Morality is within. You know this to be true.

Just let the door open He will walk in. Pray to Him and the Virgin Mary.

Barbed wire, on your knees, flagellate, repent. Come back in a week and we’ll talk

This is the best question and I appreciate your honesty.

How big is Jesus/God in your mind?

If he is a caricature, small, timid, powerless then I would also feel nothing.

I think it starts with seeing God as he is. Creator, beginning and end, and most of all ... interested in knowing you.

My favorite books on this are Wild at Heart and the Sacred Romance by John Eldredge

I'm in the same boat as you.

you will find Him in stillness😌🙏🏼

We don’t need an intercessor for God, and don’t worry about philosophy. Worry about what is right and wrong. That is why we have halacha, what is right and wrong

I think it comes down to you more of the fruits of the spirit than some swooning feeling that you get. If you talk to him regularly and try to live by his commandments you will attain the fruits of the spirit imo.

Clean link:

https://thebiblicalfoundation.com/what-are-the-9-fruits-of-the-spirit-and-their-meanings/

If you think of God in the abstract I could see your point of view. Reading the Bible gives you a very different understanding of God because there are very specific accounts of Jesus and what he did, and said. Your perspective of God is completely different. To expand on that thought, if those words influence your life’s decisions and you know where it’s coming from, just another layer built on top. Just my .02 cents.

Wow! This is the most import question a person can ask. First of all, the Christian response should focus on the work of the Holy Spirit, which appears to be at work on you already 😊.

I think the writings of C.S. Lewis are helpful for those in a position like yours (Miracles and/or Mere Christianity perhaps).

God speed!

Feelings may wax and wane--they're not a reliable guide. Aim instead to have your understanding of who Christ is and what he did and he is doing sharpened and amazed. Aim at your heart through your mind--see the first few verses of Colossians 3.

Read his word. Study it. Pray and sing with the psalmists. Study something meaty, like the Heidelberg catechism. Find and join a bible-believing church where the gospel of grace is preached faithfully, week in and week out--don't fly solo, we're not meant for that. 🤙

Hope this helps in some small way.

The Eucharist.

I have a lot of love for non-Catholic Christians, but being a Christian or going to church without the Eucharist is like watching a movie and skipping the climax. You're missing the whole point.

Great question!

When I think of Christ, I think as the Apostle Peter when he said to Jesus, "To whom else shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68)

I feel an inkling of this towards #Bitcoin too... I would be lost (economy and otherwise) without it!

But Bitcoin doesn't give me hope beyond the grave like Jesus does. Bitcoin doesn't assure me of my value and worth as a loved human being like Jesus does. Bitcoin doesn't speak word to my soul like Jesus does.

This is just a taste of what Jesus means to me. Best way to pursue this is through the simple things: pray, read scripture, talk with others about God, etc

Interesting question for a quick scroll environment. But my initial impulse to reply was:

'Leave all concepts behind. Everything you ever heard and think you know about God, Jesus, Christianity etc. Go within, in silence, undistracted by the senses, with strong faith in that you will receive an answer when the time is right, but without any urgent need to know anything. This way, in silence, get to know thyself. Everything will reveal itself through you, through your openness and ability to see what really is, beyond what your mind wants to see. If you find that relationship with yourself, you also have it with God, Jesus, the All who also is within you.'

Easier said than done, but this is how far a reply can go from my side at this point for whatever it's worth to you. It's much more about letting go than actively finding anything.

I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and as a result have serious issues with organised religion, but I always thought it was a “vibe”: https://youtu.be/nMuh33BMZYY

Honestly if you don't spend time with someone it's difficult to have a relationship or knowledge of them. Today we have Christ revealed in the written word God. I would encourage you to read His word and meditate on it. Start with the Gospel of John.

Pray to Christ, that if he’s real, he’d reveal himself to you. Read the Bible starting with the Gospels ie start at Matthew. I like the NIV translation. It’s eye opening to read the book vs. what we all already think we know it is.

I did magic mushrooms once and God gave me a hug. Literally transcendent experience.

Had this overwhelming sense of peace, that everything would be okay, and joy/awe in existence/reality

Before I was an atheist and at best thought the bible had some wisdom.

Read his word, count your blessing daily, be in awe of Gods creation and give God the glory in all your accomplishments.

I personally miss the Old Testament God, full of wrath and fury.

The New Testament is weak and forgiving.

I don't love quoting Peterson... However,

"I act as if God exists"

This is productive to me for two reasons. The relationship, if God exists, requires me to take responsibility for my side of the relationship. Dogmatic/ignorant belief allows Christians to self-deceive, utilizing cliches to mask their fears/uncertainty and ultimately act in ways that are antithetical to Christ.

Imo, feeling strongly about Jesus comes from the continual practice of questioning the uncertainty and often "taking the narrow path". Funny thing about the narrow path... It's always uncomfortable and (I think?) always (often?) strengthens a relationship with Christ.

Go to Church regularly. Find one with music that moves you

lol well damn you’re just jumping right in this Friday afternoon aren’t you

Not a Christian more of a transcendental Buddhist. But I have a strong relationship with Jesus through his compassion. The way I think about it is, Jesus is the embodiment of compassion you feel toward everyone else. A good thought experiment is trying to treat everyone you meet as if they were Jesus in disguise. An outpouring of compassion regardless of how they treat you is how he lived his life. Treated everyone he met with that compassion even though they weren't him but he treated them as if they were. Anyway, that's my two sats.

I would begin by asking Jesus to help you. Everybody has experiences, mental models, and/or vices that make that prospect difficult, and asking him to help you navigate that minefield will help.

