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Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 9:02:39 PM
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proudamerican
Posts: 5
Joined: 9/10/2006
Status: offline
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Hi everyone:
I recently wrote a post on here called "Seeking Answers".....first off thanks for all that answered.
Now for the next post, yesterday and today even more reading several contents in the bible (starting in Matthew) I started in the New Testament as someone suggested, anyway the more I read, the more I found myself gettin confused. So I put the bible down and walked away for awhile.
So here comes a rather serious question, so please no one think this sounds silly (it may to some) I asked quietly if god is listening to my prayers to please help me understand, it would seem I am more confused since I asked that...did I do something wrong asking that.
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 9:07:57 PM
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Golden1
Posts: 14
Joined: 4/20/2008
Status: offline
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Hi proudamerican:
Sometimes it takes different versions of the Bible, concordances, other tools to help us understand. Main thing, continue to pray maybe break up ur reading time. Either way I have faith that God will bring u understanding.. GBU... Goldie
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 9:20:37 PM
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SonInMe1
Posts: 3653
Joined: 4/16/2005
From: my mom by God
Status: offline
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I have been reading and stuedying the bible for more than ten years and I learn something all the time.
Believe in and trust God to teach you from what you read.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 9:24:02 PM
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crh737
Posts: 592
Joined: 6/1/2005
Status: offline
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Hi ProudAmerican~
No, you are doing just fine. The confusion comes from the enemy, he doesn't want to see you reading God's Word.
God is not the author of confusion and am glad you decided to read it.
Many have different ways of starting to read the bible and Matthew can be a difficult book. Maybe you can try reading the Gospel of John first. Some like to start at Genesis and read all the way through to the N.T.
Personally what I do is pray before I read and ask the Lord to guide me and then I pray afterwards thanking Him for showing me.
I would not get into footnotes or concordances. You have the answer and you are reading it. After you read it and decide you want some other imput then other books and footnotes will come in handy. But I believe getting my answers from God before I decided to allow a man's interpretation come into play.
JMHO and said a prayer for you,
CRH
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 9:36:29 PM
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Ezra
Posts: 1980
Status: offline
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quote:
I asked quietly if god is listening to my prayers to please help me understand, it would seem I am more confused since I asked that...did I do something wrong asking that.
You did the right thing, and perhaps the answers will come through communicating with Christians over here. If you are "more confused", rest assured that confusion never, ever comes from God. It is always from Satan, and designed to discourage the one who seeks the truth.
Continue reading the Bible. But to keep your focus read the Gospel of John 3:16 and 20:30,31 and think upon them to clear the confusion.
The message is simple: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Period. Ask God to help you understand His Word and make it crystal clear.
_____________________________
And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Revelation 22:17
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 10:07:07 PM
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SD456
Posts: 1505
Joined: 8/6/2007
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: proudamerican
Hi everyone:
I recently wrote a post on here called "Seeking Answers".....first off thanks for all that answered.
Now for the next post, yesterday and today even more reading several contents in the bible (starting in Matthew) I started in the New Testament as someone suggested, anyway the more I read, the more I found myself gettin confused. So I put the bible down and walked away for awhile.
So here comes a rather serious question, so please no one think this sounds silly (it may to some) I asked quietly if god is listening to my prayers to please help me understand, it would seem I am more confused since I asked that...did I do something wrong asking that.
Hi proud. What exactly confused you as you were reading?
I, too, would suggest you get a more paraphrased version to start you out with. It's much easier to read and flows more like a novel. The Message or Today's English Version are good. There are also some other versions that people at a christian bookstore could suggest to you.
Some people suggest to start with the gospel of John or the letters of 1 John or Colossians. These all speak about the ministry of Jesus, salvation, and Jesus being God and are very helpful.
_____________________________
MY BLOG
http://reflectionsdeep.blogspot.com
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/25/2008 10:19:53 PM
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Ignited-Faith
Posts: 360
Joined: 2/22/2008
Status: offline
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I agree that the Chapter's on "John" would be a better place to start!
Hang in there. God's timing is perfect!
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/26/2008 12:31:54 AM
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LCannon
Posts: 1308
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
Status: offline
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If you're a 'new' or 'refreshing' saint: Start reading with these emphases,
Mark(Jesus as servant(sacrifice))
Luke(Jesus as a(The)man)
Matthew(Jesus as King)
John(Jesus as Deity)
or...
Try this:
1. Paul's letter to Ephesians has six chapters. Read a chapter a day aloud.(You can read the whole book in about 15 minutes so a chapter is less that five minutes)focusing on obedienceonly commit yourself for that week.
2. Set a time(morn, eve, noon, whenever), the same time, the same quiet place.
3. Rest a day(Sunday?)and commit yourself for another week. Start Ephesians again, aloud, focusing on unity the next week.
