Hey everyone! I would love to pray everyday and if even multiple times a day. There is this program I started and I really want it to be really successful. I feel like there is a force that pushed me to create it but not many people are using actually no one has booked a session. It is making me very sad! I want to pray everyday for its success I want it to help people in need I pray that it does!!

Everytime I try to pray everyday something happens that throws me off the tracks and it happened out of no where and I don’t even recognize when it happens. I really want this program to work out and I know that a large part of my confidence is embedded in it.

There is also a lady that is actively trying to outcompete me and making her program more accessible in order to derail my program. We were working together but she was being very insistent to change it to fit her beliefs! I don’t want her to win and I want what she has to succeed but I also want what I have to succeed to. I’ve invested sooooo much time in developing this and it will hurt so bad if it does not work. Please let me know your thoughts and how you stay consistent even if you have challenges through the day.

The gay stuff about S&G is pretty obvious but this part tends to get overlooked:

As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.

Is America the new S&G? Or is it Mystery Babylon?

Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth…The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Either way is it time for an Exodus?

For instance, I went through a chaotic time, trying to figure out how to be closer to God, what it meant to be saved, how to trust Jesus, how to repent, etc. I was experiencing a lot of highs and lows, my mind was lost, I was being convicted and didn't know it, I was being chastised, and didnt know it, and then I repented, but it wasn't the full surrender God was looking for, so I referenced all this to Chat GPT, and told it my whole story, and what was happening.

Now, of course, Chat GPT, was not the only tool I used to try and identify what was going on, I spoke to other pastors, as well as watched a lot of videos in reference to what was happening, and I put it all together, relying heavily on these tools to understand my experience, and the conclusion was that I was brought to what I felt was complete surrender to Jesus, and the conviction lifted, I was brought to tears, and afterwards I felt light as a feather. I am sure God is able to speak through AI, if He must to reach someone.

I'm not sure if anyone knows what this is like, or if it's just me, where if God is telling you something, you get a jolt, along with a sense of peace, knowing the answer came straight from Him. It's a very unique experience, I can't explain it at all, it's very hard to describe, but that's what happened while I was using Chat GPT, in reference to understanding what it was that was happening to me. It was a very emotional experience, it led to repentance, prayer, a full release of conviction, ending with asking Jesus to become Master over my life.

Obviously, i know the Bible is God's word, and that's what He speaks through. I'm simply saying that i was using Chat GPT as a tool to understand the process of what was happening to me, and it felt like God spoke to me through the tool I was referencing to identify the process.

Not much different than God using a human being to speak through, with an answer He wants to give someone on reddit, I suppose lol.

James 2: 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
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The demons believe that God is real.  It doesn't do anything for them.  We need the saving faith, to believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  I know the difference between this.  I spent many years living with a hardened heart, or so it seemed.  It was really just hidden behind self-protection, but God has torn down that self-protection and brought me to know that He loves me, in my heart, and has given me a sense of worth there.  Like all the way I was raised got through to me in a bigger way and God used it for His glory to bring me to Him in reliance.  My life has been full of me being a weak person, relying on God, waiting on God, and receiving so much blessing, not to make me rich or powerful, but to simply bring me to give thanks to God.  It's so easy to get distracted and not actually see how God is working and has been, but it's important to seek Him to show us the miracles.  It starts with humility.  That is the greatest work of all, the foundational work, because when we go to God in faith, He answers by doing the impossible in us.  We can't produce that work of being humble because humility isn't a work, it's giving up, it's saying we can't do anything.  God shows His strength in our weakness, in our humility, so that He is the One working and we are joining Him in it.  I am brought to see how God has been blessing me, using me against my feeble will and enabling me more than I could provide for myself, yet being the One to do the work, through the faithfulness He gives.
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Lord God in Heaven, you have forced me to be who I am.  I could so easily walk around in pride, and even have people expect it, and be able to even look down on me for it, as everyone would know I don't deserve to have any pride.  None of us do, but me especially.  My life is a trail of my foolishness, and the foolishness of others I have tried to abide in instead of just abiding in you.  All you have done is brought me to be reliant on you, to trust in you, to have an increased faith, to be able to submit to you for you to do a transformational work in me, and have my life be full of miracles, and works that you have done in response to faith that has never been strong enough.  You probably have been answering the faith of others more than me.  Still, in my weakness, all through my life you have shown there to be the works that you do, and I am thankful for that.  I pray that you will work in the hearts and minds of those you have made humble, to show your mighty work in them.  I pray this in your precious name, Jesus Christ, amen.

