Who hasn't? We aren't angels, we are human. Every single person sins and will sin many times before they die. You are probably letting GOD down right now, and you don't even realize it. In today's society, it is harder to obey GOD now than ever, from all the pressure of drinking, to girls struggling with vanity, to guys struggling with sexual images. If satan wants you to sin, he's going to make you now easier than ever. GOD is powerful enough to help prevent it, but he isn't going to baby us the whole time. It is your duty to decide to quit; that proves that you have enough religious strength not to let him down.
When times are good, and you are on fire for GOD, list the reasons why you feel this way.
I think those statements are virtually the same thing. When things are going good is when I am on fire. It's because there is nothing in your life that can make you trip or fall down. You stand tall with your chin high and you proclaim his name. It's pretty much saying "Thank you GOD for making the world good", when in reality, the world is still a very bad place. It just seems more significant and optimistic when you are spiritually high.
When times are bad, and you feel distant from GOD, list the reasons why you feel this way.
I honestly think that times are always bad, in their own generation that is. For our current society, it is the lack of religious thirst in our churches that makes me feel when times are bad. When I look out at the people proclaiming GOD one minute, cursing up a storm the next, drinking alcohol, sleeping with their bf/gf, that is when I realize that satan has us in his grasp. Those are the lost that I feel sympathy for. I should feel closer to GOD, but I get jealous. I feel like that when they, as "christians" can do that, why can't I? But I have to slap myself in the face and come to the conclusion that I'm living in the safety net, and those are the ones that need to really get closer to GOD.
What do you notice in other people when they are distant from GOD, but used to be so close to Him?
Every single christian acts the same way when they are away from GOD. They put up this face in front of their church members and other christian friends, but when they are with secular people, they expose their true sides. This needs to stop! We don't need to be putting on this fake show of emotions around one group of people and a different one around others. And I'm sitting here typing, calling the kettle black. We need to find a good balance to where we can have the same face in front of our christian friends, and the same one in front of our secular ones, without abandoning GOD. How do we do that? I can't explain it. Since we all have different friends, and we all have different struggles, it is your responsibility to pray with GOD, and find that good mixture, so you can witness to your secular friends, and still have a good bond with your christian friends.
How big a role do emotions play in your life? In your spiritual life?
For me, they are the same emotions. I have been blessed to grow up in a spiritual home. So my spiritual life and my regular life are the same. I am one of only a few people these days to be blessed with that. GOD doesn't love me anymore than anyone else though, it's still hard for me. If I'm feeling upset about people who don't talk to me, or if something happens with someone and I get jealous, I don't always have someone to talk to that lives in my house. Yes, my family is very religious, but sometimes, it is something I'd rather talk about with someone who isn't around. That could take days. I normally walk around either mad at everyone, or extremely annoying to everyone, as I repeat the same cheesy jokes over and over again, to make me seem like I'm ok. In reality though, when I do that, it's my cry for help. When I get to that point, I try to find the nearest Godly person to help me with it. I call my youth group, maybe my youth sponsor Robert, maybe even just talk about it with my Dad, I try to find whoever I can to get me reattached with GOD.
How does hearing that your relationship with GOD is not based on how you feel change things for you?
It's pretty much like a kick in the mouth. I feel so selfish for saying "I'm sad, so now I'm going to worship GOD, but now I'm happy, so I can make room for GOD later", but that's how I act, and how the majority of people act. We can't base our relationship with GOD off our feelings. If we did, I think everyone would go to hell. Since we are humans, we factor in how others view us, which in turn, messes up our emotions. We need to come to the realization that GOD loves us no matter how we feel, and doesn't really care how we feel, as long as we worship him and apply him to everyday life. "Smile, Jesus loves you!", a mildly humorous quote from Kristen Hodges, but yet she is right. It doesn't matter how happy or sad you are, Jesus loves you no matter what!
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