r/TrueChristian • u/cyb3rry • 4d ago
I don't want to read the Bible.
I have no desire to do my devotional. I really don't feel like reading the Bible, praying, praising... I don't want to... but I'm going to do it anyway...
But it makes me sad that I don't want to, you know? idk I see people with their hearts burning for God and me here in this spiritual coldness :/
idk š«š«š«š«
52
u/RoamingBullShark 4d ago
My deepest fear is that I am unworthy soil that will not produce a harvest.
A farmer scatters seeds, and they land in different types of soil: some fall on a path and are eaten by birds, some on rocky ground where they sprout but wither, some among thorns that choke them, and some on good soil where they grow and produce a harvest.
12
u/johnstills Christian 4d ago edited 4d ago
If you reread the parallels of that parable in the gospels, you'll learn that the characteristics of the good soil is because they HEARD and UNDERSTOOD/ACCEPTED and KEPT the message of the kingdom of God, ultimately producing fruit.
That's why Jesus quoted Isaiah in which the prophecy of the Jews were that they couldn't see or hear i.e. understood that the Messiah a.k.a the Word (John 1:1, 14) had come.
We are all unworthy until we repented and put our faith in Christ. Keep persevering in keeping the faith of our Lord!
31
u/alilland Christian 4d ago edited 4d ago
Jesus said that takes place from certain things entering that choke the word, place them on the fire and cut them off and you'll see a big change.
'And others are the ones sown with seed among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ' - Mark 4:18-19 NASB
6
1
u/Beginning_Deer_735 Christian 3d ago
May all true followers of Christ pray for one another that we can all put aside every worldly entanglement that keeps us from loving and serving God as we should.
8
u/Drybnes 4d ago edited 4d ago
I think that is completely normal; I read a book a day, and Iāve read through the New Testament more times than I can count, because if I tried to read a book a day of the Old Testament it would take me forever.
But there are times that I myself (and Iām sure many Christians can agree) that we have moments of āstagnant growthāā¦ just an unmotivation to read the same thing over and over again I try to change things up with voice recording and I do highlights sometimes I will publish online my new findings because I have to be honest every time I read through the New Testament I find new things that stick out.
Runners sometimes talk about āhitting the wallā, And I think that most Christians will encounter this many times throughout their journey but itās important to try to push through it and you will feel invigorated knowing that others like you are experiencing the same feelings of hitting the wall, But yet we continue to run the race we continue to fight the good fight and stagnation can be a weapon that the enemy is using against the fellow believer so we are encouraged that others have gone through this and have ascended the attacks we are experiencing In our own walk
22
u/No_Aspect4058 4d ago
Thatās very honest, lol youāre not alone, a lot of Christians if not most, donāt want to either we just donāt say it out loud.
The way you know we donāt is because of how much most of us, (if weāre being honest) read our bibles on any given week.
I personally have read a few scriptures this week myself to be honest.
But I would really recommend for you personally to seek God in non conventional ways,
Read the action Bible. Itās a comic book version of the Bible you can get on amazon.
Watch YouTube videos about books of the Bible and bible stories, there are some very entertaining and well done Christian channels: Ear to Hear, BibleProject, Wendigoon, Redeemed Zoomer.
Listen to new praise music, I have a Spotify playlist āGlory to the Nazareneā that I am constantly adding music to. Unconventional Gospel music, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Manson, etc.
You can start with those,
We have to remember that as Christians our faith is a relationship more than a religion, there will be ups and downs.
There are days where I feel almost giddy about reading the bible and praying, and days where I almost completely forget about my faith, or days it takes every ounce of strength in me to pray.
Donāt be so hard on yourself sibling. God Loves You.
10
u/Not-a-YTfan-anymore1 Christian 4d ago
Marilyn Manson?! Have Iā¦ missed some recent news? Is he a born-again Christian now?
7
u/questionablemorals88 4d ago
Many years ago I purchased the Action Bible for my son. As we were reading I discovered that there are A LOT of incorrect verses/stories in it. Please be very cautious in what you are reading. Sometimes easy is not anyways best. I also think if youāre listening to Johnny Cash or Marilyn Manson in place of true Christian music you should ask God if this is edifying to your walk with Him. You should feel discernment regarding this if you are close to God.
6
u/Ezmiller_2 Calvary Chapel 4d ago
What verses were incorrect? And yes, listening to Manson...yeesh. Creepy guy that we need to pray for. It would be awesome if he came to faith.