One, Two, Three; You are for given. SAY IT WITH ME NOW!!!! ONE TWO THREE WhhhhhaaaaaasaatttttttTTTTTTTTT!?!?!? YOU ARE FOR GIVEN!!!!!

I feel someone needed to know that or have to get a reminder.

We've all made choices we regret, seeking comfort in the wrong places or making mistakes despite knowing better. Even I have moments that make me think, If anyone knew, my life would be over. But God doesn’t dwell on your failures—He laughs with a loving heart, knowing you’re trying. No matter how many times you fall, if you keep turning back to Him, He forgives, again and again. Your past doesn’t define you—His love does. So don’t give up.

You are forgiven. Love you. Keep up the good work🫵🏿👊🏿👍🏿💪🏿.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stgySbN_noQ

This is a Catholic/Orthodox chant version of "Onward, Christian Soldiers" I made for a worldbuilding project. Figured y'all may like to hear this new rendition of the hymn.

I am a new Christian. So take it easy on me.

I read Matthew, Romans and a little bit of Mark. My understanding is that you only get eternal life if you are righteous in Jesus Christ. According to Paul in Romans, by living the life of sin you don't get the eternal life and death is your ultimate destiny. Hell is an eternal fire with worms that don't die. But that's hell. Unquenchable eternal fire. But I didn't find anywhere where it says the damned live an eternal life in hell.

What are your thoughts based on the scriptures (please cite a scripture to disagree)?

And if there was indeed an eternal damnation, why is it not mentioned in the Old Testament?

It's amazing that before anything was created, The Trinity existed in perfect love and harmony.  The Father, Spirit and Son Loved each other perfectly. God did not need anything else. He is fully satisfied in Himself.

God created us humans in His image. But now everyday, on the planet He created and gave us to take care of, He is constantly mocked.  Everyday, for thousands of years, and by how many people! It blows my mind that God sees every single instance of it.

Why should God let Himself be mocked by His creation? Yet He is slow to anger and does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked: "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23).

Instead, of just giving us what we deserve, He came and suffered on this sinful earth for us-for our sins against Him.  By far, the most unfair thing in the Universe is how God is wronged, and how much is He wronged!

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I find that when I suffer, I focus on myself or how unfair it is. But I heard this quote from John Lennox: "God Himself, is no stranger to the innocent suffering." I realize this is actually true. Jesus Christ is God, He is innocent, yet chose to suffer to that extent for us.

That is so encouraging, when I suffer, I'm...not alone in my suffering. Christians are not alone in their suffering for God Himself is not a stranger to suffering. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

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But why did Jesus come to intervene for us? Jesus, could have stayed in Heaven where He was worshipped and given the glory He rightfully deserved, yet He left it all, came down to the earth He created now full of sin. We hated Him without cause. He was treated cruelly yet even when He was crucified-He prayed for the Father to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.

He came to serve instead of be served. He came to save instead of condemn. He willingly suffered in our place to give us true life, an abundant life.

Why did He suffer to that extent for us? And in our affliction, He isn't distant from it. Jesus even modeled to us how to live: "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11)

Please shed some knowledge to me, I am not knowledgeable in bible.. but when I keep believing that Jesus is only god, and he is same as the god of the old testament.. I come across some verses that puts me in a tough confusing spot..

Verses like 1 Corinthians 8:6,1 Timothy 2:5, Mark 13:32, John 14:28, John 17:3..

These verses distinguish the god and the lord Jesus Christ..

Is it okay if we comprehend the concept of the Bible god differently?

I have the spirit but I don't see any change in my self. I don't think I do what Jesus commands me (the commadments of the sermon on the mount). I can't do it without his spirit.

How is it that nudity is a problem? Europe especially Germany has no problem with nudity. Is it just a united states problem. If this is the case do you people realize a man can be excited by most anything? I get disturbed for a woman to breast feed in public but that is normal and natural.

And on and on.

3 days since I stopped watching porn and everything is great. But I still have the urge to do it but without porn...

