Struggling with faith? How to get closer to God: 5 steps.

Summary

The speaker addresses the challenge of maintaining faith in a world filled with doubt. They emphasize that faith is a conscious choice, not based on feelings or evidence, but on trust in a person. The script outlines the role of grace in aiding faith, the importance of opening oneself to God's guidance, and the necessity of daily spiritual practices like reading scripture, prayer, and self-reflection. It also tackles the issue of doubt, distinguishing between intellectual questions and the enemy's temptations, and concludes by stressing the importance of trusting in God's presence and promises, regardless of feelings.

Takeaways

• 😔 Faith can be challenging, especially in the current times, where people often feel disconnected and question the existence of a higher power.
• 🙏 Faith is described as a choice, not based on evidence or feelings but on trust in a person, akin to a solid 'I do' commitment.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of seeking God's grace, which is necessary to make an informed choice about faith and is seen as God's life shining upon us.
• 🤲 Receiving grace is not passive; it requires an active response and openness to God's presence and guidance.
• 👶 The concept of spiritual adoption is highlighted, where believers are seen as children of God, loved and cared for by the divine.
• 📖 Reading scripture is suggested as a way to connect with the divine teacher, with an open heart and mind to receive guidance and messages.
• 🙇 Prayer is portrayed as the breathing of faith, a silent communion with the Holy Spirit, where one should let go of expectations and simply be present.
• 📝 A daily mental inventory is recommended to reflect on actions and thoughts, identifying areas of alignment with divine qualities and areas for improvement.
• 🚫 The speaker discusses the importance of addressing and cleansing sin to maintain the flow of divine grace, as sin obstructs the spiritual connection.
• 🤔 Doubt is acknowledged as a common struggle, which can stem from intellectual questioning or spiritual warfare, and is to be met with faith and discernment.
• 💖 Faith is not about feelings but about a deep, abiding trust in God's presence and promises, regardless of emotional fluctuations.

Q & A

What is the main challenge people face with their faith according to the transcript?

The main challenge people face with their faith is the struggle to believe, the feeling of praying to nobody, having doubts, and not getting anything out of reading the Bible.

What does the speaker suggest as the first step in addressing the struggle with faith?

The first step suggested is to consider if one could rely on God if they knew God were real, essentially asking if they could trust Jesus if he were standing next to them.

What is the definition of faith presented in the transcript?

Faith is defined as a choice, a solid concrete 'yes', not based on evidence or feelings, but on whether one trusts a person or not.

How does the speaker describe the role of 'Grace' in developing faith?

Grace is described as God shining himself onto our intellects, which helps us see, know, and do things we couldn't without it. It's a gift from God that we need to receive and respond to.

What is the significance of the adoption analogy used in the transcript?

The adoption analogy is used to illustrate the concept of being spiritually adopted by God, emphasizing the love and acceptance God has for us as his children.

What are the three daily practices suggested to keep the grace flowing?

The three daily practices are: reading scripture or a spiritual book with an open heart, prayer as the breathing of faith, and taking a mental inventory at the end of the day to reflect on actions and thoughts.

How does the speaker address the issue of sin in relation to faith?

The speaker addresses sin as something that can block and obstruct grace, and suggests that to deepen faith, one must clean up sin by confessing and seeking God's mercy.

What is the speaker's stance on the role of feelings in faith?

The speaker asserts that faith is not about feelings, which are deceitful and fleeting. Faith should be grounded in something deeper than emotions and is about trust in God regardless of feelings.

How does the speaker differentiate between faith and feelings?

The speaker differentiates by stating that faith is a spiritual trust in God, whereas feelings are human emotions that can be influenced by various factors and are not a reliable indicator of faith.

What is the ultimate message the speaker wants to convey about faith?

The ultimate message is that faith is about trusting in God as a person, knowing He is real, and making a choice to believe in Him without waiting for signs, feelings, or evidence.

How can one support the channel according to the transcript?

One can support the channel by following the links provided in the video description to contribute financially, which helps the channel reach more people in different countries.