When praying and readin the word...

[InChristAlone91]

Well first off with prayer, when I'm praying I feel as if I'm not even being heard. I just feel as if I'm talking to myself . Maybe I'm just not getting into it the way I should be. Second when I'm reading the bible I feel as if I'm not getting anything out of it, like I'm just reading words.

My question is, what do you fellow brothers and sisters in Christ suggest I do?

I can't say I've lived a perfect life or I am living a perfect life but I am trying my best. It's hard being a good soldier while deployed. Pretty much I'm surrounded by a lot of sin. There's non believers, people who make fun of Christ, people who cuss, pornography. And the list just goes on. I guess I'm just in need of prayer .

Well thank you for taking the time to read this. God Bless and hope to hear from you soon.

 

[Boanerges]

My friend, Gods always hears. While we are biblicaly instructed to pray to the Father in Jesus Name we know that He does not seek for us to find a "better method" of praying. He is not waiting for us to find some hidden technique but simply wants to know us, interact with us, and to fellowship with us. Sometimes this takes pressing in on our part as our mind is often bombarded by distractions. As far as reading the Word of God we are told the Holy Spirit is our Teacher so when we open it up we ask Him to reveal that Word to our heart, how it applies to our life and how we are to live it out.
I would like to make a couple of suggestions to you:
1. Read your bible daily
2 Spend at least a half an hour (preferably more) worshiping God and pouring your heart out towards Him daily.
3. Pray, talk to Him all day about everything, everyday.

These three avenues are not given so much as a technique but as an opportunity to get past the distraction of the flesh and to begin to hear from God.

He wants what you are seeking, He wants to fellowship with you. I would simply ask that you spend a week or so pressing into His presence and then let us know how wonderfully your life has changed.
If you really want to know Him and ask how can that be accomplished the answer would be this: You get to know Him the same way you get to know others, and that is spending time with Him. Getting to know someone in a living relationship is fellowshipping , learning each others ways, likes, dislikes, and personality. Believe me getting to know God is the most awesome adventure one can undertake and the reward of such a journey is beyond description.

Father, I thank You that You always hear, that You have an answer before we ask and that You want to be with us. Thank You that my brother is being drawn even now to seek You and that You have plans for his life.
Reveal Your heart to Him, reveal Your love for Him and cause Him to draw close to You and learn what his place is as a son of God.
Thank You that we know these things are going to come to pass because we ask them in the precious Name of Your Son Jesus.

 

[farout]

God bless you dear brother! A couple of wars ago I served in the NAVY, and I know hard it is to avoid temptations and still read the Bible and it's hard to pray when most every one is a bunch of heathen's. Add to this mix satan has his best distraction and temptation pronography. You are in the exposure to sin every way you turn...right? I think I sorta know something about what you might be experiencing. You will most likely never be in the hell your in ever again, at least I hope not.
I will promise to pray for you! I can tell you for sure that satan is doing everything he can to draw you and everyone else there to turn to his darkness. May I suggest you start reading 1 John, mo matter how much even if it's just a couple of verses be consistant at reading everyday. Then with all that satan has there to distract you pray every day as often as you feel drawn to. Jesus Christ will never leave you or forsake you. It matters not that you feel anything, because we walk and live by faith, feelings has nothing to do with that.

While in the Navy I had many fears, and thhat is hard to eliminate, but fear serves a purpose to keep us alert in time danger. We are the Lords and in 1 John over and over there are so many encouraging words in this book. I will pray for you even now I will pray right now.

Father I pray for In Christ Alone91, I dont know his real name but you do. I pray for peace, and I ask your protective watch over him. I pray he will find peace in your Word. Oh Lord draw near to this brother right now as he reads this note. Protect mu brother. I pray that he might fine a christian like him and they can join together in Christian encouragement. Father you know this brothers needs and I ask you to be ever so close to him. I pray this in Jesus name...amen.

I hope to hear a post from you soon.

farout

 

[InChristAlone91]

First off I wanna thank you guys soooooo much! For both taking the time to read my post and for helping me out (prayer, bible verse, response). I'm gonna try my best! It's a rough ride and I'm not gonna lie. I've got 3 1/2 months left. I know God has been with me this whole time, I guess I'm just having trouble seeking him. Be it prayer reading the bible. I'm gonna focus more on Christ from here on out. Thank you guys again. And God Bless!!