4. On the third week, rest a day, commit(Ephesians again aloud)and trying memorizing. There's no secret to memorization, it's practice and review and since you've read Ephesians aloud two time in two weeks you're ready.
Don't necessarily be concerned with your 'performance' or frustration rather with your obedience.
_____________________________
"[Prayer power] hasn't never been taxed to[His]full capacity. His standing challenge, 'Call on
Me and I will answer with great and mighty things which thou can't imagine." Hudson Tayor
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/26/2008 1:46:27 AM
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BibleL7
Posts: 415
Joined: 2/1/2008
Status: offline
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The book of Matthew is based heavily on knowledge of OT Scriptures so it can be confusing if you dont first read the OT. Keep praying before reading take your time and sometimes it helps in understanding to read the OT first starting at Genesis chapter 1 all the way through. Dont give up on it if it gets confusing read through it sometimes make more sense after reading other books. As for best translations personally I recommend you stick with New King James, New American Standard, New International Version or English Standard Version Check also what version you have for the Contemporary English Version or Amplified Bible are not good ones to read. If the version you have is somewhere in between such as Holman's or Webster dont worry but there can be confusion when the NT refers so much to the OT it does help to read the OT first.
Just the opinion of a small town preacher
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/30/2008 4:33:53 PM
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jmjphe
Posts: 22
Joined: 4/29/2008
Status: offline
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I found myself in similar situations. If you are seeking knowledge, thats shows you have that hunger to build a relationship with the Lord, however, diving into scripture and reading the entire new testament in a sitting, especially if your just starting to grow and learn, is like if a person fasted from food for several weeks and than goes right in and chows down a big mac or something. That person's system will be shocked horribly. Id make the same comprison here. Slow down, many times God is present with you in silence. If you delve into scripture quickly and take in so much, your mind becomes filled with a thousand and 1 questions that the mind than germinates to a billion questions...a shock to your system.This kind of concept is inillustrated in scripture. When a baby is first born does it eat hearty savory foods? No, it would probably die if a new born some how ate like a steak or something, instead they are given gentle breast milk and forumla, and over time work up to heartier foods/drink as they grow. This is the same with spritual growth with God through Christ. Start out by reading a verse or two, Id suggest John, or Romans. After reading calm your mind and pray, the bible isnt always an easy look it up answer guide to life, its purpose does guide you, but ultimaley it's also meant for you to seek out God for answer or guidance (thus building a relationship and knowing him) after you have read and reflected. When God gave Adam the task of naming the creatures of the earth, Adam did so, afterwards Adam was still lonley, needing somethign more. Did he go out and try other things? Maybe...but the relvant detail the bible tells us is that he went to God and asked him what to do next...the result? Eve, Adam's life companion and helper.
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/30/2008 5:45:14 PM
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mvic
Posts: 484
Joined: 1/17/2008
Status: offline
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crh737 got it right, I feel.
The devil does not want to see you reading the Bible. So he introduces confusion, trickery and doubt.
I suggest you join a Bible Study Group and read/learn with others.
I also find the Good News Bible easy to read.
_____________________________
http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
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RE: Heart Is Troubled/Confused - 4/30/2008 9:51:10 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
Posts: 507
Joined: 2/13/2008
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: crh737
Hi ProudAmerican~
No, you are doing just fine. The confusion comes from the enemy, he doesn't want to see you reading God's Word.
God is not the author of confusion and am glad you decided to read it.
Many have different ways of starting to read the bible and Matthew can be a difficult book. Maybe you can try reading the Gospel of John first. Some like to start at Genesis and read all the way through to the N.T.
Personally what I do is pray before I read and ask the Lord to guide me and then I pray afterwards thanking Him for showing me.
I would not get into footnotes or concordances. You have the answer and you are reading it. After you read it and decide you want some other imput then other books and footnotes will come in handy. But I believe getting my answers from God before I decided to allow a man's interpretation come into play.
JMHO and said a prayer for you,
CRH
I agree with crh737. You are doing fine. I can relate to your confusion, since I am still a new believer. I also pray for wisdom and guidance before I read His word. I have to admit though, that sometimes I don't understand either. At least right away. Sometimes later, something will happen, or I will read something else, and all of a sudden, what I didn't understand becomes clear. I think that God reveals to us what we can handle at different stages in our faith, but since you are not yet a believer, correct?, I am not sure how he will reveal himself to you. But I don't think he would do it any different. Maybe you are not ready to understand certain things, but others will be revealed to you. I would advise not starting at Genesis and reading all the way through. it is difficult to do. Some of the OT books are hard to understand. So I would do as someone else suggested and start with John. But keep going, to not get discouraged, for this is what that old snake wants you to do. He wants you to give up, but God wants you to believe. Stay strong.
_____________________________
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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