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After reading the book "The Shack" by William P. Young, I got to seriously thinking about my own relationship with God. I want more than anything to have the kind of relationship that Mack has with God (in the book) - open, trusting, and loving. How do I go about doing that? How do I know God is talking to me, and it's not just me talking in my head?

I always used to just pray about it and do good deeds like the Bible says, and sometimes read my Bible on my own, but then after a while I would falter away and my life would go back to the way it was. Only now, this book, "The Shack", has made me realize that I need to develop a relationship with God first, and through God I can change. So how do I do that? How do I know God is talking to me??? How do I know which paths to take in life???

"Relationship with God," as a panacea for spiritual sloth, is a poor choice.

Much better it seems to actually understand what God is doing, decide that's the correct way for you to live, and then change yourself (or, if your theology prefers, let God change you).

Once you begin living out of your being rather than as a reaction to God, you will live more fully and more contentedly for the rest of your life.

Quote from: ImNotThatGirl on Wed Feb 11, 2009 - 23:06:04
After reading the book "The Shack" by William P. Young, I got to seriously thinking about my own relationship with God. I want more than anything to have the kind of relationship that Mack has with God (in the book) - open, trusting, and loving. How do I go about doing that? How do I know God is talking to me, and it's not just me talking in my head?

I always used to just pray about it and do good deeds like the Bible says, and sometimes read my Bible on my own, but then after a while I would falter away and my life would go back to the way it was. Only now, this book, "The Shack", has made me realize that I need to develop a relationship with God first, and through God I can change. So how do I do that? How do I know God is talking to me??? How do I know which paths to take in life???

We must be born again.

Quote from: Bonnie on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 07:33:13

Quote from: ImNotThatGirl on Wed Feb 11, 2009 - 23:06:04
After reading the book "The Shack" by William P. Young, I got to seriously thinking about my own relationship with God. I want more than anything to have the kind of relationship that Mack has with God (in the book) - open, trusting, and loving. How do I go about doing that? How do I know God is talking to me, and it's not just me talking in my head?

I always used to just pray about it and do good deeds like the Bible says, and sometimes read my Bible on my own, but then after a while I would falter away and my life would go back to the way it was. Only now, this book, "The Shack", has made me realize that I need to develop a relationship with God first, and through God I can change. So how do I do that? How do I know God is talking to me??? How do I know which paths to take in life???

We must be born again.

How??

Are you already a follower of Christ? If so, then His Spirit can renew you as you trust Him more. Give Him more of your heart and learn to trust Him.

JESUS said that we are all born once.  But to be Born Again is to be Born of the Spirit.  It is a everlasting life birth.  Lot longer than human life.  Never ending, beautiful.

Quote from: ImNotThatGirl on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 22:18:31

Quote from: Bonnie on Thu Feb 12, 2009 - 07:33:13

Quote from: ImNotThatGirl on Wed Feb 11, 2009 - 23:06:04
After reading the book "The Shack" by William P. Young, I got to seriously thinking about my own relationship with God. I want more than anything to have the kind of relationship that Mack has with God (in the book) - open, trusting, and loving. How do I go about doing that? How do I know God is talking to me, and it's not just me talking in my head?

I always used to just pray about it and do good deeds like the Bible says, and sometimes read my Bible on my own, but then after a while I would falter away and my life would go back to the way it was. Only now, this book, "The Shack", has made me realize that I need to develop a relationship with God first, and through God I can change. So how do I do that? How do I know God is talking to me??? How do I know which paths to take in life???

We must be born again.

How??

Nicodemus asked Jesus that very question. Here is his answer.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Our conscience is like God. Since our mind has laws on what is right or wrong. If you don't know the laws of Jesus Christ... and the 10 commandments, your conscience may be renewed by reading them. Some completely ignore their conscience, it is like ignoring God. The conscience is like the small voice of God, or the small voice of your own Spirit.

Some people listen to their conscience even having not heard the laws of Jesus Christ and live the law by listening to their Holy Spirit. In other words, some people follow Christ and the 10 commandments not even having read it, listening to the small voice of God in them.