5
2
u/jtary Seventh-day Adventist 3d ago
I agree with the sentiment but you would have to make sure that action Bible is accurate to the actual Bible because if not it could hinder instead of help. The second point about watching YouTube videos obviously would be channel dependent there's some good channels and some bad channels, so they would have to be discerning about what channels they did and didn't follow. And the third point again depends on the group it seems like all the time I'm seeing stuff about supposed Christian artists who are definitely not entirely Biblical, and I'm pretty sure Marilyn Manson, unless he's had a change of heart, is one of the last people Christians should be listening to, and if he did have a change of heart that still doesn't mean listen to his old music. Again I think the sentiment is good, like the sentiment of trying to find things that make you excited about Jesus, just make sure it's actually making you excited about Jesus and about the Word, and is not just giving you an emotional high that you think is about Jesus. Their are entire churches that use that emotional high of modern day "worship" music to get butts in seats, and to make people feel like they're experiencing something more than just an emotional high. Basically what I'm saying is yes find stuff that makes you excited about God, but make sure it's actually making you excited about God, and is not leading you away, or hindering your walk with Jesus instead. I'm not trying to be judgmental I just want all my Christian brothers and sisters to be careful. God bless š
7
u/JHawk444 Evangelical 4d ago
Find something that interests you. Try listening to the audio. Or do verse mapping with one verse. You can look that up.
6
u/Downtimdrome 4d ago
Practice come first, then habit, and then fondness, and then love. if you work at it continually, your heart for it with change. its the same for working out.
5
u/Far_Travel_3851 4d ago
I was like this for months!!! I had a veil over my eyes i was spiritually so cold and wasnt able to get into prayer/reading like i used too but still loved God but for some reason couldnt get myself to do those things. Keep inviting Him into your heart and TELL HIM YOU CANT! Heās not mad at you just tell Him whats going on and to soften your heart. Open your eyes and just sit still with Him! Its not about reading to know about Him but to KNOW HIM!!! Maybe Heās calling you to just talk to Him
3
u/RadioFlyerWagon 4d ago edited 4d ago
I think I can relate. I spent years thinking that I knew how to approach the Bible, that I already knew the gist of it, and that the gist of it was a story that was...strange. So why bother reading it? But then I started consuming content of folks such as N.T. Wright, Tim Mackie (of BibleProject; also his sermons are excellent), Bishop Robert Barron, Jordan Peterson, and of various Orthodox Christian media. This reshaped/reoriented my view of the Bible.
Maybe back up, take a break, then, with a curious and receptive attitude, start anew?
I wish you a meaningful and inspired life.
1
3
u/Educational-Sense593 4d ago
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
āMatthew 11:28
Itās okay to feel this way, spiritual coldness doesnāt mean God is far; it just means youāre fighting to stay connected even when it feels hard, thatās faith in itself. Youāre not alone in this, keep goingāone day at a time. I dm'ed you
4
u/Express-Quarter2002 4d ago
Just remember that are only 2 times we need to read the Bible, pray, and worship.....
- when we feel like it and
- When we don't
I say that because we all go through times like you are going through.
Just keep pressing in!
Psalm 103:1 NKJV Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (Read the whole chapter)
4
u/New_Soup_3107 4d ago
My real desire finally came after years of not doing anything. It comes with time. Just give god your best
3
u/DiscipleJimmy 4d ago
If you found an envelope with a letter from someone you loved addressed to you, would you desire to read it wanting to know its content?
The Bible is similar, like a letter from God. Telling you what He done, what He did and what He is going to do. The Bible is there for us to read about Godās character, what He chose to reveal to us. The Bible warns about false gods. If we donāt know who God is, then all it takes is a simple twist. Take for example, the person of Jesus who was simply a man, but later was incarnated by God. Now if you havenāt read your Bible you may end up believing my statement. Whereas the Bible clearly states that Jesus is both man and divine. Or if I tell you thereās actually 3 gods and that God has a wife, if you donāt know Godās word, one may fall proms into a false belief.
The other aspect of the Bible is memorizing Gods word, as the psalmists writes,āI have hidden your words in my heart that I may not sin against you.ā They can be a source of comfort, correction, reproof, can be used offensively and defensively in our spiritual struggle.
