doubting being saved
I have struggled with this idea that i am not saved. This has gone on for years. I have ask God to save me so many times but I am still not sure.I have had anxiety for for over 20 yrs. Could these feelings of anxiety cause me to doubt this. I think do I really believe, did I truly trust in Him. This is the one thing that cause me so much grief and anxiety. Am I the only one who struggles with this. I feel that way.
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Guest
Hey Mitch,
I just got online today and saw your post about doubting being saved. I used to have anxiety about the same thing. It really caused me so much stress. I will give you some things to read that may help I hope. They are from the Bible. Romans 3:10,Romans 3:23,Romans 5:8,Romans 6:23,and Romans 10:13. The last one is what really helped me to know that I am saved. Shall be saved in that verse is a very positive word. I love positive words. It is a true promise from God. You said you are saved. Just trust that verse. if you called on the name of the Lord you were saved and that is forever. Do not let Satan give you so much anxiety over that. He is a liar, in fact the Bible says he is the father of lies. I hope things get better. Have a great day and enjoy this life. It truly is beautiful. Talk to you later I hope
I just got online today and saw your post about doubting being saved. I used to have anxiety about the same thing. It really caused me so much stress. I will give you some things to read that may help I hope. They are from the Bible. Romans 3:10,Romans 3:23,Romans 5:8,Romans 6:23,and Romans 10:13. The last one is what really helped me to know that I am saved. Shall be saved in that verse is a very positive word. I love positive words. It is a true promise from God. You said you are saved. Just trust that verse. if you called on the name of the Lord you were saved and that is forever. Do not let Satan give you so much anxiety over that. He is a liar, in fact the Bible says he is the father of lies. I hope things get better. Have a great day and enjoy this life. It truly is beautiful. Talk to you later I hope
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ronda stephens
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:40 am
Mitch I used to struggle with the exact thing for years! It is the anxiety and negative thinking that does this. Somehow we were made to believe that we should loathe ourselves and be less than others and this has spilled over into our Christianity too. (we have perfected this part haven't we?) but this is totally wrong when you search the scriptures.
One night when I was in prayer I was saying "God I just don't feel saved" (and the other pitiful things we say to Him and ourselves) Then God put this in my spirit in almost an audible voice He said "So you think the BLOOD (of Christ) isn't good enough for you?" In other words He was saying that I was calling the Blood (shed for us by our savior) NOT GOOD ENOUGH or effective enough to do away with my sins. WHOA! I realized what I had been doing all this time was I was saying that I was too good for Jesus, that somehow with my own bad thought life I was calling the Blood putrid and ineffective. I repented right away!
Look at Romans 8:33-34 in the Amplified Bible. (I am sure you can find the Amplified online with google.com) This scripture sets it straight and words it so precisely.
It is good to discuss these things and I am glad you brought it up. We can all share what we have discovered to be true or false thoughts through this kind of discussion!
Hope to see you again soon,
Rod
One night when I was in prayer I was saying "God I just don't feel saved" (and the other pitiful things we say to Him and ourselves) Then God put this in my spirit in almost an audible voice He said "So you think the BLOOD (of Christ) isn't good enough for you?" In other words He was saying that I was calling the Blood (shed for us by our savior) NOT GOOD ENOUGH or effective enough to do away with my sins. WHOA! I realized what I had been doing all this time was I was saying that I was too good for Jesus, that somehow with my own bad thought life I was calling the Blood putrid and ineffective. I repented right away!
Look at Romans 8:33-34 in the Amplified Bible. (I am sure you can find the Amplified online with google.com) This scripture sets it straight and words it so precisely.
It is good to discuss these things and I am glad you brought it up. We can all share what we have discovered to be true or false thoughts through this kind of discussion!
Hope to see you again soon,
Rod
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
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Guest
Mitch,
I've struggled with this too. But our salvation is not based upon us, but upon God. I recently heard this illustration - salvation does not come from man to God (down to up) but comes from God to man (up to down). For some reason, this really struck me. I could imagine God covering me!! It really isn't about me and what I do. It's about who God is. He is faithful and He is loving. He doesn't want any of us to perish. He is willing to allow us to go through struggles, and He also allows us to venture into sin if we choose (and not believing Him is sin). That's His love. But if we ask, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all our unrighteousness. And we are never, ever separated from God after that. Not even from our doubt. In a Beth Moore study, I learned that God counts our faith as righteousness. So when we choose to believe that we are saved regardless of how we feel, then we are having faith, and that is righteousness. Once again, not faith of our might, but faith on Him. That pleases God. When I begin to feel that way, I go over all of that again, and say aloud that I am relying on the truth of who God is and that He saved me as He promised in the Word.