I believe that the Holy Spirit inside of all of us calls out for the physical body to think the same way. The true nature of every Spirit is to love, be thankful, share, be happy, and to treat others how we would like to be treated, etc, including the laws of Jesus Christ.

Prayer is one way to attain the same "mindset" as the Holy Spirit inside of you which can have interesting side-effects... i.e. Leaving your body as a Spirit, to enter your Holy Spirit.

This happened to me before through Prayer, I attained the same way of thinking as my own Spirit simply by praying for others... which caused my Spirit to rise up out of my physical body:

A Wonderful Experience

I prayed for over 2 hours straight for the children in poor countries, the dying, and the suffering. I prayed for all of the people I have met, or could remember. Then I laid down with my hands at my side on my bed, with my eyes closed, feeling very good inside. (Prayer for others not only helps those you are praying for, but it also helps the Prayer giver.) I laid there in silence, and in the darkness of my inner vision shined two small bright white lights. I was not scared because of the Prayer. The first thing I thought was wow! This is cool! Those two white lights came closer and closer, then entered my eyes. At that moment I thought the experience was over, until I opened my eyes. Because when I did, it was the greatest and most wonderful thing I could have ever imagined. I was floating about ten feet above the roof of my house! It took a few seconds to realize where I was, and what was happening. My vision was different, almost blurry, yet very clear, it was as though every color was mixed in together, within my eyes. I could hear a trickling waterfall on my right side. I looked down to see my roof, then I looked to my right at the tops of the trees in my backyard. Amongst all other things that are possible in the Astral realm, the only thing I really wanted to do, was tell my Mother and Father, who were upstairs in the living room. The next thing I did was look up at the sky, I could see dark grey clouds, and it was night. Immediately the clouds parted East and West, to reveal a bright blue sky. It was very beautiful, but for some reason, I cared alot more about telling my parents. So I decided to try to wake myself up, I tried to speak but nothing came out. I got a little bit anxious, and tried a few more times. On the third or fourth try I awoke lying on my side making an uhhhhhhhhhhhhh sound. Right away I ran upstairs to tell my family. The entire experience lasted about one minute.

M.J.C.


Some might even describe it as though I was "born again", having left my body as a Spirit and re-entered it... This is the way that we came from Heaven... as a Spirit to enter the body we are currently in... I also had a renewed understanding of the Holy Spirit, God, Prayer and Jesus Christ after having been in "Spirit form" fully aware of what was happening. There is no way I could deny that everyone has a Spirit, God is real, etc, whereas before you could say there was a slight bit of doubt in me...

Having experienced such an amazing thing from prayer alone... there is no doubt that Jesus Christ certainly did perform certain miracles by prayer and fasting.

I'll share with you my experience of how I came to have a relationship with God.  First I had to admit I was powerless, that it wasn't about me "doing everything right" but there was one who had ALL power and as I came to believe in Him I had to make a decision to turn my will over to His and TRUST, trust that He did know what was best and would do what was best for me.  Then, I had to take a real honest look at me, at who I was and what my behaviour was and then had to admit that to myself, God and someone else.   Then, I prayed for God to remove any shortcomings.  I also had to right the wrongs in my life and then daily righting those wrongs as they come up, daily praying for knowledge of His will and power to carry that out and then helping others.    It was a process for me and still is.  But, its one that finally worked for me in having an awesome relationship with God.  May God continue to bless you on your journey.

Lisa P 

How do you start and nurture a relationship with a new friend.  Try spending time with them, get to know them, talk with them, talk with others whom have a relationship with them.  You must spend time daily reading Gods', word,          it tells you about Him, his likes and dislikes. He reveals his will and his ways a little at a time as you can cope.  You must talk with Him through His word, through others He puts in your life. He is at work all around you, find where He is working and join him. He speaks to you by the Holy Spirit through prayer   circumstances and the church  I'll tell you from experience you cannot do this on your own, God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal. SPEND TIME WITH HIM