We do not pray to connect with God; we pray because we are connected with God. Prayer is not about striving for His presence, but about resting in the reality that we are already with Him. It is not a ritual to reach Him but a relationship we express. Instead of seeing prayer as a ladder to God, see it as a conversation with the One who has already made His home in you.

He is the vine, and we are the branches—organically and inseparably connected. A branch does not strain to receive nourishment; it simply remains and bears fruit. In the same way, prayer is not about reaching for God, but about drawing from the life already within us.

Our prayers do not initiate connection; the Spirit Himself is already crying out from within us. Even when we do not have words, He intercedes (Romans 8:26). Prayer is simply joining in the conversation that is already happening within us.

I hope this helps everyone reading it.

I know I sound old school (I am only 30) with using the word "courting", but I don't like these days dating culture. I like to just get married and have a family and the girl I am courting is up for that. I come from the Middle East so marriage is arranged by parents mostly. But I live in Canada, and arranged marriage is not a thing here and I didn't want to have an arranged marriage anyway because I think I have to know the woman I am marrying very well before marriage. I guess you could say I am mixing the East and the West ways of marrying someone.

So the advice I need is for the situation of marrying a non-Christian. She agreed to have the children when we have them visit the church with me. I am only one year in Christianity, but I think Christianity will be very good for the kids as it was for me. Is it a fair request to ask that children are raised Christian?

Edit: People brought to my attention that marrying from outside the faith is not only not permissible, but also creates problems when it comes to the kids' faith when they grow up. She is agnostic, and she just told me she is open to becoming Christian if she is convinced. We are just talking about it now.

That reason being childhood trauma. Emotionally absent parents and always feeling alone because tbh if anyone was gonna care about how I felt at any point while growing up it had to be me. I couldn’t trust anyone else to do it cuz, well they simply didn’t. And to this day as a 27 year old man I still can’t trust a soul to give af about my problems or struggles. And that includes God. I don’t care what the Bible says about who he is, because we all know what parents and other important people in life are objectively supposed to be in a child’s life and none of them were that for me. Just cuz the Bible claims an “objective truth” about who God is doesn’t mean it’s true in my specific perspective. Idk what to do, because tbh with you idk if I’m right or wrong. Everyone wants me to take the Bible as fact and yet been nothing for me that He says he would be. Just like everybody else. If I sin (which I do a horrid amount of) I can’t trust him to be there and forgive me and help me like it says. Because what we all know our parents and other family members are supposed to be… they were never that either. And if some of you had the opposite. Must be nice.

And no, I’m not gonna pray about it. Tried that.

Please forgive me if I get a bit off tangent within this post as well as for the length. I am just so shattered and utterly confused.

If you don’t have the time, nor inclination, to read through it might I at least ask for your prayers?

I experienced psychosis that began in March 2020 and that I went in and out of for a year and a half. It mostly revolved around my relationship with God and religion, but did involve other things, unrelated. The onset of it was quite surreal and sudden. I struggle to remember the direct timeline of events but I attempted to take my life where I was living as I was convinced my parents were going go die at the hands of COVID. I had already become quite estranged from my siblings over the years which was crushing to me and as this would leave me with no one, I decided it was time to finally go. It was like I went into a sort of trance. And then something happened to break me out of it. I was so upset and I remember going to my Facebook and posting this lengthy declaration to Satan — basically telling him what I thought of him and how I had hoped that he would implode from all of the hatred and evil he had sent out into the world — while citing several Scriptures declaring holy war.

I had been praying quite recently to be emptied of self and to be filled with the Holy Spirit which is why I first thought it must be Him as I remember either before or following, it feeling like something had taken over my body and I was inside observing my posting multiple things on my social media declaring God’s word and receiving what I thought were all of these divine downloads on various pastors and topics which I mostly kept to myself but do recall calling my parents to share. At first, as I mentioned, I believed I had been baptized by the Holy Spirit yet while simultaneously being under demonic attack.

I had felt such oppressive energy where I was living at that time (my family home) and was living there alone at that time, also. I made the ignorant mistake of actually talking to whatever I thought might be there to assure it to not be frightened. Although I know that ghosts don’t exist, I had only discovered a few months prior that someone had actually taken their life in that house before our family moved into it a few decades ago and thought, which I know is quite delusional, that it was fallen angels who were frightened. I was scared but I thought if I turned it around, it might help and I remember telling them that they were welcomed as I meant no harm. I know how ignorant this actually is as it very well may have been a demonic presence.