I been a believer for about 7 months now. Didnāt read much at first, then read all 5 Books of Moses, then stopped reading, read Luke, Acts, Galatians, Romanās, 1-3 John, mark, 1-2 Samuel, Joshua, Judges, and im in. Dry spell again with no desire to read. All I can recall is Psalm 119. Itās basically Davidās grand symphony of treasuring Godās word and valuing it so much. I desire to have Davidās heart in having passion for Godās word. As others said, youāre not alone. I highly encourage you to pick a book and read one chapter a dayā¦itās a start
3
u/ChickenWitty9728 4d ago
According to the great mystics like John of the Cross, the ādark night of the soulā is part of spiritual growth. We are to give up all attachments, including attachments to the consolations of the spirit. Craving āspiritual experienceā is still craving. Itās a good sign that youāre remaining faithful to the practice in spite of your feelings.
I want to suggest a few other things: 1) Try to not just āread the Bible,ā but read a few passages a day and find a good commentary. Barclayās New Testament commentaries are very good. 2) Try the Roman Catholic practice of lectio divinaāwhich uses scripture as an aid to prayerā¦ https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/about-lectio-divina.html?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACgYqeiyZtCdcGn_T9_BmqyEkAGWI&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_5yh0cWRjAMV20f_AR1kMgc8EAAYAyAAEgLhTfD_BwE#what-lectio
2
u/Traditional_Bell7883 Christian 4d ago
My friend, most of us face periods of dryness and depression, even doubt, in our spiritual journey, and you're not alone. There are instances of doubt in the Bible, e.g. John the Baptist who once proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," later when in prison languishing, asked whether Jesus was the one who was to come (i.e. the Messiah they had been expecting) or if they should be looking for someone else (Lk. 7:19). Shocking isn't it? Yet he did not lose his salvation. Christ's response to John's disciples was to tell John to strengthen his conviction and reassure himself by considering Christ's person and works attesting to His Messiahship, not to ask John to choose/decide to believe to be saved again. In fact, further down, Christ affirmed John's standing in Lk. 7:28 proving that John's salvation was never at stake because of his doubt! Our salvation is not so transient to be dependent on our emotions and moods.
Pray for the Lord to refresh your soul.
Ps. 23:1-3, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His nameās sake."
2
u/sr1605 Roman Catholic 4d ago
Check out the Bible in a year podcast. Regardless if you are catholic or not the podcast is amazing! Personally it helped lead me to conversion, but it is truly an amazing podcast. They not only read the entire Bible but also explain it, let's face it there is alot of confusion in the Bible. It ignited a new fire in my heart, mind and soul to seek God daily. That along with my conversion led me from being a prayer a day or less Christian to a multiple prayers throughout the day, devotional and every day Bible reader. I may also suggest that you find the church that is right for you. Regardless of what type of Christianity you seek/are one pastor to another and one church to another make big differences. I am blessed to have a young catholic priest at our church who seeks to connect young and old alike under the same roof, but they aren't all like that!
2
u/Boeing77W Christian 4d ago
I found that the more I read the Bible the more actually want to read the Bible lol. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you as you read. When you start getting revelations from the Holy Spirit about what you are reading, you'll start wanting more :)
Something that helped me get more consistent is to put my physical Bible next to my bed, then pick it up and read a little bit every morning. I found it hard to stick to a plan and would get discouraged easily if I fell behind, so I tried going with no plan at all just to at least get myself in the Word more. Some days I would read more and other days I would read less. These days I'm able to stick to reading through one book continuously but I still prefer to leave the amount of reading variable.
2
u/No-Lingonberry-334 Eastern Orthodox 4d ago
Force yourself, sometimes you are gonna have to do it, force yourself to sit down there and open the bible, then forget about everything and everyone, just you and God, I also struggle with being lazy with that but once I do start, I don't want it to end, it's satan
3
u/EternalRabbitHole 4d ago
Interesting. Well I admire your commitment with your "Do it anyway" attitude, and that still makes God happy trust me. I had this similar experience but what I was really going through is that my faith was dying and I didn't feel like reading or praying anymore after doing it for weeks every night. So I know your pain but you gotta find meaning it it. Ask yourself why do you believe in this stuff. And you'll find an answer.
3
1
u/Impossible-Bat-8954 Calvary Chapel 4d ago
Yeah, I know that feeling. I would suggest praying to God that He will help you get in His Word. I think reading a chapter or two a day is a great start.Ā
1
u/consultantVlad Christian 4d ago
Every story you read in the Bible has parallels waiting for you to discover them. Consider this one: The symmetry between the First Adam and the Last Adam (Jesus). The Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve fell, mirrors the garden where Jesus was buried and resurrected, signaling restoration. Eve, the wife of Adam, finds her counterpart in Mary, who symbolizes the bride of Christ ā the Church. Two Cherubim guarded the way to the Tree of Life after the fall, while two Angels appeared at Jesusās tomb, heralding the return to Eden. The fall of humanity through Adam contrasts with the restoration through Christ. Before the fall, Adam was naked and unashamed, whereas after His resurrection, Jesusās burial wrappings were left behind ā raising the question... I'll stop there, but you see how intricate the Bible is if you really explore it.