You can so bet that the doubt you have is from Satan - he is the father of lies and confusion. He wants to make you struggle with that because He can make you ineffective in the purpose God has for you, and He can bring you down. But God's word is the sword of truth! You don't have to believe what Satan whispers in your mind, or the feelings you have. You can choose to believe God and His faithfulness. He is truly able to save us. Rely on God's word and that He never, ever changes. And then begin to worship Him. That makes Satan run like no other thing we can do. Worship God just by saying how awesome He is, how faithful He is, how loving He is, how kind He is. He made a way for us, and He wants to bless us.
Remember, once you have made a decision to accept Jesus as your Saviour and to be His disciple, then any doubt after that is NOT from God. He does provide a way out for us (worship, prayer, Christian friends) and He also understands our weaknesses.
Sorry so long, but one more thing. We don't have control over much in our lives, that's for sure, and part of the struggle with anxiety. But one thing God did give us control over is how we think. He wants us to think on good and lovely and pure things (not fear and doubt). He has told us if we do, the God of peace will be with us. What assurance!! (Philippians 4:8-9)
Keep us posted on how you are doing, Mitch! And when I give in to Satan's whisperings, I hope you will remind me too! :}
I've struggled with this too. But our salvation is not based upon us, but upon God. I recently heard this illustration - salvation does not come from man to God (down to up) but comes from God to man (up to down). For some reason, this really struck me. I could imagine God covering me!! It really isn't about me and what I do. It's about who God is. He is faithful and He is loving. He doesn't want any of us to perish. He is willing to allow us to go through struggles, and He also allows us to venture into sin if we choose (and not believing Him is sin). That's His love. But if we ask, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all our unrighteousness. And we are never, ever separated from God after that. Not even from our doubt. In a Beth Moore study, I learned that God counts our faith as righteousness. So when we choose to believe that we are saved regardless of how we feel, then we are having faith, and that is righteousness. Once again, not faith of our might, but faith on Him. That pleases God. When I begin to feel that way, I go over all of that again, and say aloud that I am relying on the truth of who God is and that He saved me as He promised in the Word.
You can so bet that the doubt you have is from Satan - he is the father of lies and confusion. He wants to make you struggle with that because He can make you ineffective in the purpose God has for you, and He can bring you down. But God's word is the sword of truth! You don't have to believe what Satan whispers in your mind, or the feelings you have. You can choose to believe God and His faithfulness. He is truly able to save us. Rely on God's word and that He never, ever changes. And then begin to worship Him. That makes Satan run like no other thing we can do. Worship God just by saying how awesome He is, how faithful He is, how loving He is, how kind He is. He made a way for us, and He wants to bless us.
Remember, once you have made a decision to accept Jesus as your Saviour and to be His disciple, then any doubt after that is NOT from God. He does provide a way out for us (worship, prayer, Christian friends) and He also understands our weaknesses.
Sorry so long, but one more thing. We don't have control over much in our lives, that's for sure, and part of the struggle with anxiety. But one thing God did give us control over is how we think. He wants us to think on good and lovely and pure things (not fear and doubt). He has told us if we do, the God of peace will be with us. What assurance!! (Philippians 4:8-9)
Keep us posted on how you are doing, Mitch! And when I give in to Satan's whisperings, I hope you will remind me too! :}
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Guest
Mitch, Your post stirred something in me. A few months ago I was exactly where you are. My husband is Protestant and kept asking me that question trying to help me. My faith taught a little different that his.
I ended up having an elder in the church go over the scriptures with me and showing me in HIS Word God's plan and promise of salvation.
Satan creates these doubts in our minds. And remember that being saved doesn't promise us a carefree life. We will still have our trials and tribulations.
I'm really a newborn in my faith, so I will let you follow the other, wiser ones on where to search in the Bible. I will be looking myself.