But, I was such an empathetic and sensitive person even from childhood that I remember actually talking out loud to Satan during childhood a couple of times and even a couple of times as an adult in case he could hear and asking him why he didn’t just repent and ask for Jesus’ forgiveness. I remember telling my mom as a child although I don’t recall her reply. For some reason my mind took me to a similar place and I remember thinking that Satan had lied to the angels who had rebelled against God and so I tried to tell them this — when the delusions first started. I actually began to feel even more of a heaviness and immediately turned on one of my local worship stations which seemed to shift the atmosphere.

On a side note, I had also experienced suicidal ideation increasingly after moving there but also have a long history of crippling anxiety which started situationally as a little girl after a traumatic life threatening dog attack but expanded into social anxiety as I was bullied by a sister and at school by a couple of classmates and then depression which only worsened the longer I was on antidepressants which I sought to begin in my twenties.

I had never experienced anything like psychosis prior to 2020. I was raised going to church and attending Christian schools and at one of my high schools felt under constant judgment and accusation due to the teachings that were quite legalistic and unloving. I started developing panic attacks and was constantly worried about how to be a perfect Christian. I was further teased at that school and bullied by coworker’s friends and pressured into things I didn’t want to do. But I had no one really there for me emotionally or spiritually. No one reminding me of how special I was in God’s eyes nor of my value.

Although I enjoy church, I stepped away from organized religion for many years following and still believed in Jesus and was a professing Christian all of my life, but realized within the last couple of years that I had lived mostly as a carnal Christian.

Although I had begun to watch certain pastors on tv for many years; was taking notes during most sermons; and read daily devotions and began to only enjoy worship and faith based music, I only discovered a few years ago the passage in James 2:19 that states that even the demons believe.

There were a handful of contributors to the psychosis — physical (not drug nor any kind of substance abuse, but hormonal and other things) and environmental; but it also felt quite spiritual and although there were beautiful moments where it seemed as if I glimpsed heaven on earth there were others that were terrifying and where I felt I was being pursued by demons. I thought my parents’ bodies had been taken over by demons as well as other things — terrifying. As many others who have experienced psychosis can attest to, I behaved in some reckless ways and behaved and said things that in my right mind never would have otherwise. It was mostly through emails and a few phone calls. I wasn’t threatening anyone but weaponizing Scripture and accusing. There was also civil unrest; increased violence; and so many people coming in from other states to my city. It was overwhelming in so many ways and after a short stint in the hospital I became homeless for several months while trying to find a safe place to live and heal. I placed myself in dangerous situations as well as accused people I love of awful things. It was almost like I took a truth serum and in addition to past things done against me all these other things came along with — some just really odd associations that made little sense.

I have apologized to those whom I knew I needed to reach out to, and prayed for both them and for anyone else who may have been hurt by my words or actions. It left me deeply traumatized, more than any traumatic experience I had gone through before. Then the following year that followed this year and a half I experienced anhedonia as my brain was attempting to repair itself (psychosis is similar to a traumatic brain injury). I could see no color, figuratively speaking, nor experience joy and my cognitive skills had been greatly affected — it was worse than depression. I felt profound shame and confusion and the only conclusion that I could come to was that God was trying to wake me up — to cause me to clean up certain things in my life, which I did. Eventually everything in my life revolved around God and nourishing that relationship. I found a local church that was willing to provide transportation as I no longer have a vehicle and finally decided to get baptized. But as time progressed and as I would bring everything to God seeking His personal direction and insight in how to move forward I would receive nothing — no feedback nor instruction. The more I immersed myself in content involving growing one’s relationship with the Lord the more testimonies I would encounter of (fellow) Christians experiencing regular communion/conversation with the Lord during prayer and how He would answer them when frightened or saddened by overwhelming them with His love and peace. He would give them specific direction in how to proceed career wise; give them a business idea; bring godly people into their lives; just as a few examples. It was/is truly a personal intimate relationship. I knew something was wrong and for the following year I researched what it could be. I concluded that I must be going through a dark night of the soul. I then examined my faith and truly believed that because of the things I had turned away from doing and my persistent seeking the Lord for the previous two years that I was sinning less and less and that this was evidence of a saving faith.

