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I've started reading the Bible

When I was 12 my school handed out small Gideon Bibles that had a daily reading schedule, so that over the course of two years, you'd have read the whole NT. I read it twice. Got nothing from it. Fast forward 40 years, and the knocks and scrapes of life, and here I am - thoroughly disillusioned with the world (boo-hoo, woe is me lol).

So I bought a leather bound KJV red letter edition (Jesus's words are printed in red) and I am reading Matthew then will read Mark, Luke and John. With what I have learned through living, the Word is beginning to make sense. My impression is that Jesus is no softy - he rebukes and remonstrates, criticises and condemns, but at last I am starting to see the light of Christ.

It seems to me that by taking my fill of what this world has to offer - and being sickened with it and finally pouring it away - my cup is empty and ready to be filled with the love of the living Christ. At 12 I was not receptive. My mind was occupied with worldly things. At 52 I stand ready to reject this devilish world and surrender. Well, almost. It's not easy but I'm making a start.

When I was 12 my school handed out small Gideon Bibles that had a daily reading schedule, so that over the course of two years, you'd have read the whole NT. I read it twice. Got nothing from it. Fast forward 40 years, and the knocks and scrapes of life, and here I am - thoroughly disillusioned with the world (boo-hoo, woe is me lol). So I bought a leather bound KJV red letter edition (Jesus's words are printed in red) and I am reading Matthew then will read Mark, Luke and John. With what I have learned through living, the Word is beginning to make sense. My impression is that Jesus is no softy - he rebukes and remonstrates, criticises and condemns, but at last I am starting to see the light of Christ. It seems to me that by taking my fill of what this world has to offer - and being sickened with it and finally pouring it away - my cup is empty and ready to be filled with the love of the living Christ. At 12 I was not receptive. My mind was occupied with worldly things. At 52 I stand ready to reject this devilish world and surrender. Well, almost. It's not easy but I'm making a start.

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[–] [deleted] • 5 pts

Thanks buddy. As it happens, it was an incredibly warm response from voat to a post I made when I was suicidal that drew me to the Bible. That was two years ago. Took me a while to tip-toe back to the Bible and venture into a church. I'm very lucky in that I live in a part of London that has dozens of churches and my nearest is a Catholic Church. What works for me is not "asking" God for help but thanking God for help I need which I "know" is coming. Subtle but effective. This is the "faith" I believe is spoken about.

[–] • 4 pts

Yeah man, it feels silly to pray for myself, unless asking for stronger faith or forgiveness. I try to ballance prayer for something I want with simply giving thanks to God. I generally pray for others, and ask others to pray for me if I need help. I truly believe the prayers of others for me has saved my life before.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

Same here.

I like to pray for others as they enter my thoughts and then let them know I’m thinking about and praying for them.

[–] • 3 pts (edited )

What works for me is not "asking" God for help but thanking God for help I need which I "know" is coming.

I continually tell people that God gave us free will. If God did things for us, that would negate our free will.

Instead, God gives us the knowledge, tools, abilities, and opportunities to do things ourselves. Our free will decides if we use what God has given each of us.

All of the bad things in the world are happening in order to wake us up. To show us that there is pure evil in this world, and that it must be stopped; we are shown the consequences of what will happen if we do nothing.

Because you have free will, God will give you numerous excuses and opportunities to sit back and do nothing as your people suffer. God will give you the path, the opportunity, to do nothing. He will also give you a path that allows you to fight, and help your people; your race. Your free will decides which path you will take.

We must earn our spot in his kingdom. Which means the righteous path will be the more difficult one; the one with the most sacrifice. There are many of us willing to walk alongside you on that difficult path of fighting to save our race, our people, our religion, and our way of life.

God has made it so that we can win; that we can end the suffering of our people. But our free will decides if we will win. If we take the difficult path filled with pain and suffering, or if we do nothing.

If you sit and do nothing, you will be left behind. But if you walk alongside us, you will not walk alone.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Yes brother. This I understand and thank you for your response. It is clear that this world is a world of suffering and pain. It would of course be helpful if God would ease our suffering from time to time.

[–] • 0 pt

>It would of course be helpful if God would ease our suffering from time to time.

God won't ease our suffering. He will give us the ability and opportunities to ease it ourselves.

Our free will decides if use the abilities and opportunities God gives us.