DaveS

I really do NEED to change.

I grew up in a Christian home, I went to church 1-2 times on Sunday, and I went to a private Christian school and Highschool. I was never a good student, although I did pass all my classes and graduated in four years. I also hung out with the "bad" kids, I smoked pot on the occasional weekend, smoked cigs and was one of those ignorant little brats in highschool. but at the end of the day I was indeed Christian.

At the age of 19 I moved out of my parents home. I started a full time job. I went through a stage where I was very depressed, I was very close to suicide, although there was no apparent reason except for sadness. I do believe it has something to do with shorter days/winter becuase I have this issue all the time around the end of summer, and at this time of year, they do slow down, and I know a possible treatment for it....

Anyway, I stopped going to church. I now only go when I visit my parents. I started to steal things (although I have stopped) I started being sexually immoral (I don't want to be specific, but again I have stopped) and I started doing drugs.

Up until today even, I have smoked Marijuana nearly everyday for about 9 months, and again until recently I loved it. I also tried a bunch of "harder" drugs, and I hated them... because I don't like being that out of control, and I could tell Satan was taking advantage of my weak mind state, (delusions from the drugs or not, they were not happy thoughts) and was puting doubts about God in my head and eventually I lost my faith in God, and decided I wanted to live a life of pleasure, as long as I didn't hurt anyone else.

The friends I hang around with don't hurt anyone, but they do smoke marijuana aswell, they do swear, and by closest friend is a homosexual/ex-christian (I don't know his faith, but he left the church after "comming out").... (also has nothing to do with my sexual sins... I'm straight as they come)

Now, I have lots of Christian acquaintances and a very loving Christian Family who I should visit more often. and a few good Christian friends, so its not like if I stop hanging with them, that I will be sad and alone. But they also respect me and they can talk OPENLY about God and Christianity with me... so I'm torn if I should hang out with them.... because of the temptation of pot, but it could be a ministering opportunity. (they're ok with the fact that I want to quit, but will still offer/encourage me to do it)

I started to pray, yesterday when I turned down Marijuana and when I REALLY wanted it, I read a devotional book and prayed for God. He helped me through, and I know he can still help me.

I want to change my life. I want to be around Christians, I want to have personal time with God every day (perhaps at the same time I had my Marijuana time) I want to be a better person. Start going to church, working harder at work, and just generally being a happier person. My problem is, I'm a weak person. I'm VERY weak. I NEED God and I need my friends.

I don't really know if advice is what I want, but could you at least PRAY for me? I know the power of prayer is strong.

A Humbled Christian
DaveS

Whirlwind

Hey, DaveS...you know what? The feeling that you have, the feeling of NEEDING? That's Him. He put that feeling into you, that's Him working in your life, and you're so blessed that you have recognized that it is indeed Him.

He's moving in your life right now, whether you know it or not. Drawing you closer to Him in mysterious ways that will all make sense soon. Go with it...close your eyes and feel His presence in your life, just bask in His love for you--He is infinite love, infinite mercy, infinite compassion.

We're all human. Keep in mind that we're all so, so weak compared to God. He can place obstacles in your path, problems and troubles for you to overcome. These problems and troubles should be reminders to us of how weak we really are; and how mighty He is. He could wipe away all of our troubles with a single breath...but where would our lessons be in that? Instead, our troubles can bring us down to our knees and can make us desperate. They can humble us and make us realize that we just can't do any of this alone, that we need Him in our lives to help us, to guide us.

Let Him fill you up today! Fall to your knees and thank Him for everything--good and what you might think of as bad--and let Him know that you know that He's all powerful, all knowing, all mighty.

I want to dance and sing for you, my friend, because I can see His glory working in your life. You'll be in my prayers, DaveS.

God bless.
(He already has, I believe)

smellycat

forget about the world,what other people do.your unique,you make choices,it is a war but inside of you.

Boanerges

Hi Dave- everyone struggles with something- I was a pot head , drunk and a druggy but the when I saw Jesus I just ceased wanting those things - fix your heart on drawing near to Him- I will be praying for you- your brother Larry

JohnathanAmber

Bless you my brother.

As already said we are all human and we NEED a savior. Christ is that savior and yes, HE is working within you. This feeling of want, need and more is HIM in you crying for you. Pleading with your flesh to let go and to come crawling to HIM. God and Christ and us, we all love you man. We want to be with you, pray for you, chat with you and sing the Lord's praise with you.

My dear brother. Nothing is sweeter than the Lord's word. Nothing is more filling than knowing that the Lord is with you. HE IS WITH YOU!!! That isn't just a statement but it is a promise.

These might help:

Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version)

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:5 (New International Version)

5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Proverbs 3:3 (New International Version)

3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)

5Keep your lives free from the love of money (drugs and the like are inlcuded) and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."

Lastly, although a little cryptic, this isn't only to the church of Philadelphia, this is for ALL christians:

Revelation 3
10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

Some other words of encouragement:
(The only reason why I am using the posts from my site is due to the unavailability of some of the older posts. These are devotionals from others around the world dealing with issues like DaveS is having.)

http://www.tsgcomputers.net/forum/index.php?topic=13.0

http://www.tsgcomputers.net/forum/index.php?topic=21.0

http://www.tsgcomputers.net/forum/index.php?topic=40.0

http://www.tsgcomputers.net/forum/index.php?topic=43.0

God bless you brother.

Prayer is a beautiful thing. I've noticed a prayer section of this forum. Please go there, pray for others. Prayer works both ways. Once you begin to pray for others, other pray for you, it is a continuing circle. Pray and you'll be prayed for. I do not know if a prayer list is on this site, I have not seen it anyway, but I've got one and you are on it my brother! If there is one here please post it!

God bless you in your journey dear brother,
Johnathan

__________________
May Yehweh and Yeshua bless you and your family!

Eph 3.20-21
Do you need technical help, maybe you need something else? Do you need prayer? Please visit my site:
TSG Computers - http://www.tsgcomputers.net

JesusReignsForever

Yea we all STRUGGLE the best thing I do to kinda just get through the stroms is just say Lord Please Help me on a consistant basis.... Sometimes I just dont have the want to read the bible all though it is what I need. Dont give up or give into so easily...because once you do it once its an up hill battle from there. Trust in the lord. He will help you through it. That saying goes

If he brought you to it he can get you through it!

mythsciencereligiontruth1

If God is for us, then who can be against us!

Take faith in all the great people throughout the bible and the amazing things that they did because of their faith.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:37-38

I suppose what we consider is done for bad against us, God considers for good, that we may shine and proclaim his glory.

Consider Job!

CatholicWifeandMom

Dear DaveS,

May God be with you!

I will pray for you. Your prayers are heard!!! Do you know the story of the Prodigal Son?

Luke 15: 11-24

Then he said, "A man had two sons, 12 and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 16 And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 17 Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 18 I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' 20 So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' 22 But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began.Welcome home! Let the celebration begin!

God bless you!

__________________

Banarenth

You are not weak. A weak man cannot admit that he needs a God to help him. It takes a great deal of strength to give ourselves to Him and trust Him to take care of us.

DaveS

Heh, I was thinking of that story today, and that story gave me comfort.