Hello everyone! My name is Mariah, and I have a prayer request. I am 21, and a struggling christian. By struggling, I have back-slid to the point I almost feel like giving up and I feel like God is done with me. I would like to get back in church and serve the lord, and you're probably reading this wondering what's stopping me and the honest answer is myself. I feel ashamed, and unworthy. I struggle with lust and other worldly habits too. I am struggling with keeping it all together. I don't have any friends. I could really use a good christian friend that can talk to me and pray for me. please remember me in prayer. thank you to everyone in advance... sending everyone love..
Hi Mariah,
Oh dear, this post could so be written by me and I think that any TJ'er with 1/2 an ounce of honesty and integrity could also quite easily relate to it to, we've all been there, and many of us are still there.
Reading between the lines I'm thinking, maybe Mariah's been paying a little bit too much heed to that voice in her head telling her she's a useless lump, a lousy Christian, God's rueing the day He called her and so she might as well knock it on the 'ed right now and stop trying because Christianity ain't working for her. STOP! There are two possible sources of thoughts like these. The first is the Holy Spirit - well, does that sound like the Holy Spirit? The other is Satan and his demons, negative, destructive, depressing. Please stop listening and start reading.
The Bible is in complete contradiction to these thoughts so please read it. Once a week read the sermon on the mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7). 90% of what you need to know as a true believing Christian, living a fulfilled and Spirit led life is in there. Read it and then think and meditate upon how you can apply that to your perspective and outlook; it's virtually impossible to follow to the letter but with prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit you'll get a lot further. Then there's the rest of the Bible. Set time aside to read a passage a day, an app called YouVersion is a Bible on your smartphone or tablet, default is King James but you can download 20 - 30 other more easily read versions. In that there's free of charge dozens of Bible reading plans.
Get to know God and the best way to do that is to talk to Him. Cut back the shopping list of requests and focus more on praise and adoration which God loves. Tell Him you love Him because .... Thank Him for ..... Tell Him what it is about Him that you love. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and increase your experience of Him. Ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and show you ways in which you can surrender all of you to Him.
Just know this. You are not a disappointment to God. When He called you, He knew you and loved you for what you are. He was under no illusions that you're 'good Christian material' and yet still He called you. God has a plan for you, He wants to bless, keep, provide and stuff you full of blessings. All you need to do is to seek and follow His will and not turn your back on Him.
If you want to chat further I'm only a PM away.
May God bless you, and I am praying for you.
Lots of love, Andy