I started keeping a journal of scriptures that were inspiring that I can easily refer to. Maybe that will help you. Either way, know you are loved and blessed as a child of God. Keep seeking Him in all that you do. Beverly
I ended up having an elder in the church go over the scriptures with me and showing me in HIS Word God's plan and promise of salvation.
Satan creates these doubts in our minds. And remember that being saved doesn't promise us a carefree life. We will still have our trials and tribulations.
I'm really a newborn in my faith, so I will let you follow the other, wiser ones on where to search in the Bible. I will be looking myself.
I started keeping a journal of scriptures that were inspiring that I can easily refer to. Maybe that will help you. Either way, know you are loved and blessed as a child of God. Keep seeking Him in all that you do. Beverly
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Guest
I.too have had these thoughts. They actually started the day after I made a decision to follow Christ. As if maybe it didn't take.
This has been going on for a long time now.
One thing that helped me was when I started to realize that these thoughts are from Satan. He lies to us and finds our weaknesses. As long as that thought works He will keep using it. It pretty much cripples us as Christians.
While doing this program, we learn to be more sensitive to our physical symptoms of anxiety and our negative self talk. As a Christian, I need to be more aware of the thoughts that Satan puts into my mind. I need to stop and ask myself , "Is that thought from God?" or "Is that thought from me?" of "Is that thought from Satan?" If we can learn to discern these thoughts, it would be much easier to deal with them rationally.
I heard a speaker say that she was having obsessive thoughts about herself and a sin that she had committed many years ago. She had asked for forgiveness but still felt the shame and guilt. She finally realized that she was being attacked by Satan and decided to choose not to believe it, to just accept the Bible's words as true and believe that God had forgiven and forgotten about that sin years ago. So she said that every time that thought popped into her head, she started praising God and thanking Him for forgiving her, and soon it quit happening, the thought no longer comes to her.
Maybe I will try that for all of these thoughts that are contrary to God's word.
This has been going on for a long time now.
One thing that helped me was when I started to realize that these thoughts are from Satan. He lies to us and finds our weaknesses. As long as that thought works He will keep using it. It pretty much cripples us as Christians.
While doing this program, we learn to be more sensitive to our physical symptoms of anxiety and our negative self talk. As a Christian, I need to be more aware of the thoughts that Satan puts into my mind. I need to stop and ask myself , "Is that thought from God?" or "Is that thought from me?" of "Is that thought from Satan?" If we can learn to discern these thoughts, it would be much easier to deal with them rationally.
I heard a speaker say that she was having obsessive thoughts about herself and a sin that she had committed many years ago. She had asked for forgiveness but still felt the shame and guilt. She finally realized that she was being attacked by Satan and decided to choose not to believe it, to just accept the Bible's words as true and believe that God had forgiven and forgotten about that sin years ago. So she said that every time that thought popped into her head, she started praising God and thanking Him for forgiving her, and soon it quit happening, the thought no longer comes to her.
Maybe I will try that for all of these thoughts that are contrary to God's word.
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Guest
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Guest
Just a thought to add: Worry is a wasted emotion about things that will, or will not happen in the future. With regard to being saved, it is a gift bestowed upon you. If you believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ you are saved. So, you either believe that or your don't and you know which it is. Worthiness doesn't enter into it, or everyone would be screwed.(and salvation does not mean God approves of everything you do.)
It is normal and acceptable to God that you express doubts about and question various articles of faith. He knows He can back up His guarantees. He's not real worried if you fact check Him.
The hardest thing I find in being a "good" Christian (whatever that might mean) is letting go of my HABIT of worry and having faith in God's promises to me. This is not shoving your responsibilities aside and saying you have faith God will fix everything while you play video games, but doing everything you can and letting God take care of the rest. Read the ways God keeps His promises and you will maybe gain faith and laugh at how you were stressed over nothing.
It is normal and acceptable to God that you express doubts about and question various articles of faith. He knows He can back up His guarantees. He's not real worried if you fact check Him.
The hardest thing I find in being a "good" Christian (whatever that might mean) is letting go of my HABIT of worry and having faith in God's promises to me. This is not shoving your responsibilities aside and saying you have faith God will fix everything while you play video games, but doing everything you can and letting God take care of the rest. Read the ways God keeps His promises and you will maybe gain faith and laugh at how you were stressed over nothing.