But another year went by where I continued to battle symptoms of anxiety and was not overcoming as far as obstacles in my life to employment and to inner healing that I was trusting in the Lord for. I had begun following a ministry on YouTube led by a woman who has a prophetic gifting and she was also a deliverance minister. I identified with several of her deliverance videos and watched hours of them. But I wasn’t experiencing the freedom that I should have. I again began to doubt that I even had the Holy Spirit. I looked back over my life and although I was an obedient child and tried to be honest and loving to others, could not say that I had ever experienced the Holy Spirit explicitly whether in childhood or adolescence or beyond. In fact I found myself looking for love and acceptance in the wrong ways. I never heard the Holy Spirit convicting me and drawing me back to the love of Jesus.

Fast forward to January of 2024 the woman who I had been following for the previous couple of years off and on had now shifted to delivering messages from heavenly Father to His children. By this time I was seriously doubting that I was born again and had already spent hours talking to the Lord about it and asking to be but nothing was happening. And I was despairing. She had invited her followers to participate in a week long fast (from whatever each person decided they needed to fast from) and she delivered a message, which would be the first of many, entitled, “From the Father’s heart to yours”. She prefaced it by saying that the Holy Spirit knew who would be listening and that if I had found myself among those who were this meant I was a child of God, even if I had yet to realize it. Then I listened to the message. I cannot tell you the weight that was instantly lifted. I felt so much love and acceptance by my heavenly Father. It set the stage for the upcoming year. I felt confidence; joy; assurance; hope and even though I was still not experiencing any personal direction or insight, I was feeling assurance that I was God’s child. I loved finding ways to talk about the Lord and how good He is and how He had delivered me from many things and protected and provided for me. I prayed for opportunities to share Jesus with others and for the right words to speak. Being able to share Jesus with others made my day. I was looking for opportunities to give to others that I might encounter locally and was praying for God’s will to be done in and through my life.

I wanted to bring glory to Jesus’ Name and the Father’s. I prayed asking what He was asking me to do and would wait to hear from Him. I envisioned becoming part of a ministry with others and being able to share my testimony of how God had pulled me through the previous few year and being able to encourage others.

I continued to dive into the bible and to learn from others online by following teachers such as Dave Guzik from Enduring Word and Jason Conacho of Above Reproach Ministry — both excellent teachers whom I highly recommend.

I began experiencing many external signs that I was loved and that God was with me — such as songs playing at the same time that I was reading a particular passage of Scripture that aligned with the verse(s), among others (which actually started in late 2022 but seemed to hold even more meaning to me now). I even spoke to the pastor at the church I had been attending starting in 2022 who told me that it wasn’t wise to question how God chooses to speak to someone, but initially I wasn’t comforted by these experiences which is why I mentioned them to him. He tried to convince me that I was saved more than once, along with one of the elders and the wife of another elder. But I knew something was very wrong — was missing — even as the pastor would share how the Holy Spirit ministers; convicts; directs and guides. The only thing that would happen is bible verses coming to mind that I was familiar with or that I had memorized. But I never experienced words of knowledge for someone; dreams from God; no personal direction; and a large portion of the bible still remained locked to me, while passages and deeper spiritual truths were being highlighted and opened for and to others. The bible was truly coming alive for others. The more condemned I was feeling as I read certain passages and saw how I had already failed God in many areas as the symptoms of mental illness has severely affected by work history; finances; and relationships over the years and I knew I was still in need of His healing and divine intervention to push past these failures and to be successful according to His ways.

