What exactly is a relasionship with God?

by tootired2care 114 Replies latest jw friends

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  scotoma

  Psychotherapists call it bizarre affect
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  QueenWitch

  I believe God/dess is within and without. A relationship with the Divine is personal, different for everyone.
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  Band on the Run

  Once I listened to the Billy Graham Crusade in NY. They offered a free Bible. I thought why not get a free Bible. Curiosity called. I dialed the listed number to obtain my free Bible. It turned out there was a condition not mentioned on air. I was asked sternly if I had a personal relationship with God. Frankly, I feel my relationship with Jesus borders on the personal but God is impassive. It seemed presumptous to have a personal relationship with God. I kept telling them that they promised all callers on a free Bible and I wanted my free Bible or I would file a false advertising action.

  The inquiries concerning my personal relationship grew more intense. Finally, I said, "Yes, Jesus and I have been dating for a while now. We haven't consumated our personal relationship b/c I am not easy and loose. Jesus can be quite the mover. Now can I have my free Bible?

  Never received my free Bible. If I pushed it, I would be the bigger jerk. Sadly, I've always had to pay for the Bible. Even Gideon has a hotel fee attached.

  I have a hunch this personal relationship is Southern. My crowd does not have personal relationships with God. I would not know how to define God in order to have a relationship. If they gave me a free Bible, maybe I would see the light.
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  outsmartthesystem

  I think people that believe in God do so because they WANT to. Believing that they are here for a while and then gone forever does not sit well with most.....so they choose to believe in God. But that's not all. No one wants to believe in an aloof God....so whether you are Christian, Hindu or whatever, you must 1) justify some sort of theodicy (how it is that evil exists when God is all loving and all knowing) and 2) convince yourself that God is not only good and just....but he is particularly interested in you.

  Once you've come to this conclusion that God is not only good....but he personally cares about you......it is now human nature to try to reach out to him......much like we do with anyone we believe is nice. Only, God doesn't talk to us. Therefore some say they communicate by reading his holy word. Others say they pray and feel a sense of calm afterward. My honest question is......do people really believe this.....or do they talk themselves into feeling like God has communicated with them (through the bible or through prayer) simply because they want/need to believe that God is truly a personal friend?

  Moreover, I've often wondered.....is it possible for endorphins to be released through prayer? (not in a miraculous sense......but a person gets so excited about praying to some omnibenevolent, omnipotent, omniscient being that endorphins are released....thus causing an overall "good" feeling that is easily mistaken to be the calming or reassuring effect of holy spirit?)

  What I've found is that belief far outweighs fact. If a person wants to believe that he can be friends with God (whether through bible reading, prayer, meditation, or whatever)......then he will believe it. Whatever good that happens will be the result of his friendly relationship with God. Whatever bad that happens was Satan or time and unforeseen occurrence. (but God helped him through those trying times)
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  Disillusioned Lost-Lamb

  I've always felt that a relationship with god is kinda skeevy, like I wanna get real close with the stalker who knows everything about me and always sees me nekkid.

  I don't think if God exists, he really gives a crap. Read the bible, he is only concerned about HIS purpose, you're just collateral and your relationship doesn't mean jack squat unless it proves HIS point.
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  tec

  This always confused me, because how do you have a relasionship with someone that doesn't talk back to you after praying?

  Praying is you talking to God. His reply comes in different forms, and some have shared their e x periences concerning feeling. I have felt the calm/quiet that Loz spoke of (though that often accompanies an answer or an understanding given to me)... and this is always Christ; and I have felt the high that Nambo spoke of as well. I would have described it more as an adrenaline rush. This is actually described very well in one of the gospels... a fire burning within. Those who spoke with Christ after his resurrection described it this way after he talked to them, and before they realized that it was Him.

  I have also received answers... so I have been spoken to. Sometimes in words, sometimes in understanding granted, sometimes in reminders of things that have been written in scripture or gospels, sometimes in recognition of truth.

  Peace,

  tammy
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  Twitch

  Pretty one sided it would seem, unless of course you're one of the fortunate that hears his voice. It seems more of a feeling though, from what I've heard ;)
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  LunaFing

  I had to deal with this issuse at a very young age. When I was 12 (I was already baptized) I started to realize that I didn't feel the love that the bible describes that we should feel toward Jehovah. I told my mom that I wanted to get out of The School of Minisrty 'cause I didn't want to be a hypocrite. She just flat out told me I HAD to be in it. I've NEVER felt any love toward Jehovah.

  Luna
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  still thinking

  a friend. I think he has saved me from harm a couple of times but most of the time he just helps me to know/learn how to help myself. I never feel alone....panhandlegirl

  I think that maybe we create a God in our minds to do these things for us. No one likes to feel alone, everyone would like help to learn how to help ourselves. But I am really getting the feeling that all this is done by ourselves and we just think it is god.

  It is comforting to think that a loving father cares for us, that he is with us and we are not alone. Who wouldn't want that? But is it God? Or are we just comforting ourselves?

  There is a certain amount and calmness from acceptance of any sort....this reminds me of the serenity prayer...

  God grant me the serenity
  to accept the things I cannot change;
  courage to change the things I can;
  and wisdom to know the difference.

  If we put trust in OURSELVES we get the same result
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  Band on the Run

  Why would God have a relationship with people down the block at their fundamentalist church and not the victims of the Holocaust, tsunamis, a host of severe personal suffering. The gospel of prospertiy, championed by Joel Ostoon and Meyers, drives me nuts. Jesus can consult them on which diet to follow, what outfits to put together but he is silent on so much more important items.

  I suffered with agonizing pain. It did not lead me to Christ. Rather, it raised so many questions with no satisfactory answers. Jesus should be an equal opportunity God. the Osteens can live in opulence but the Third World lives in unimaginable squalor. This is not the Jesus I know from the gospels.