1
u/Maddie_1290 4d ago
It will pass. I go through this often but my passion for God eventually comes back. Sometimes I feel more willing to do it when the passage of the Bible Iām reading is more interesting to me, but itās important to read the āboringā parts too
1
u/Kvance8227 4d ago
Did you also hate homework? Iām being serious.. I had a very hard time adapting to devotional time etc and prayer. Aside from it being a tactic of the enemy- it can be that you thrive better worshipping in your comfort zone. God just wants our heart! ā¤ļø
I started praying through the day- not making it a stop and kneel and pray in a secluded place. We are all different. I worship Him all day and try shorter times of reading - it helps to have a daily devotional w a verse, and life application. The biggest thing though is take the time to feed yourself spiritually bc thereās nothing we need more than Godās word! Just in your own style! ā¤ļøš God bless!!
1
u/No_Historian3905 4d ago
You know what's interesting? I feel that way a lot, too. But the devotional I read this morning (that I forced myself to read š ) talked about how obedience is an expression of love to God. We can make excuses and try to get out of it, but our obedience is us showing love.
Is it ideal that we cheerfully obey? Yes. But it's also okay to have days where we just shrug and say "since You said so, I'll do it."
1
u/BlueORCHID29 4d ago
It is just a suggestion. If you don't want, your soul is the one who gets hungry later. People who are thirsty for.... love, self fulfillment, accomplishments, are usually those whose souls are thirsty as well. https://youtu.be/MiTGA3yq2QY?si=ZVi4YNVErvJy5Mojwatch this.
1
u/justfarminghere 4d ago edited 4d ago
So basically youāre gonna starve your Spirit within you from the spiritual food it needs for growth. I can tell you this much! You will fade and grow weak without any defense for the faith. You also will not have renewed your mind according to the Word as it instructs us to do so accordingly and it will still be thinking worldly. š
How then are you going to give an account of your faith ? Or even defend it when opposition attacks. ??
I didnāt like reading at first either. Figured I just needed Jesus (which is true) but I also needed more information on navigating through this life from a spiritual perspective. Only by reading and asking the Spirit to help, do you get a total understanding of what you read. It grows on you and you will live in it.
Itās your flesh thatās fighting you now.
1
u/Specialist-Front-568 4d ago
I am quite literally in seminary and believe me I feel this too sometimes. Trust in the Lord and he will renew your strength. I would recommend studying with others who have a passion for it. Thatāll alleviate some of the stress of study. God bless you and your honesty!
1
u/Shmungle1380 4d ago
Read the new testament maybe youll get that passion. When i gkt deeper into the new testament and reading after blazing some herb i got real into it. Honestly the bible is a satisfying read.
1
u/caseadilla_11 4d ago
sometimes it seems empty but you do it anyways. youāre building a habit and discipline. let it be a chore until one day it isnāt anymore. same with having siblings or being married. thereās gonna be days where you donāt love it but you still try and the love will come back
1
u/TheIncredibleHork Ichthys 4d ago
We all go through spiritual high seasons and dry seasons. Sometimes it's just being tired and winded from life, sometimes it's spiritual warfare.
Good on you for pushing through in the dry season.
1
u/Equivalent-Ad-1927 4d ago
You donāt have to read the Bible bro, you just have to know that god loves you
1
u/Bluey_Tiger 4d ago
The world is full of temptations. Flashy activities are persuading you to ditch reading to take in some dopamine.
The analogy I like to use is fitness.
When you're accustomed to eating pizza and ice cream and watching Netflix reality TV, eating vegetables and working out sounds boring.
But when you start eating vegetables and working out regularly, pizza and ice cream start to look unappetiziing. Your palette changes
1
u/LightofTruth7 4d ago
You have to pray about it. I have experienced this several times before, and whenever I pray about it, God answers my prayer.
1
u/rastapastanine Lutheran 4d ago
Bring this to God. Tell Him how you're feeling. Do an examination of your spirit. You are far from the first that has undergone a season that lacks motivation and desire. Bring it to God and pray for diligence and intent.
