Christianity Oasis Forum

[Honey girl]

Prayer, I've always done it but not sure if I ever was doing it correctly. nobody taught me how to pray, I just kinda winged it. I knew that it was pretty much asking God to help me when times were bad and thanking him for what i had, etc. but that's about it. I grew up with a mom who was a practicing buddhist, and a dad who was a so-called non practicing christian, so not much help on either side. I would go to church with neighborhood kids but never really cared for it, couldn't understand it I guess. I pretty much just knew that it was a whole bunch of people getting together every sunday to pray and listen to a preacher, deacon, priest, etc. talk about the bible or quoting it. didn't really get it till i met my husband at the age of 16. I would sneak out with him and stay out all hours of the night and when I would finally get home he would pray for me not to get into trouble and miraculously it worked. I later found out that his family was faithfully religious, and that his dad was a minister of some sort. till this day religion and God is still a mystery to me and no matter how much I pray or read the bible I just cant figure it out. maybe it wasnt meant for me to figure it out, I dont know. I'm the type of person who doesnt attend church regularly but feel i am still religious in my own way. I def. believe in God and feel that should be enough sometimes. with a father in law who's a minister it's hard not to get some kind of lecture from him telling us we need to go to church, or my mom who has become a christian herself nagging at us as well. No matter what, I will continue to pray and hope that God is listening and Im sure he is but sometimes it just feels like my prayers are falling on deaf ears.

[xxJILLxx]

Hello,

Jesus tells us how we should pray in Matthew 6.

5“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us today our daily bread.

12Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.a’

14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

The deep meanings behind the surface words in these verses from our Lord is life transforming. Prayer always changes things and when done sincerely it changes us.

God bless
♥Jill

[jimf]

Greetings, Honey girl
Like you I'm in the healing path counseling too. I feel the need to share a scripture with you and a few thoughts. Your statement "till this day religion and God is still a mystery to me and no matter how much I pray or read the bible I just cant figure it out". What we are calling christianity "religion " is what the New Testament calls ETERNAL LIFE. Eternal life is not just that we live forever. ( everyone exists forever, the Bible says that they dont all have the same addresses) Eternal life is much more. Jesus Himself gave us the definition of eternal life and this is what He said. John 17:3 Now THIS IS eternal life (Hes telling you what it is) that they may KNOW YOU the only true God AND JESUS CHRIST, whom you have sent. Eternal life is a relationship between you, God the Father and Jesus Christ. In simple terms an incredibly close frienship. This is what christianity is about. How do you get to KNOW someone. First you have to be introduced. We meet by trusting His death, burial and ressurection to to remove any hindrances that we HAD.( like two people making up) Then we begin to spend time with Him by PRAYER (talking to GOD) NO RELATIONSHIP CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT COMMUNICATION. (seems kinda hard to hear Him speak) To overcome this "hardness of hearing" He gave us His word (the Bible) WE WILL READ WHAT HE HAS SPOKEN, WHAT HE THINKS AND HOW HE LOVES US. As we speak to Him (prayer) and read HIS WORDS and Become familier with these words WE FIND THOUGHTS COMING INTO OUR MINDS AS WE PRAY (TALK) AND READ HIS WORD. The more we pray and read His word, the more thoughts we recieve ( maybe later we'll talk about the Holy Spirit) .Your beginning a friendship by talking and listening with each other. JUST AS IN THIS LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS ARE FORMED BY COMMUNICATION AND SO IT IS WITH HIM. Later you will find out that He wants you and Him to do some things together, things that benifit You and some things that He would like for you and Him to do together that benifit Him. See, He has this plan to show His love and reach this world and He really wants you to have a part in it. REMEMBER, in this life good friends do things together that each one enjoys. The Healing Path counseling is so awesome. Be faithful in prayer and in His Word and pray that I am to. Jimf

[Mackenaw]

Amen! Amen!! and Amen!!!

Hello HoneyGirl

Jimf has shared so beautifully and truthfully and I hope you take it to heart.

I am lifting up prayers to our Lord in the name of Jesus, on your behalf, HoneyGirl. May God's blessed will done.

The Lord God (God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit) loves you so very much.

God bless and keep you.
In Christ Jesus' love,
Sister Mack

[Honey girl]

thanks to jill, jimf, and sister mack! it is very encouraging to have people like you who are positive and uplifting and the best part is that you dont even know me. I have people in my life who dont give me this kind of encouragement, so it's very nice to know there's people like you out there.