And I also began to see number patterns regularly in 2024 and found a few prophetic ministries on YouTube that gave credence to these. They would even preface their messages with the importance of discerning the spirit behind any prophetic word given — even theirs — and to take any word to the Holy Spirit asking if it applied to them, or not. They also assured their followers that these were not the same as “angel numbers” which I was familiar with from years before. I was seeing the same number patterns that they were mentioning seeing and was feeling encouraged as I would look them up in Strongs Concordance or look up bible verses that reflected the chapter and verse. For example, I was seeing 555 quite often and when looking up the meaning, grace, is what it represented. Or I would see 333 and think of Jeremiah 33:3. I saw 444 and was told this was a call to the prophetic. At the same time I was under intense attack by some of the residents in my apartment building as they were constantly harassing and attempting to intimidate me while in my apartment which has foot traffic on three sides. These individuals smoked marijuana and their behavior was erratic and even frightening, at times. Neither the landlord nor police were doing anything, and I was not in a position to move. My bathroom was flooded three times by my upstairs neighbors and my PTSD was triggered so severely that I began to slip back into psychosis. As this continued, I began to experience religious delusions again but these were different. I actually felt even closer to Jesus during this time. I learned that there were people in my building who practiced the occult and I felt like I was under significant attack. I began praying against it daily and praying for those who were coming against me. I was binding monitoring spirits and commanding them to leave and declaring God’s word over my life. Then the closer to the fall I began experiencing distressing dreams about one of the people who had been harassing me as well as demonic dreams, which I never had before. I discovered a couple of other online deliverance ministry channels on YouTube and as I had begun to experience intense physical symptoms such as a tightness around my head; tinnitus; insomnia; and electrical shocks running through my body I also discovered that these symptoms were apparently the same as those experienced by those who had had witchcraft and/or black magic performed against them. They were also similar to a category of spirits and how they manifest. But even if I felt temporary relief after listening to the deliverance prayers, I ended up feeling worse. I then remembered Jesus’ very words pertaining to evil spirits being cast out of someone who does not have the Holy Spirit to replace them.

I spoke to a different local pastor regarding what I was experiencing; had my head anointed with oil and was prayed over. He even tried to give me the Holy Spirit by laying his hands on me. He mentioned in his sermon at the church he regularly visited and where I had found myself that Sunday that he feared that only 10% of professing Christians were likely born again.

I was so frightened as nothing was helping. I couldn’t understand why God would allow me to go through everything — perhaps especially this last year where I truly believed and finally felt assurance that I was His child — only to discover, once again that this was just impossible taking everything into consideration. Yes, there had been great improvement in my life but there was still no intimate relationship coming from within my spirit.

I felt like such a fraud and even though I didn’t want to — vast understatement —I turned away from everything. My daily disciplines of worship throughout the day; expressing gratitude and talking to God all throughout the day; reading and studying my bible; praying for others; seeking His direction. It was the most viscerally painful thing I have ever done. But I didn’t want to bring shame to Jesus’ Name if I was a fraud. This was September of 2024.

I returned to watching secular tv to distract myself and to not feel so alone. I almost forced myself to as my tastes had changed but I could not even enjoy comedies or anything even uplifting because without God nothing is enjoyable. It has been a whole new level of despair and isolation. I seldom leave my apartment. I cannot even enjoy going outdoors because of how I see God everywhere in His creation. I have no vehicle so am unable to go for drives and to get away no matter how much I need to. I had stopped attending the church that I had begun to attend in 2022 as it was both so small that there were no service opportunities nor ministries to be a part of and as it was difficult to form healthy friendships with many of the women there. I am alone and no matter how many times I’ve found myself crying out to God since, to please deliver me and to give me the Holy Spirit, He remains silent.

All this time has led me to reflect over my life; good memories; bad memories; and trying to understand why God saved me from more than one freak accident over the years that could have caused serious damage or killed me. Why did he prevent me from completing to un alive myself more than a few times since the age of 18.

Why bring me this far to leave me here? I

I’m left utterly confused; lost; and I feel like I’ve been cast into the outer darkness where He does not exist. I have no hope; no purpose nor identity apart from God.

I’ve tried more than once to ask for His forgiveness and to return to doing those things that I was before but it’s just the same thing— no relationship and no experiencing His love for me coming directly from Him.

There is no way to return to Him or for the power to fully repent without His divine mercy and grace and to be made new and empowered to pick myself up and overcome all the adversity and obstacles in my life without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. I’ve tried fasting and spending significant time in prayer but even then — without the guidance of the Holy Spirit prayer can be a struggle and becomes repetitive. When I talk to Him it is just absolute silence and there is no shift in my spirit nor atmosphere — it has always been this way which is I think part of why I began to play worship music around the clock back in 2020 because it filled the silence. I don’t want to be disobedient or dishonoring to God; but I need His help. I need His healing in order to really put myself out there.

