Question:
I'm horrible at writing and explaining things, so I will try to make this as clear as possible.
I don't like the direction my life is going right now and I really want to change, but I'm having a hard time with it. I was going to write a few paragraphs or so, but I decided that it would be easier for me just to list the main things I want to change.
Bad Habbits/Things I want to change in my life:
-Porn addiction
-Below average grades (It seems that I just don't care anymore)
-Attitude towards life and people (careless)
-Lying
-Not Praying(I don't know what to pray for - see below)
-want a stronger faith (below as well)
-non-resistance of peer pressure
-I don't act religious in public due to my fear of not being accepted
I'm sure there's more, but overall I'm a bad person. Even my family is ashamed of me. Not because of my extremely low faith, because my Dad, I think, is athiest, but because of the decisions I make, the people I hang out with, etc..
(from above):
If I was to rate my faith on a scale of 1 to 10, I would probably rate myself a 1. My faith is incredibly low which causes me to not pray and not turn to God when I really need him. Basically, it's like there isn't a God. But I want to believe!!!
Basically all I want is something that will motivate me. Something I can read, listen to, or even a movie or show I can watch that will motivate me and make me want to turn my life around.
I really need any help I can get.
Thanks
Answer:
You can not make your life better. We, as fallen and sinful humans, are incapable of good. All of the good in you must come from Christ in your life.
My advice is to ask friends who are christians to keep you in prayer. not that you have to tell them everything, but prayer helps.
Next, get into the word. Read the bible. Think about the passages. Do not read it like a novel. Read it like something you want to learn.
Next, pray. Talk to God. Tell him how you feel. Tell him what you want out of life. Tell him who you want to be. Ask him for his help. He will answer you through his word. Ask for faith. Ask for grace and mercy. Ask for forgiveness. Ask for the strength to turn away from the things that hold you.
As to this: "-I don't act religious in public due to my fear of not being accepted." I do not remember God ever asking me to act religious. when you are changed as a person, your mannerisms will change, sure. As christians, there is not need for us to walk around with huge smiles all the time, saying, "Bless you brother" and looking at the sky in awe. Be yourself all the time, and as God works in your life, the way you act will be a reflection of that.
I recommend that you read Romans 8, and really think about it as you do. When you find that everything good in your life is by God's grace, it makes it easy to love him.
I will be praying for you tonight before bed. I hope sincerely that you find what you are looking for.
Answer:
Thanks for the reply. I am currently reading Romans:8 as I type. And you know what I realized?
Next, get into the word. Read the bible. Think about the passages. Do not read it like a novel. Read it like something you want to learn.
You've made me realize that all this time I have been reading the Bible like a novel, something of fiction. That, I think, is why I feel the way I do about my faith.
And when you said you would be praying for me tonight, you made me feel greater than I have felt in a LONG time. Thank you so much!
Answer:
I haven't alot of input, all I can suggest is this: you don't need to know what or how to pray when you pray. I talk to God like he's right there with me. Like I'd talk to my grandfather or something. You don't have to close your eyes. you don't have to be all flowery like the pastor at church.
Tell him what you're thinking/feeling... tell him what's going on with your friends and family.
Answer:
Hey! we've all got some bad habbits. At least I do..
But anyway, My faith has been low too, and usually it gets lower if i'm in a point in my life where I feel all alone. But then I pray. I pray that God will give me faith in him. And I pray that he will help me to stop my bad habbits. Sometimes (depends on what kind of bad habbits) it might be very difficult to stop. But remember this: God loves you, he created you, you're his child.
He knows what kind of problems you have, and he wants to help. You've only got to ask. I will pray for you, and I wish you good luck.
Jesus loves you!
God bless
Answer:
Hey, i just wanted to tell ya something, praying for me was always something i did before i went to bed, and it was always so... whats the word? 'formal'. One day i read in a book, that if you are feeling angry, upset, frustrated.. tell God. He can handle it. He aint no sissy. Tell Him exactly how you're feeling. Scream if you have to. When i read this, i prayed, for the first time while speaking to Him, i cried. I let everything out. God is not sitting up in heaven expecting us to do it all on our own. He hasnt left us 'high and dry'. Our awesome Father loves with such an intense and FULL love. And even though we are unfaithfull often, He remains faithfull and continues to love us. 'He knows us, yet He loves us'. Speak to Him as often as you can. He will listen. You can never do it on your own. You could never overcome these things without His help. And heres the greatest thing, He offers it to you. Take it.
