This one is kind of a loaded topic as well and nothing I say here is to berate anyone else's beliefs - I'm merely just posting my personal perspective on my own personal beliefs - you don't have to agree with it or even like it for that matter. I've been working on my personal relationship with God daily. I appreciate the ability and opportunity to have discussions about God with people. It's refreshing to listen to people's different perspectives on their beliefs in God - I pick and choose what I take from what others tell me and form my own individual beliefs based on what makes sense to me.
I was raised Catholic. I now live in a Christian state. However, I have chosen a path of non-denomination. I don't believe in all the materialistic "practice" toward believing in and having a relationship with God. I don't believe that you have to go to church in order to believe in and have a relationship with God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and he is our savior. I believe that Jesus is the son of God. I believe that you have to show up for God virtually every day, not just when you need or want something. You have to genuinely work on your relationship with God every single day through trying your best to live through him, with him, and in him in the unity of the holy spirit. We aren't perfect even though God created us as such - we are all sinners and God expects that. What's important to take away from that is working toward forgiveness when we sin. Even if we aren't ready to ask for forgiveness, being honest with the Lord about it and where we currently are with our struggles, asking for guidance from him - he doesn't expect us to rush with change but what he does expect is for us to work on it consistently and make a conscious effort to do so and when we are ready to seek forgiveness, that we are sincere about it.
There's a lot that I'm still learning and will continue to learn and add to my beliefs as my life goes on. Like I mentioned previously, this topic is a loaded one and there are so many different beliefs on it - it's difficult to really accurately grasp everything about it. One thing that I have learned to do is go based off what makes sense to me in my heart and if it feels natural, I go with it. I don't think there is necessarily a right or wrong way to believe in and have a relationship with God - I believe it comes from whatever works best for you and each individual person's relationship with God is special and sacred. One thing I was told by someone when I asked them, "How do you know when you have successfully achieved a relationship with God?" Their response was, "Because your life will change for the better..." We all know that God never turns his back on us...even if we fall off the track of belief or stray away from him, but if we truly accept God into our hearts, he will never steer us in the wrong direction.
I used to be guilty about judging others. I've gotten better as time goes on and the more I mature throughout life. God is the only one who can judge us, no matter what we believe. No matter what a person does in their lifetime, whether you agree with it or not, whether you believe in it or not - it's never your place to judge another person. We were all created as equal through God. What someone else does or doesn't do, what they choose to believe or don't believe is none of our business as long as it doesn't affect us directly. Only business it is, is between that person and God. I believe that the only thing that truly matters is your individual happiness, how you treat other people and your personal relationship with God. Money, material possessions and status have no value when it comes to making it into heaven. It's not to say that you can't have those things because we are all guilty of lusting those life's pleasure's - just as long as you don't forget what is truly important when everything is said and done.
What really speaks volumes about a person is their ability to admit when they are wrong or when they have a problem. People who are open-minded and teachable. Ignorance does not look good on anyone. You don't have the ability to change anyone's behaviors whether they be actions or words but your own. Sure, you can give advice, but people have to actually be ready to accept and welcome change. Most people can hear (unless your deaf), but it takes actual effort to listen. There is a huge difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is something we do without realizing and we take it for granted. Listening happens when you hear, but actually take the time to process what you hear and decide what you're going to take from it. Actions also speak louder than words - sometimes it's not always about what you can say, but what you can do that makes a real difference. I also like to sit back and observe my environment and the type of people in it before I make a decision on who I involve myself with. I'm a lot more careful these days with my person and what I allow and for very good reason at that! I've spent way more time than I'd like to admit in the wrong places and with the wrong people.
One thing I do that most people think I'm absolutely crazy for is talking to people about highly debatable topics such as religion, sexuality and race. I always get shocked responses from people when they hear that I do this. Why? Because we live in an ignorant society where it's taboo to do something like that. I always get this look from people (if they don't verbally say it), "You're going to get yourself shot doing something like that". Look, I believe there is a right and a wrong way to talk to people. You ever hear the old saying, "Choose your words wisely". When I talk to people about things like religion, sexuality and race, it's not to display ignorance but rather educate myself on things I know nothing about to actually avoid coming across ignorant! You're only as ignorant as the things you refuse to educate yourself about. Knowledge is power, baby!
Our mom meant a whole lot to me and the bond we had was special. When she passed away and was no longer with us in person - she is still our mom and I still have a relationship with her regardless. I still talk to her just as much as if she was here with me in person. I still tell her when I'm happy, when I have new and exciting news, worries, sadness - even when I don't feel good. We can't physically see God but we still have a very important relationship with him and believe in him. The body is just a shell - it's our soul that continues to live on forever. I believe that heaven is just the next stage of life - eternal life and those that pass on to it, just beat us there first is all. By natural human instinct, we are inevitably sad and require a healing process - part of the process includes realizing that for whatever reason that God only knows, that it was their time to depart from their life on earth and advance to eternal life. Perhaps it shouldn't be something that we are sad about, but more a celebration that they lived their ultimate purpose and earned a spot in heaven to eternal life where there is no pain and suffering. It's difficult for us to process the physicality of a person leaving us because it's harder for us to lose something we had and grown accustomed to for some time than those things that we never had. Because of this, I've realized that I don't have to be afraid of accepting God into my heart and it's not totally crazy to have a relationship that you can't physically see. Just because I never met my great, great grandmother for example, doesn't mean she never existed - we don't have to be in our physical form to exist. That's why you hear people say that loved ones who have passed never really leave us.
I know that last part really has nothing to specifically do with religion and my relationship with God but in a way it does - it's touching on some of the things I've come to realize that have helped me strengthen my relationship with God and his fellow children. I've downloaded the King James version of the bible on my phone and have been listening to it through audio. I've been working my way through the book of Genesis and continuing to talk to God. I've been praying for all who are struggling whether it be mentally, physically or both; as well as praying for the ones who struggle with their relationship with God. I've been asking God to guide me through the things that I need to personally work on in my life, not to do the work for me, but to guide me while I do the work. There are quite a few things that I'm trying to work on to become a better person.
It's not clear and may never be fully clear to me why God chose to take my mother-in-law from this earth when he did and while I continue to struggle with the loss of her, it has taught me a lot of valuable lessons. They say that God doesn't make mistakes, so I have to believe and trust in my heart that this was all for good reason. God only takes the best and I know this to be true because she was in fact, one of the best. Her passing made me realize how important it is to have a relationship with God and to work on becoming a better person. Both of these things are not always easy, especially when life gets tough, but as long as we are trying our very best, God takes all of these aspects into account. God is all knowing, especially when it comes to the things that each of his children struggles with.
Things that I'm currently working on:
✅Reducing my cussing
✅Working through my anxiety, anger, and depression
✅Being kinder to my fellow brothers and sisters (God's children), despite the behaviors of others
✅Being closer with my family and working on those relationships
✅Being more selfless
✅My individual relationship with God
Things that I would like to work on improving in the near future:
❗Both my mental and physical health
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