First evening here

Hello everyone. I want to become born again.

I'm 51 years old, have had many more downs than ups, but I'm finding that the downs were largely my fault...anger, lust, insecurity, fear...you name it. I don't think I can change on my own, but change I must. I guess I'm just afraid of having to actually walk the walk, because I come from a basically secular family...and I'm from the Northeast, where people of faith are becoming fewer and fewer, and mocking faith is mainstream.

Plus, I really don't know how to be a Christian. I don't pray very well. From me it sounds forced. And then, do I lose a large part of my personality, which is crabby and somewhat cynical?

But maybe I'm finally coming to understand that my relationship with God is the ultimate understanding of reality, and that the reason my previous attempts to become born again kind of flopped is because I always hedged my bets and never gave it even close to my all.

But I feel empty, and I know who's calling my name...so now what?

I am happy to hear that you want to be born again.

I have traveled down some rough road too in my life as well as many others on this site. I spent 8 years living in the Northeast in the state of Maine.

Regarding prayer, it is not how well that you perceive your prayers to be but rather what God sees in your heart.

Tell Jesus that you are sorry for your sins and thank Him for dying on the cross for your sins. After that invite the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you in the life-long repentance process. You can do this right now where you are at. You may feel empty but after you invite the Holy Spirit to live inside of you that feeling of emptiness will recede.

Glad to have you as part of our family. Welcome to CC.

Thank you, and I will.
My dad grew up in Rockland in the 30's, 40's, and 50's, and we meet up there every summer except this last one. I also went to USM for two years before my poor decision-making and directionless life got me tossed out. That was a long time ago.
My girlfriend of 10 months is a Christian, and she really lives her faith. She has been such a huge positive on my life (I'm not crazy about the music in her church, but her pastor is great). I don't wish to be born again just to be a better fit, but I suspect God put her into my life to be a faith companion, if only I will just jump into the water already.

I need repentance. A lot of it. I can't keep being the person I've been all these years.

Personal prayers and public prayers are different for me.

It's alright to not feel like praying in a group or even liking the music at a church...we are all made differently and sometimes when someone is rocking out and feeling the Lord's presence strongly they have questions when someone around them doesn't.

It took me a long time to understand that my preferences aren't wrong and it's alright not to like everything the Lord does. He probably has a special place in his heart for hootenannies that while I appreciate as interesting...I can't "flow" in that, it's just not me... Same with how some people can't flow in instrumentals and prefer words. I know some younger people that feel like old hymns and such are stuffy and dead but there is a sweet tender music that maybe they just can't hear and that's alright.

I'm blessed with getting to feel a little bit of everything though with time constraints on living I'll probably miss a good bit.

Prayer is organic. Plenty of times I don't feel like it and plenty of times where I do...I'm picturing a seed growing, there are some stages of growth that are boring and being interested in is uncommon but at least one will be rewarding. Consider your thoughts and commune with your heart...in between those things is what I pray, though at times it's mostly cerebral. I try not to force it. Sometimes you have still your own self in order to be in the right mindset. God is pretty patient with us

SEASON'S GREETINGS and welcome to CC! Regarding repentance I know a lot about that. The main thing is when you repent of your sins, if you really mean it God knows our hearts and forgives us. Being human we may still goof up after that but God understands and is for us not against us. My advise is if you really like your gf accept Christ right away so you two can be on the same wave length & you'll be saved and know where you're eternal home is. God bless you and your gf!

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to Me",all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”



Welcome to CC 🤗 God bless you ❤

"You have been given some worthy suggestions."

Tou are so right. Not one of us can change on our own. The Holy Spirit convicts us where we are going wrong and gives us the power to hange and overcome.
You know who is calling you.
He loves you and wants to give you eternal life.
Even the apostles had to learn and it is a life long journey.
I love your honesty. Be patient with yourself. Once you jump into that water and give your heart to The Lord your life will change.

God bless you and be with you. Praying for you.

You have done all you can now. Just let go and let God. God knew we could not do anything to save ourselves. That is why Jesus came down and shed His blood for whosoever would receive it. Just invite Him in. He is waiting at your heart's door right now. We are weak, but He is strong. He can make you into something wonderful. That is something we could never do on our own. I don't know why He loves us so, but He does. God bless you, DelmarTim.

Revelation
3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Even though He calls us overcomers, it is He and He alone that makes this so. We are overcomers only because we have come under His Blood. Let Him come in and comfort you know. God bless you my much beloved brother, and welcome to CC.

-Northeast Oyster.

Matthew 11:28-30

Hello DelmarTim,
welcome to Christian Chat.

I hope you'll enjoy your stay here.


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Hello.
First off, if this has already been mentioned, then I apoligize.
But, God is showing you what you need. Ask him for what you see you need. He will provide you with whatever it is. If he shows you you need strength, lean on him and ask him for it and believe. We all have things God shows us we lack in. But it is in him we find what we seek, if we truly seek it.