Question:
Ah...I'm not sure what I want you to tell me, but I guess I could use advice, or encouragement, or something.
I feel like there is a problem in my walk with God because I never pray anymore. I read my Bible, I go to church, I try to project a Christlike character and I witness to people; of course I falter some in all areas, but everyone does, and if I said I was doing well in any area that'd be a sure sign of spiritual problems, but the point is that one recognizes that God's grace covers his inadequacy without using grace as an excuse to be compliant with it, and I do that. The only thing is that I've stopped talking to God over the past few months. Every now and then I might make a quick petition to God if I need something, but even then I usually won't because I'll feel guilty for never talking to Him. I guess I stopped because it seemed like He didn't answer, and it seemed like I was only praying out of obligation and it was no longer...personal, I guess. It just seemed like God never answered my prayers or communicated with me at all. Now, it's like I'm afraid if I start praying again, it will still feel impersonal and pointless.
Hope that was clear. Again, I don't really know what I want anyone to do about it, but if anyone has something to say that might help I'd appreciate it.
Answer:
just start talking to the Lord like you would with your bestfriend or mom or whoever is closest to you... that'll jumpstart your prayer life
Answer:
Originally Posted by dream of angels I feel like there is a problem in my walk with God because I never pray anymore. I read my Bible, I go to church, I try to project a Christlike character and I witness to people...
Christians are kind of like trees: our roots - what's underground and invisible to everyone but God - are just as important as the parts of us that show. If you aren't living in fellowship with God in private, no matter what you're doing in public you aren't living a Christian life. Your comment that you're trying to "project a Christlike character" especially strikes me wrong. Christlike character is not something we create or project; it's something that should flow automatically out of our communion with God.
So I guess my advice is, start focusing a lot less on appearances and externals, and start spending more time in private with God. If prayer seems lifeless, try finding somewhere secluded where you can pray out loud - that often helps me. If you don't know what to pray, pray through some psalms or some other part of the Bible (reading a verse at a time and then turning that verse into your own prayer). Or play / sing / listen to worship music and pray through that.
Without a life of prayer, your witness / moral life / church attendance / etc. will all be fruitless. There is no Christian life apart from constant fellowship with God; without prayer, nothing else you do can possibly please Him, because you're just living through your own strength. So don't worry about stuff like witnessing to people until you're living a life of prayer; without that connection to God, your words will just ring false anyways.
Answer:
Im sorry for your hardships but god will forgive you no matter what you do God is love and he loves everyone of us here on earth! Don't be afraid to go to God for help it will all become good in time! just tell god how much you love him and ask him for forgivness he always understands! and if it seems like he's not there you should pray more and be thankful all the time! Remember godds always there even if he seems so far away we all go through hard times and fall away from the lord but he keeps picking us up and reminding us that he loves us and he'll never NEVER leave us! I've had times when things have happened and it seemed like God wasn't there but he was and it all turned out good in the end because he was there and i loved him the whole way!
~courage~
Answer:
2 Words: Start Praying.
I had that problem too. I always felt guilty and felt that god didnt want to hear me again. It took a lot of encouragment thru his words to get me up and talk to him again on a daily basis.
Peace And Grace