Renewing our path? Looking for tips and advice

[itzme]

Hi, I am a newly redirected Christian, and I would love some wise counsel on this topic.

I have been doing some correct things and some incorrect things during the last few years of my Christian walk. Unfortunately, I said of my own volition "no" to God in many issues. Now, I have returned and said "yes" to him and I hope to learn to walk the right way.

The sad part is that since I spent so much of my effort saying no to him, I have weakened myself spiritually. I tuned him out so much that I am out of practice of saying yes.

How do I regain what I lost? I can hear God now, I have a clean conscience, but I am so out of practice of obedience in all things. How do I return to consistency?

I do study and pray everyday, and I do attend a good Church.

I hope God is patient with me.

[ConqueredbyLove]

Of course He is patient with you, dear soul :hug:

I only have a second now but will try and reply later today as this is one of my favorite topics....

Rest assured.....

[ConqueredbyLove]

Hi, I am a newly redirected Christian, and I would love some wise counsel on this topic.

I have been doing some correct things and some incorrect things during the last few years of my Christian walk. Unfortunately, I said of my own volition "no" to God in many issues. Now, I have returned and said "yes" to him and I hope to learn to walk the right way.

The sad part is that since I spent so much of my effort saying no to him, I have weakened myself spiritually. I tuned him out so much that I am out of practice of saying yes.

How do I regain what I lost? I can hear God now, I have a clean conscience, but I am so out of practice of obedience in all things. How do I return to consistency?

I do study and pray everyday, and I do attend a good Church.

I hope God is patient with me.


I am not certain what you had before, so I am not certain how you can regain what you lost, but I can post some generalities.

Please know that many of us have done some incorrect things during our lives and said no to Him, I being case in hand!

But God is soooo patient and kind with us! God, being the essence of love, is the very definition of what agape love is and, in the first part of 1Corinthians 13:4-8 it says, ~Charity suffereth long and is kind~. In the ESV it says that ~Love is patient and is kind~. How patient and how kind with His own? Infinitely, because there is no limit to His beautiful character:hug:

It is wonderful you are praying and studying your Bible and going to church. Now is the time to allow the Lord to greatly deepen your relationship with Him so that you will desire to please Him because the two of you are so in love with each other. (He already is with you :) )

In Phillipians 2:13 it says: ~For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure~. If we are not doing His good pleasure (being obedient) we may feel free to ask Him to work a work in our heart to desire to please Him. That is a prayer He will be fond of answering! He knows how to work the willingness in us, usually by drawing us closer to Himself and showing us more of His beauty.

It must be from the heart - inside out and that comes from an ever deepening relationship with Him. What has helped me was I began studying Him and His ways with individuals as depicted in the gospels. As I saw how He related to the needy, sorrowful, sinners, outcasts, etc. I began realizing that He would relate to me the same way. I also started studying the book of Hebrews alot. As a result of all this, I discovered the "Jesus I never knew"; not a hard or harsh taskmaster, but a Friend, Lover, Saviour and a God that had experienced everything I have ever gone through. And He did that for you and me so that He would be able to help us because He has been there!

What a Lover of our souls!

One more thing. It is good to share with Him openly and honestly about our struggles....and then listen. He already knows but He wants us to be open and transparent with Him. Often, after doing that with Him, I can almost feel Him swooping down and just loving on me! :kiss:

Sorry this is so long. I pray I posted something that might help :pray:

[DadBurnett]

A wise man once said that the answers are within the questions we ask …

Regain what you have lost? You can’t. If you are truly repentant and forgive (and I have no reason to doubt that you are) the past is a cancelled check. Remember Job, he did not get back what he lost, but his good was restored to him. The past is a cancelled check, its already been cashed. All you can do is to move on from wherever you are, use what ever degree of obedience you feel you have and then practice, practice, practice… out of that comes consistency.

Study is great, prayer is even greater … depending on your purpose in prayer. You say you can hear God now … then pay attention to God … listen, listen, listen and then be appropriately responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Spend some time with Paul, who declared that he died daily … what that has meant to me is that he started over many times, had to continually practice his faith, as we all do.

You have been blessed with the opportunity and the ability to start over, to renew your mind and thereby transform your self under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

[itzme]

What a Lover of our souls![/SIZE]

One more thing. It is good to share with Him openly and honestly about our struggles....and then listen. He already knows but He wants us to be open and transparent with Him. Often, after doing that with Him, I can almost feel Him swooping down and just loving on me! :kiss:

Sorry this is so long. I pray I posted something that might help :pray:


I just went through a tough time spiritually speaking, the end result being that I am now walking with him. It was tough while it was happening but in the end I found God's love.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

[itzme]

Dad Burnett-that's what I am doing now, trying to "hear" God and respond. I know I heard his teaching once, and I am going back to what I once did. I just am out of practice so it is an act of will.