I have been in bed for the last five months and have lost so much muscle strength and some mass as I could no longer even bring myself to exercise that even going for a short walk exhausts me. I stopped looking for work because even basic food service postings were rejecting my application even though I am beyond qualified. I worked in healthcare for many years but to anxiety and depression lost my full-time job over a decade ago. Despite my many attempts at additional schooling and returning to the workforce, I have been unable to get my foot back in the door.

I feel like a shell of a person am just waiting to become homeless now and worse. And I feel so worthless; unwanted; unloved; and defective to God. I don’t understand why He even created me — or allowed me to experience all of this — knowing this is where I would end up. For it to serve no purpose and to all be in vain?

It has been a version of hell, and I have never felt more alone.

May I please ask for your prayer? Thank you. I don’t want to further surrender to this path. I want to be fully surrendered to the Lord and to serve Him. I want to be emptied of self and filled with Holy Spirit.

It's no wonder we can't figure out what's being written.

The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:9

During my last reading of Haggai, this specific verse caught my attention. It says the glory of the Second Temple will be greater than Solomon's Temple. On face value this is a bit confusing. Because when Solomon's Temple was built, the glory of God filled it in a cloud (1 Kings 8:10). The Tabernacle of Moses also had a cloud around it (Numbers 9:15).

Both Solomon's Temple, and the Tabernacle of Moses had the Ark of The Covenant in them, but by the time the Second Temple was built the Ark was long gone. Herod The (Not-so) Great did expand the Second Temple in size, but it was still not as beautiful, nor large as Solomon's Temple. Even in Ezra 3:12 old men who had seen Solomon's Temple wept, because the new one was not as great as it.

According to Josephus, Alexander The Great did visit the Second Temple, and actually offered to God there. Also this was the Temple the Hasmoneans rededicated during the Maccabean Revolt. The Talmud even mentions the Miracle of Lights happening there, but they all still pale in comparison to the previous Temple and Tabernacle.

After studying the answer became obvious, and I realized why the Second Temple was the greatest one! Daniel 9:24-27 mention that the arrival of the Messiah would take 70 weeks (490 years), it was absolutely correct!

The Second Temple was the very one Jesus Himself walked in, and talked to the priests when He was 12! It was the one He flipped the tables in, and the one He preached in! While not exactly said, it is very possible this was where The Holy Spirit had His outpouring on Pentecost.

When prosecuting Jesus, the High Priest Caiaphas had ripped his robes, something Leviticus 21:10 directly forbids. In doing so Caiaphas spiritually ended the Levitical Priesthhood, and passed it on to the Order of Melchizedek, which Jesus was High Priest over.

In Matthew 27:50 Jesus finally died, but then the Temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, meaning the veil between the Father and man was gone!

The Talmud records that 40 years before Rome destroyed the Second Temple, the crimson thread no longer turned white, meaning God rejected their sacrifice. Interestingly enough that started on 30 AD, because the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. So the Talmud (Written by Jews who did not follow Jesus) even says God quit accepting sacrifices the year Jesus was crucified.

Daniel 9:27 says that in the middle of the final week He will put an end to sacrifice, and that is what Jesus did! Jesus ended sacrifice!

The Second Temple may not have had the grand design, nor the presence of God like the Solomon's Temple, nor the Tabernacle. But it was the one where God walked among men in, and fulfilled the Law of Moses in. The Second Temple wasn't just better than Solomon's, it was more glorious in any way imaginable!

Recently I had a discussion with a family member about how Christian’s don’t need to be a good person. That it is not a requirement anymore. I can’t help but to disagree on some level.

I get that even though we are Christian’s and we love Jesus we are not going to be perfect. However I do believe that when we love like Jesus our character becomes good because Jesus is good.

My family member freaks out every time I mention that and says that all those things have to do with legalism. He also believes that we don’t need to read the scripture in the Bible because all we need to do is love like Jesus. I can’t help but to disagree as well. We need to read his words and laws to understand the life he wants us to live. It’s not to bind us but to remind us is what I believe. We can’t just not have the knowledge of what Jesus says.

