born again transformation

[TimK]

Hello I just have some questions about being born again and would also like some of your personal experiences with this subject. I have accepted Jesus Christ about a year ago now but have not really gotten as far as I thought I would. I still struggle with sinfull desires from time to time but although not as much as I used to. The devil still tries to put lies in my head about the truth of God and Jesus. I'm sorry to say that they do shake my faith a little bit from time to time. I'm also very distracted by the world and I feel I lose interest in my faith off and on which hurts.

From hearing certian stories of people being saved I kind of thought I would go through this radical, relativley quick transformation process. I have heard of people like this who turn from a life of sin and become productive christians in a very short period of time. I keep waiting around for a breakthrough that will profoundly change my life. But I also think that maybe this is just going to be a long hard process for me. I am a stubborn individual lol. It just feels like I'm moving at a snails pace. Other times I feel like I'm trying to run through a brick wall.

My question is what was this process like for you? How long did it take before there was a profound noticable change in your life? Am I maybe missing something, or is something keeping me from a full life in Jesus?

I would really like some solid down to earth advice on this most important topic please!

 

[trulyblezzed]

Hey Tim,

Just want to start out by saying you're doing a good thing by asking for others' advice on this. I'm going to give my experience like you asked for...

Well I was 20 when I gave my life to God. I was a typical party girl. Into drug, alcohol, fornication, everything. You can read my full testimony here.

http://www.talkjesus.com/testimonies/16195-fasten-your-seat-belts.html

So my initial ride on God's path was not smooth. I wasn't one of those Christians who got saved and then ran out in the streets to preach to 100 people. I can honestly say I really didn't fully change my thoughts, actions, desires until about 1 1/2- 2 years into my walk.

The one piece of advice that God gave me that helped so much was never compare yourself to others. God doesn't want copycats. If he wanted Tim to be like Moe and Moe to be like Joe and Joe to be like Tim, he would have only made one of you! I had that problem up until about 2 years ago.

I would think "wow Sally is so anointed and such a great leader. Sally talks loud. I need to talk loud to be like Sally." So obviously that didn't work. Then I would see Susie and think "Wow Susie is so passionate and she prays slowly. I need to pray slowly like Susie." Yeah, that didn't work either.

Then God told me "I made you to be you. Not to be Sally or Susie". It wasn't until that point that I began to blossom. And now God made me who I am now- a passionate, fruitful, driven, anointed, firm mother of multitudes who's a solider for Christ! And THAT'S who I've been called to be.

Just let God make you who YOU are supposed to be and not who others want to make you. Take it slow. Some days you will feel God right next to you and other days it'll seem like he's 14 miles away. It's during those rough days you gotta turn off the tv, lock yourself in a room for a while and just pray. You WILL feel better afterwards.

Hope my story helped. God Bless!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Tim: There is no one-size-fits-all development package for new believers. As God made each of us to be individuals, our spiritual healings are tailored to our individual situations and needs.

I drank for thirty years before God miraculously intervened twenty-four years ago, set me on the sobriety path, and began to bring needed reform to my life. I have a friend who was an alcoholic and a womanizer. This man was so messed up that, six months ago, he set fire to the apartment he was living in, hoping it would burn down around him and kill him. He came to three days later in an ICU bed at a trauma hospital, knew that his life had been miraculously spared, and decided then and there to seek the Lord (and, boy, did the Lord ever respond to him!)

When I compare what I've seen happen to this man in six months and what things were like for me during the first six months of my born-again experience, his growth has been phenomenal and fast and, since he is surrounding himself with true believers and soaking up God's Word, I believe he'll spend eternity in heaven with us.

While I, too, will spend eternity in heaven with y'all, my first six months' growth was not fast and phenomenal. It was more like a trudge through a minefield on a dark and stormy night.

Each person who's name is in The Lamb's Book of Life, will have a story that is different from all the others. Sure, there will be similarities; what fun it will be to be among folks who are sharing their salvation stories saying, "Hey, I did that, too!" or "Wow, I lived close to the place you're talking about." But, each story will uniquely belong to the person who lived it. I'll be excited to hear yours!

SLE

 

[TimK]

Thank you for sharing your stories for me. I am really trying to stay grounded and be myself. I am also coming to accept that this will be a long difficult process for me. I just get frustrated sometimes when it seems like I havent really gotten anywhere. I constantly try to figure out what I may be doing wrong.

Two months ago I really felt like God was changing my thoughts and feelings. The devils old temptations didn't phase me. I was really focused on the Lord and I could feel his love in me. That only lasted for a couple of weeks. I think I got distracted and turned my attention away from him.

I am really wrestling with a nagging depression right now that makes it difficult for me to connect to God. Maybe this is just a test? It is difficult for me to resist sin when I am feeling this way, although I am still holding on well despite this. I'm trying to stay focused and get into the bible everyday. Oh well, I feel like I'm whining too much on this site. I just have a lot on my mind.

Thank you both again! I'm glad you shared your stories with me.

 

[TimK]

Quote from SLE
"(My advice for you is wrapped up in the opening verse of an old hymn: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.")"

I am really trying to take your quote to heart SLE. Thank you.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Quote from SLE
"(My advice for you is wrapped up in the opening verse of an old hymn: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.")"

I am really trying to take your quote to heart SLE. Thank you.

Tim:

I didn't mean to indicate that walking with Jesus would be drudgery all the way or even most of the way. But, as you indicated, the pink cloud does evaporate and we are challenged to draw closer to God in the midst of trials (see Ps 23:4, 107:14).

A challenge for you: Get a Strong's Concordance and check out the many verses that contain the word "joy". You'll be amazed at God's goodness and love toward us.

SLE