into our own lives. It will be great for awhile but the water will become stagnant. That will wear down our spirit and we'll get sluggish and unhealthy,feel sad and un-useful.Serving others with what God has given you will get you out of yourself as I said. You'll be active and happy helping others. You may ask "What has God given me? Where do I start?". Well you have two hands and you can start there. Fold them in prayer and pray for others. Pray for opportunities to serve and to recognize them when they appear. Use your hands to walk somones's dog. Help the elderly. Help your neighbor. Open the door for someone. Seriously! You never know where that could take you! God will provide you these opportunities if you ask and are willing to take them. You'll feel so much better. I promise!
There's a REALLY good book by Chuck Swindoll (I think that's the author) called Improving Your Serve. You should take a look at it. :>
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Stacy

Posted by: Remnant7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frederik

Oh man, you don't even understand what I mean when I say I'm not in the mood. You come off very judgemental. Who gives you the right to say that I don't really want it?

You know, like most people, I call it the way I see and understand it. I've read many of your posts along the way and while I agree you have some pretty awesome questions sometimes, sometimes your thinking is just very skewed... asking if we can go to bars and get drunk with worldly friends, etc. Even the regular natural man knows this is not "godly" behavior, so why ask if it is ok? I don't know if you are trying to provoke people or what... because one thing you are not, is dumb.
You see, this gets me to wondering how you can be so insightful with your questions and scenerios, but be so clueless regarding simple things of God, which most Christians understand... universal issues such as faith.
I think it is clear you are trying to live the Christian life with your mind, not that we are supposed to leave our brains at the door, but Christianity is a FAITH walk... in my opinion, you need to begin with the basics and stop trying to get into deep philosophical debates and reasoning... because they are beyond your understanding right now. It is scriptural that we are not to be involved in endless debating and with you, it is usually endless... you keep coming right back to where you started... probably that circular logic that people use to never really get anywhere in understanding.
You know, you can be forever learning, but never come to the knowledge of the truth. You need to take God at His word until you believe it in your heart. We have an enemy in satan, who desires to have and confuse you, but he cannot cross the blood line of Jesus Christ. Stand in faith believing that God is for you, just like any other Christian. But your doubt, which YOU have the ability to cast out by not thinking on whatever makes you doubt, keeps you from moving forward.
You talk about how you read this, that and the other. You talk about all these different people you speak with... in the end, is it helping? I shared an experience I had with you once, about desperately seeking God for infilling of Holy Spirit, other people received much more quickly than I did. God deals with us all differently, but I did humble myself and went into "my closet" with the intent to stay until baptized. I was baptized, but if I hadn't been, I would have been back the next day, then the next, then the next... you see, not giving up is KEY to a successful relationship with people as well as God.
I am not responding to you from a position of superiority in my mind.... I truly want to see you flourish as a brother in Christ. I am sorry for your pain, but know it won't change until you change.
I pray God grants you the wisdom and courage to stop whining and stand up, being counted as a man of God, believing God no matter what this life brings. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen!

Posted by: Stacy H.

Have you ever read the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis?
(I'm sure you have as almost every Christian has but I had to ask!) ;>
Aslan the Lion in the book is the Jesus figure. The girl,can't remember which book or the girls first name,starts calling to Aslan to appear. He does and she tells him that she'd been calling him. Aslan corrects her and tells her that she would not have been calling to him unless he had been calling to her.
You've been asking the Lord to show you things. Maybe all this prayer is getting you ready to where you can handle whatever it is the Lord has for you. Maybe your prayers on this subject is in response to the Lord calling to you and preparing you? Just a thought I had. You can take it as you wish.
I'll keep praying for you guy! :>
-
Stacy

Posted by: Frederik

Thanks but advice like helping people don't help me. This wouldn't change much. I mean come on. I need realistic advice. Shall I start washing the cars of my neighbors or what? Will this make me happy? No.
Even if it made me happy it would be temporarily. I guess you cannot help me and I'll simply have to try to get along with my stuff.No matter who I ask everybody has different advice. There is no clear path. This shows that every advice depends on the person. I don't even know what I would advise myself but most likely it would be completely different than your advice. Everybody has a different approach. I don't think there is a simple solution like helping people and then everything will be fine. This seems unlikely to me.

Posted by: Christian Commando

Well, heres the problem to date. You already think, regardless of all the advice you've been given, none of it will help. Question then- Have you tried all these avenues to know for sure God won't work with you thru one of them?

By your last statement- "It seems unlikely to me", no attempt has been shown it's been tried. If going to refuse our help in advice, why ask?

I've decided to back out of this thread gracefully. There is no profit in continuing as we are this way.

God Bless all!!

Posted by: Frederik

These are unrealistic advice. I mean this "help others" stuff.
Really, who should I help? I already help out at home, okay?
This doesn't really make me happy. What shall I do? Run around outside and wait for old women which I can guide across the street? Come on! I need practical advice something which makes sense.

Posted by: MarkSentMe

Maybe the "I already help out at home" selfishness is the very REASON that you do not see, feel, taste, or grasp God! If every Christian took an "every man for himself" attitude, no charity work would be done. No one would ever go on a mission. No one would ever see the greatness of God's love!
I THANK GOD on my face that I am not raising self-centered children. I would rather God take my children from me than to let me raise them to be selfish, worldly and stingy with the life God blessed them with.
I find that people who cannot give of themselves do not get much out of life or any enjoyment out of anything.
Christians are not to go through this world with a "I got mine, let the rest of the world just do the best that they can" attitude. Man. How would the victims of Hurricane Katrina rebuild their lives if everyone thought that? How would the victims of the tsunami in Indonesia have put their lives back together if everyone thought that?

Posted by: Frederik

So you're saying I'm self-centered... thanks.
If being self-centered means not to burst into senseless, unrealistic acivities then I am self-centered. But you don't know me and because of this you also cannot judge me.

Posted by: MarkSentMe

It's not judging, it's calling you out. Learn the difference.
Again I THANK GOD that my children can see beyond their own little corner of the globe. And I Thank God that others have heard His call and have given of themselves. If it is senseless to you, then all I can do is pray for you.