Spiderman
Veteran Member
I have experienced change and the power of faith and prayer, and seen it in others.
But I've lost faith that being born again or becoming a new creation, (as is promised by so many christians) is possible for myself and a lot of the people I meet regularly.
There are simply people that have faults that God is about as likely to remove as he is going to give an amputee a new limb.
It just doesn't seem to happen, so one starts to lose faith that it ever will.
I've found and maintain sobriety and obey the law. God seems to assist people with that, and you will hear many positive testimonies in that department.
But many of the faults, confusion, weaknesses, and human miseries persist.
It seems to be part of the cross we are called to carry daily. Sometimes, you just got to suffer on the cross and offer it up as a sacrifice and penance...
I used to think that there would eventually be an infilling of the Holy Spirit, where suddenly I had the mind of God or Christ, and the spirit of God inspires thoughts, words, and deeds, maybe even eventually heal, prophecy, speak for God, or work miracles...
...But have had a reality check in that department, and realized that isn't a realistic expectation or hope.
I try to remember what happened to Paul on the way to Damascus, the vision that blinded him and knocked him off his horse, the change, his total conversion and transformation, but how often does that happen to people?
Not even 1%...so, kinda pointless to be hoping for some grace that is so rarely granted...
Thoughts?
But I've lost faith that being born again or becoming a new creation, (as is promised by so many christians) is possible for myself and a lot of the people I meet regularly.
There are simply people that have faults that God is about as likely to remove as he is going to give an amputee a new limb.
It just doesn't seem to happen, so one starts to lose faith that it ever will.
I've found and maintain sobriety and obey the law. God seems to assist people with that, and you will hear many positive testimonies in that department.
But many of the faults, confusion, weaknesses, and human miseries persist.
It seems to be part of the cross we are called to carry daily. Sometimes, you just got to suffer on the cross and offer it up as a sacrifice and penance...
I used to think that there would eventually be an infilling of the Holy Spirit, where suddenly I had the mind of God or Christ, and the spirit of God inspires thoughts, words, and deeds, maybe even eventually heal, prophecy, speak for God, or work miracles...
...But have had a reality check in that department, and realized that isn't a realistic expectation or hope.
I try to remember what happened to Paul on the way to Damascus, the vision that blinded him and knocked him off his horse, the change, his total conversion and transformation, but how often does that happen to people?
Not even 1%...so, kinda pointless to be hoping for some grace that is so rarely granted...
Thoughts?