Last thing, God put people on this earth for a reason. he does not mean for man to be alone. Dont isolate yoruself. Surround yourself with people who love the Lord, and will encourage you rather than intimidate you. We are all equal in the site of the Lord. We all fall. we are ALL ashamed. but we are loved, with a love that covers a multitude of sins.
As your sister in Christ, i love you, and i will pray for you.
Answer:
Wow, I am really grateful for all the help I've gotten here. You've all motivated me to try to do my best. You make me feel good again.
Thank you so much!
Answer:
Originally Posted by MikeyMan -Not Praying(I don't know what to pray for - see below)
-want a stronger faith (below as well)
-non-resistance of peer pressure
-I don't act religious in public due to my fear of not being accepted
My advice is this:
What makes those around you deserving of your respect and admiration? What makes their opinion matter? Are you fearful of what they might think of you if you started behaving differently? Why should you fear anything in your life besides God?
Don't care what they think of you. Be your own person and decide what's important to you, and follow through with it. You will find new friends and new people will be attracted to you with that additude.
Answer:
Originally Posted by MikeyMan
If I was to rate my faith on a scale of 1 to 10, I would probably rate myself a 1.
I don't have much to add other than what everyone else has said, but I do want to encourage you in this-- Your faith may be at a rating of 1, but Jesus said that if you have the faith the size of even a mustard seed you can move mountains! Even when we have little faith, God remains faithful to us (2 Tim 2:13). Praise God that you have a rating of 1 on the "faith scale"! He will not despise your small faith.
Answer:
Originally Posted by MikeyMan
Bad Habbits/Things I want to change in my life:
-Porn addiction
-Below average grades (It seems that I just don't care anymore)
-Attitude towards life and people (careless)
-Lying
-Not Praying(I don't know what to pray for - see below)
-want a stronger faith (below as well)
-non-resistance of peer pressure
-I don't act religious in public due to my fear of not being accepted
Thanks
Well, let me encourage you by saying that it's awesome that you know that you're not perfect and want to change! Most of the people in the world don't even realize how sinful they are. That is a great attitude to start with, and an attitude that the Lord will bless!
I've got a couple of questions for you though:
How long ago (I'm assuming that you have) did you give your life to Christ?
Also, are you involved in a church where you are?
Are there other Christians around you that you can hang out with, and learn from?
As for some advice, everyone has really hit the mark: only Christ can affect change in your life. As Max Lucado says, "God loves us where we are, but he refuses to leave us there." That is the truth. God loves you right where you are, regardless of your sin. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He loves us in our sins just as much as he loves the most saintly person in the world! But also, out of our love for Him, we have to allow Him to transform our lives.
When I first came to Christ, my life did a nose dive. I was living my life for myself: cheating on my girlfriend, feeding a porn addiction, involving myself in underage drinking, fighting with my family, etc. My life did not reflect His love and His word. God transformed me through the reading and studying of His word, staying connected with other Christians who could guide and teach me, and prayer. My life now is completely different than what it was before Christ, but it's taking me some time to get here. God doesn't expect you to get up and run a Christian marathon if all you've ever done in your life is sit on the couch and eat sin potato chips. God will make you into the marathon runner, all you have to do is follow him off the couch. Get into the Word, get into fellowship, get into prayer, and hold on! Your life will radically change!
About the porn addiction:
You can achieve victory in this area of your life with Christ's help. I've done it. Many many men have done it. I highly recommend the book Every Man's Battle by Stephen Arterburn. It gives a realistic look at pornography addiction and pratical ways to overcome it. He's also got a version for teenagers, Every Young Man's Battle. You can pick it up at any Christian bookstore or order it online.
Hope that helps! You will be in my thoughts and prayers, God bless!!!
-Joe
Answer:
Hey, I'm almost exactly like you, Mike. Though only difference between us really is that I don't suffer from porn addiction. So just PM me anytime you feel down or whatnot.
Just keep praying and reading your bible. A few passages that I like are Romans 14:17 and Psalm 130. I'm praying for you, Mike!