Inchristalone91

 

[kamiller1972]

InChristAlone91, I am a new Christian myself, so I can't offer any advise that would be useful, but I can tell you how I began to actually feel the words in the Bible and how praying has become more of about joy rather "just remembering to do it, cause I have to."

First, the moment I gave myself to Christ-that very moment I prayed and asked Him to forgive my sins and just let Him into my heart. You've probably already done this, but sometimes when you read about the way to salvation for new Christians in many Bibles, sometimes just praying that "beginners prayer" helps a lot.

Another thing I do is surround myself with as much Christian stuff as possible. Music, books, movies...anything to keep my mind on the Lord and keeping Satan's influence at bay. More and more everyday, my love and appreciation for God's word is growing. I go to church whenever there is service, Bible study, or revival. I don't know if you have very many outlets where you're at right now...I pray you have church services anyway! If not, the internet has a boundless supply of Bible teachings, Christian radio, and even YouTube has a bunch of Christian movies available.

Hope this helps somewhat and I'm praying for your safety and progress with the Lord!

 

[InChristAlone91]

I'll look into the beginners prayer! Thank you for that suggestion. I do listen to a lot of Christian music, as for movies I don't. But I do love the Christian music. We do have services out here on Sunday's but were always to busy, so I can't make them :/ but I know when I get home in December I'm gonna get back to church! I'm excited for that I can't wait. I also try to listen to k-love when I can. The Internet out here is so slow most of the time though.

Thank you for everything I appreciate it!

God Bless!!

 

[AudreyNicole]

Hello,

One thing I think we always kinda forget when it comes to God is that we can do nothing on our own... even pray. It is God who wills and does in us, not ourselves. Thus, I always try to tell people struggling with prayer to first simply ask God for the desire to pray, the words to speak, and the spirit to hear. These are all things that He will give you, guaranteed. Ask for His spirit to fill you and help you pray. Then from there it is much easier to enter into deep prayer.

I would also suggest looking at the model prayer, Matthew 6:9. When I was a younger believer I would pray this prayer without meaning or heart. However a few months ago I studied this prayer and it has definitely revitalized my prayer life. Find sermons that teach about this prayer and then just listen to them until it starts sinking in to your brain.

As far as reading the word, start in the New Testament and work your way through to Revelation.... then go back to the beginning. I would recommend starting with Ephesians, Galatians, Romans, and the Gospels.

And lastly, I've found listening to sermons has greatly impacted my relationship with God. Might I recommend Matt Chandler of the Village Church. You can find his sermons online dating back to 2006. His sermons have been monumental in establishing a strong foundation for my faith.

Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck and God Bless!

 

[David777]

Hello AudreyNicole.

One thing I think we always kinda forget when it comes to God is that we can do nothing on our own... even pray.

Very, very good post.

 

[farout]

InChristAlone91: this is "farout" I have remembered you every dau from telling you I would. I happen to think about a good way to start your day, no matter what happened the day before. Every day surrender yourself to Jesus. It is a fresh start every day. I get bogged down if I blew it the day before or if my day is really starting out to be a bummer. A song in the Hymn book I love is "I surrender all" I know some young people don't like hyms. And when I was young I said the same things to some old man who wanted more hymns, I wanted mor Kieth Green and the like. But now that I am as old as dirt, I like a good mixture.

My wife is praying for you as well.

Get some paper and make a calendar and cross of the days until your out of there. When I went into the Navy, three days after I was in I knew it was going to be a long four years. I made a four year calendar and marked the days off for four years! I t got rather worn out, but as time drug by, which like forever, I eventually filled all the days out. But from OCT. 15 1964 to Feb. 4, 1974 was a long time before I goy my discharge papers. On Sept. 18, 1068 After spending 10 months in a Navy Hospital I was put on TRDL (Tempoary Retired Disability Lisst) and finally the Navy said I was never going to get any better and discharged me in Feb. 1974.I say all that to praise the Lord for Hid watch care and mercy He gave me. The Lord has been with me every day fron January 1957 When I surrendered my life to Jesus.

As I look back some 55 years ago, life with Jesus gets sweeter every day. How blessed we Christians are! God Bless you InChristAlone91 (but you are never alone)

farout