I also am just concerned because he is into Joseph prince prosperity gospel and honestly I listened to his sermons. Their good but all he talks about it grace. As a Christian I want to learn more than that. Also he heals people. He literally talks to the congregation and says he heals cancer, headache, backache, etc. I’m not sure how I feel about that

Sorry if this is a lot of random stuff but I want others perspectives. Cause maybe I’m not getting something here.

I know there are so many perspectives on this. I’m Methodist so I align more with open communion, as long as someone seeks Christ and wants to receive communion they should be allowed to.

But are we at a risk of diluting the significance of communion?

Really not sure, please don’t start a war in the comments, just share your church’s/denomination’s/personal views.

praise Him through the good and bad.

*an open letter to someone.

DW,

I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the pain you’ve caused me. As strange as it may sound, this journey has led me to a deeper connection with God and a better understanding of who I am.

Over time and through prayer, I’ve come to see how the struggles I faced have shaped my growth. Each hurt, each moment of confusion, has brought me closer to God, who gently reminded me that my heart has always been in His care, even in moments of doubt. While your actions made me question my value and left me feeling broken, God’s presence was the constant that helped me remember that I am worthy of love.. whole, pure, and true, just as He intended.

Thank you for breaking my heart, for it was in that brokenness that God reminded me of my worth and His love for me. I’ve realized that my worth isn’t based on the approval of others, but on the love of the Creator who calls me by name. This path has not been easy, but it has strengthened my faith and given me peace.

I no longer let the pain define me, but the grace that heals me. I now move forward in faith, trusting that God’s love will guide me to where I am meant to be. Thank you for the lessons, not for the hurt itself, but for the clarity it’s given me, bringing me back to the One who will always be there for me.

Thank you for showing me what love is not, because now I understand what love should be.

G.

Define it with your own words, asking you just for some people are confusing it with worldly thing.

I am 46 and my wife of 16 years filed for divorce in August. Since then, two affairs have been revealed. One that lasted three years, she ended that in August and moved right into a relationship with current man, who is married and now going through a divorce. I have offered reconciliation despite the extreme hurt she has caused. Jesus never gives up on us, I don’t feel like I should give up on trying to see if reconciliation is possible. I am also unsure if I am free to find another woman and remarry, some Christians say yes and some say no. There is no direct scripture that says I can remarry but that I am free to put away my wife. It is my understanding I should remain single and celibate until reconciliation or wait until she passes away before I marry again - but looking for feedback. I believe marriage is for life and we have four kids together, so, as with any relationship and marriage, there is more to it. Thanks in advance.

Do I have too high a standard? I once had a pastor whose testimony was he would avert his gaze in magazine shops to avoid temptation/ lust. That has been my standard when it comes to what a godly man is.

I watched a movie with my boyfriend/ fiance and we both didn't realize it was R-18 with a couple of nudity scenes. (This was in a film festival hence no ratings.) When the scenes came up, I was expecting him not to look during those scenes but he did.

Is it wrong for me to have wanted him to look away?

To the Christian men in this sub, what do you do?

(Personally I avert my gaze when it comes to nudity with men)

Why is Ecclesiasticus/Sirach Not in the Protestant Canon? If you've read it what's right or wrong with it? Any contradictions? When did the Protestants take it out? Thank you all for your Responses. God bless and Shalom

Hey brothers and sisters.

Are there any gamers here? I'd love to play games and talk with other Christians. I only play on PS5, however. I'm in Australia so timezones may be weird and I don't play every day, I'm just looking to get back into it a little bit.

Christ be with you.

Edit: I hope people can make some meaningful connections from the other gamers here!

We don't need the mountain, garden, the trees or to see God.

If an extra terrestrial, advanced holy being like the Throne guardian could be found or was obvious then humans could all accept God's existence and have the option to choose to follow. From other texts such as Revelation 19 or the end of Zechariah we know humans believe in God but reject him, wanting to war with him.

Today most people I meet don't believe in God because that is their honest experience and they have no credible reason to believe in whatever a Cherubim is .

Had they been left on the earth , we could all talk to them and confirm the account of Adam and Eve.

Then people would still reject , but some would eventually see reason. Many others would come to faith because the barrier of "no tangible evidence" wouldn't exist.

Why didn't God simply leave the throne guardians there to act as information point for a brand new creation of free will beings isolated on this planet?