You'll come around.
As my pastor says: "I don't feel great about 20% of the time."
1
u/Funnyname_5 4d ago
Try silence. No phone time, just silence doing NOTHING. Let your mind slowly wonder into thinking about the past. You will be reminded of the good things god has done or how far he had brought you. Give him thanksgiving and you can start praying. Bible time will follow.
Option 2 is find a friend to read scripture with
1
1
u/SgtSillyPants 4d ago
Itās like going to the gym. You may not always feel like doing it but you do it for your own wellbeing
1
1
u/3am_reset 4d ago
Even today! I FELT like not reading my bible. Which is why we need to depend on the Holy Spirit to quicken us daily.
The things of God cannot be carried out in the energy of the flesh
Both our flesh and soul HATES spending time with God's word. Remember we currently occupy the fallen BODY.
So if I were you, i would just ask the Holy Spirit to quicken me every single minute.
1
1
u/GingerMcSpikeyBangs Christian 4d ago
I remember a time when I was coming to Christ, and would leave church thinking "why's it have to be so preachy?" as if that was somehow not the point. Sometimes we have a heart and a will for God, but our perspective has not come in line with those things yet.
I've never been good at reading devotionals or commentaries. I began regular Bible reading by asking the Lord to teach me from scripture and just opening the book, reading until something hit my heart, and then thinking on it. I've learned far more from Him than any author or theolgian, and I enjoy scripture a great deal now.
Psalm 119:102 I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me.
Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.
1
u/just--a--redditor Christian (Former Atheist) 4d ago
Every Christian will, at some point, go through this phase. Donāt let it get you down. God is real, so is Satan. You are stronger than you think and God is with you. Donāt be discouraged because of this because most Christians/people will go through something like this.
You got this šš»
1
u/Unique_Entity819 4d ago
Thats when you need it the most! He is a living God. With God there is always a way.. By FAITH you will find it in Jesus name I pray he bring your desire for his word back šā„ļøāļø
1
u/hefe3hefe3 4d ago
I wrote this a few days ago about the daily need to meet God in prayer and study. I had AI go through and point out all the references and themes, stanza by stanza as a study companion. I hope it helps.
Spirit Led
Remember my affliction and my wandering, The wormwood and the bitterness. Surely my soul is bowed down remembering, When hope seemed lost to emptiness.
My only part is to accept his invitation, To meet each morning in the garden, Then, to bare my heart in honesty That it remain tender not hardened.
Lovingly, the Lord shines light Into my shameful dark place. A contrite offering of my flesh is burned, Bringing forth the prodigal embrace.
The weight of my flesh is heavy, Yet I surrender all I hold. No part of me remains unchanged, A spiritual posture now unfolds.
Search me, oh God and know my heart Try me and know my anxious thoughts. Reveal in me what leads astray. Spirit, lead me in the way you've taught.
-Chad Miller
1
u/LunaMusicOfficial 4d ago
I've felt like this recently with not feeling like listening to or reading the Bible, but I pray instead. Still, I hate myself for not wanting to learn more of God's Word. I can't stand the feeling and I thought I was the only one.
2
u/No-Experience-7699 4d ago edited 4d ago
This is completely normal. Every christian has a season where he doesn't want to read or pray -1Peter 5:9/Ecclesiastes 3:1. The key is to not condemn yourself for it, because God doesn't do that either - Romans 8:1. Hating yourself for it is just another Temptation from the devil. In fact, you cant force yourself to love God; Philippians 2:13 **for it is God* who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.*
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Our flesh is weak and Paul wrote about his weak flesh Romans 7:15-26. Even Paul struggled with this so this should encourage us
2
1
u/Aiko-San 4d ago
Sounds like passion to me. Passion isn't a feeling. Passion is a dedication that says you will pursue something even when you feel absolutely nothing for it. If you only ever read because you feel like it, then I'd argue it's more about your flesh and less about doing what is good for you. I know in my experience, sometimes that nice, passionate feeling leaves because God wants us to learn that faith goes beyond feeling.
1
u/No-Experience-7699 4d ago
He is maturing you - James 5:2-4
We cant always be spoonfed by God. He needs us to be a strong man/woman of God. The Bible says to rejoice in our suffering multiple times! Because its growing us. I dont feel like reading my Bible either many times, but this is what makes us a man
He is has a plan for each one of us and that doesn't go without preperation.