About the past being done and gone and the future ahead I agree, and it is true once you move past conviction it seems like the future is wide open. I guess it would be different if I did horrible outward things as I wandered, but I did not, my disobedience (just as bad spiritually speaking) was unknown to others. Only I am God knew my failings.

[Sold Out]

Hi, I am a newly redirected Christian, and I would love some wise counsel on this topic.

I have been doing some correct things and some incorrect things during the last few years of my Christian walk. Unfortunately, I said of my own volition "no" to God in many issues. Now, I have returned and said "yes" to him and I hope to learn to walk the right way.

The sad part is that since I spent so much of my effort saying no to him, I have weakened myself spiritually. I tuned him out so much that I am out of practice of saying yes.

How do I regain what I lost? I can hear God now, I have a clean conscience, but I am so out of practice of obedience in all things. How do I return to consistency?

I do study and pray everyday, and I do attend a good Church.

I hope God is patient with me.

God speaks to us thru His Word, so in order to get 'in tune' with God and on the right track, you need to establish regular study time in the bible - I mean HARDCORE study, in addition to prayer and regular church attendance.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom 10:17

I went thru a similar experience as you a few years ago. I was so grateful for a 2nd chance! I found a great church with a great pastor that has faithfully taught me from the bible. Like you, I was just READY to do it right this time, and that attitude made all the difference. My pastor used to teach college greek and bible classes, so he started teaching a bible study at my house. Wow, I can't tell you how much I've learned and what a difference it's made.

I'd say the key to consistency is to be consistent! I know that sounds redundant, but it's true. Establish a rock solid spiritual schedule and do not sway from it. Set aside time each day (preferable the same time) for bible reading & prayer. Do not miss church unless you are on death's door. I'm telling you, God will reward you for this.

[itzme]

I am very grateful for the second chance as well, and I am doing my best to see that I don't fall into the same bad habits that led to disaster in the first place. I of course when I was wandering didn't meditate and study in a way that would lead me to change and obedience, I have scheduled an easy to keep schedule of time now, so I can keep on track. Most importantly I am making sure what I study is something that will lead me to growing as a Christian, instead of something just to read (I always studied, but I would study something esoteric and interesting, not something that forced me to grow).

[Sold Out]

Most importantly I am making sure what I study is something that will lead me to growing as a Christian, instead of something just to read (I always studied, but I would study something esoteric and interesting, not something that forced me to grow).

You said it....studying something that FORCES you to grow. That's how I got over that hump. I was forced to take God's Word over my own, because I was reading the bible as if it were a mirror - pointing out my sin so I could fix it. Now my mind just works differently....I can't explain it, but of course I know it's the Holy Spirit. When I started cramming my mind with scripture, it just purged out all the old desires. I don't have to fight to do the right thing anymore. It is truly liberating!!!

[SpokenFor]

Hi, I am a newly redirected Christian, and I would love some wise counsel on this topic.

I'm curious about your use of the word "redirected". Have you actually repented? It is only through true repentance and putting your faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. Once you have done that, you will be regenerated - that is, you will become a new creature in Christ.

Try listening to some podcasts of wayofthemasterradio.com and you will understand what I am talking about.

[livingwaters]

HE said if we draw near to HIM, HE will draw near to us!!!! HE doesn't lie....HE said, whoever shall ask for wisdom, HE will give it liberally~~~HE gives us new mercies everyday, Praise you Father!!!! HE said whoever seeks first the kingdom, HE will add everything else..Amen.:pp:pp

Oh, my..what a loving and merciful God we serve...God bless you continually in your walk...:hug:

[itzme]

I'm curious about your use of the word "redirected". Have you actually repented? It is only through true repentance and putting your faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved. Once you have done that, you will be regenerated - that is, you will become a new creature in Christ.

Try listening to some podcasts of wayofthemasterradio.com and you will understand what I am talking about.

I have repented, now I am trying to reorder wrong choices. I am used to going one way, and now am realizing that to do a 180 means to physically wrench my reactions in the opposite way of the way I am habituated to going.

[Paladin54]

Just as doing the wrong things makes it easier to do it again the next time, doing the right thing gets easier over time. Just try to keep as consistent as you can and it will get easier. Don't beat yourself up over mistakes, you will stumble along the way. Pick yourself up, learn from the mistake and keep moving forward.