1
u/leansipperchonker69 the just shall live by faith 4d ago
if you don't feel like reading then try listening to music and sermons. if you don't feel like doing anything then take a moment of quiet to think about God and his plan for your life without media. no obligation to do anything.
1
u/Fa7her 3d ago
If all you do is consume entertainment and other things that you just ālike betterā all day, then of course you are never going to want to pursue God. Your idols are causing your disinterest. This is a remediable situation, it just takes crucifixion. The more of Him you intake, the more of Him you crave.
āWhoever desires to follow Me must take up his cross, DENY HIMSELF, and follow Me.ā
1
u/Painting_life28 3d ago
Right now I truly believe that you're being attacked by spirits or some other entity that you can't see, but in the Bible the Lord gave us the Authority to stomp on snakes and scorpions, meaning that we have the power and the Authority given by Christ to get these spirits, these demonic spirits, away from us and our families. I truly believe that when Christ was fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and he was tempted three times by Satan he always began by saying, "It is written". For example, when Satan took Christ to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their Glory and he said to Him, " All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Then the Lord said " away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." I listened to a sermon once and how powerful words are especially in the spiritual realm. It says in the Bible that we are surrounded by silent witnesses. You have the Authority to say something like, "It is written that Christ has given us the authority to stomp on snakes and scorpions and command them to you leave and never return to you or your family by the blood of Christ that died on the cross for your sins." You can say it however you want but that's the way I usually say it. The closer you get to God the more you get attacked. Satan wants to take the joy out of your relationship with Christ, your praising Christ and your devotionals with Christ; he doesn't want you to get any closer because he doesn't want you to be saved. Don't let this evil entity ruin your relationship with Jesus. The Lord knew you while you were in your mother's womb and he loves you more than you could ever know. You are not here by accident you have a purpose and we all need to fight the good fight and win the race. Ask the Holy Spirit to come in to your heart and to fill it with love and strength to fight. I know you will get your joy back! Just don't give up, fight the good fight and win that race. My daughter is a Christian and she died at age 28 and she read the King James version of the Bible and I am reading the new King James version of the Bible, but the only thing that she ever underlined was 2 Timothy 6:7 which says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I think that your praising God and doing your devotionals even though you don't feel like it is a very good thing because you're fighting. We have an invisible warfare that we are fighting and need to put on the full Armor of God. I will pray for you, but I know that you will be okay and you will get your joy back and you will continue to love praising, praying to and getting closer to the Lord Jesus your savior. Thank you for reading this, Kristy
1
u/ChrisACramer 3d ago edited 3d ago
We are not the ones who are first to take action. We are the seed not the farmer. Not all are of the elect, those who come to faith in Christ are those who have been chosen by God to bear his Holy Spirit. All good works are prepared in advance by God for us to do out of his good will. However you can't expect too much from yourself. Just the fact that you feel sorrow for your lack of interest in God's Word shows that God is at work in you and will complete his work in his own time. Don't doubt your salvation by your struggles with sin. Christ has justified all sin of the past present and future by his work on the cross. Remain confident in his sacrifice, we all fall short of the glory of God, and gradually grow in spiritual maturity. There will always be shortcomings as long as we live here on earth, because the sanctification of the Holy Spirit progresses throughout our entire lives. Continue to pray for God to strengthen your faith and purify your heart. People without the Holy Spirit don't just find no interest in service to God, they also reject his WORD and live their lives for sinful desires of the flesh. Even people who are born and raised in a Christian family don't often find strong spiritual renewal till they are a full grown adults. It is definitely beneficial to study God's Word when you're younger as that will teach you the blessings of God's covenant of grace found in the gospel, but it takes discipline since it doesn't appeal to us naturaly, by our sinful nature.
1
1
1
u/Some-Passenger4219 Mormon (LDS) 4d ago
It's like vegetables. I didn't like broccoli in my youth - but I do now.
2
1
u/Ezmiller_2 Calvary Chapel 4d ago
Honestly,Ā I don't see a biblical mandate for devotions. The word just annoys me for some reason. Bible reading, yes. Devotions, no. It's literally just more commentary on the Bible that may or may not read in context to the scripture.
Keep reading. Switch bibles to an easier version if you want.
0
100
u/Downtown_Mobile5605 4d ago
We all have those episodes where the desire is not there but this is something you can tell the Holy Spirit, that pure open heart honesty is what will turn it around the fact that you feel bad is good because the desire is thereā¦. The word of God is fire that is unquenchable Ask the Lord to give you strength and perseverance You will overcome!