Love/strong feelings are tied to recognition that someone else loves, protects, and provides for you. So you want to find someone who can help you think and talk through what Jesus did and what it has to do with you, and who can answer the questions you have (and the ones you will have).

I would be happy to chat if you don’t have somebody else who fits that bill.

If it is true that Jesus is truly God, came to earth to live like one of us as a human, was unfairly sentenced to torture and death in the most gruesome possible way because of his claim to be God and spiritually as a stand in for all of humanity, and then came back to life 3 days later and over 500 people witnessed him alive again, then based on that alone would force me to have to reevaluate my own entire perspective of reality and what that singular moment in history means in relation to literally everything else.

If the God that created literally everything, became human, allowed himself to suffer as a human, and to be killed as a human as a spiritual stand-in for the moral judgement enacted by himself and then to come back to life from the dead, then that would be the most consequential moment in history.

I want to say that it is tough, the fiat system is a result of The Adversary preying on those of us who are weak, and blind.

Every human is unique in their struggles, issues, and temptations, so I think when faced with those elements it can weaken our faith, or willingness to believe.

When someone is bitter, it makes it difficult in general to think of the higher things.

I can attest that every believer even the most righteous have sinned.

For me, I would say that suffering which does exist, remember it because it was The Almighty who has helped us through it.

But I would say seek earnestly, read the scriptures deeply, find a community, & always seek improvement.

Not a Christian, but how close do you think you can get to a spiritual being when you're tied to a physical body?

I don't think any two people experience the spiritual world in the same way, but if a Being or agency or will created this universe they are logical as fuck.

So maybe you experience god through logic and reason or maybe through some other medium?

Hi HODL,

I pray the below gives you what you seek and need!

First - You have to understand God as Holy, Creator, Judge and a perfect Father.

Second - You have to compare yourself to God’s holiness and what He has prescribed in the 10 Commandments, hold up the mirror, be honest and face who you are in comparison to God. How we deceive and lie with our greatest gift (free will).

Three - See Christ as God in creation, walking with Abraham as the eternal loving high priest, who is the only one that can heal all, forgive sin, who resisted Satan, who defeated death and the only one that can reconcile us with Himself.

Once you realise the above, you will want a relationship with Christ, to walk “The Way”, to hold onto and trust His love and sacrifice on the cross, to repent and turn away from sin and become more. With the joy of a house build on rock (Christ), not the ever shifting sand of this world (relativist & idolatrous)

Be well and continue seeking, Jesus is knocking on your door. You can open it and have the talk you always wanted.

God bless,

Feelings and individuality are over-valued in modern Christianity. But it is possible to feel strongly about Jesus, as a real person, not as an abstract concept. To do that, you have to know who he is — this is best done by reading the gospels, which are in part his biography. This brings you to the same level of affection you might have for Tesla, or Vitruvius, or Archimedes, or whoever your favorite (most loved) dead historical figure might be.

Next, pray and read the Psalms (and pray the Psalms), because they are the words of Jesus, given by inspiration to David et al. This makes you an active participant in the conversation between God and the Church which has been happening throughout the history.

One other great resource for understanding the "loveliness of Christ" is a book by the same name, by Samuel Rutherford. It's sort of a mixture of all of the above, including personal and theological articulations of what Jesus should mean to the Christian. Especially good in seasons of grief, when God can seem most remote, and when Jesus can become most real.

https://ccmbooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/loveliness_2012.pdf

Being less autistic probably helps

I recommend the book of Mark. https://www.esv.org/Mark+1/

Knowing that He was the first anti-Semite really brought me closer to Him.

John 2:15

I’m not a Christian. But have become very spiritual/religious. Try not to personify this concept. Nor try to think of something that can be intellectually understood. The subject of religion is not propositional. It is procedural and participatory.

Personally, I think things like mindfulness practices. Or, if you want a short cut. Take psychedelics with the right set and setting. That’s how you get a glimpse of what that relationship is about.

just send it bro

Find a good local church. One with a pastor who consistently delivers zeitgeisty spiritual nourishment. Ideally one with a worship team who channel the Holy Spirit. Once you find that, commit to it consistently and contribute to its success in whatever ways you can. The urge to read scripture will grow. That's kinda where I am now.

You have to read the gospels: Matthew Mark Luke & John.

Personally, John is my favorite.

Block out all the noise.

IMO, Jesus was the toughest and the gentlest and the wisest man ever.

You imply that you believe, but do you really believe or do you simply want to, or feel pressured or expected to? For many years I felt guilty about my relationship with Jesus, or lack thereof, until I eventually fully realized, acknowledged, and accepted that I simply wasn't a believer. And that doesn't mean that I don't respect what true believers have, or in a way admire it, but like with the thought of pretending to be gay for the sake of seemingly having lots more sex, pretending to be something that I'm not isn't going to make me happier and then acknowledging who I am.

Do mushrooms

You've obviously never seen peak R9 1995-2002

I've never really "gotten it" through the word, moreso from eastern practices of breath work, meditation and fasting. Then topping of those feel goods with riteous living. Maybe I'm just a shitty Christian.

It's not reasonably possible to have a strong relationship with someone whom you don't know, no?

If you don't spend time reading the gospels and studying the words of Jesus and what he did, how he responded to people and arguments and detractors, etc., you'll never get an accurate picture of him.

Many people base their opinions of Jesus and Christianity based on goofy church experiences or chump "christians," who don't actually follow Jesus as the Christ.

So... if you're serious and not just trolling, I would recommend spending some serious time reading the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts (to see how his followers responded after Jesus was crucified), and go from there.

Doing this completely altered my life.

Read Matthew, Mark , Luke, John.

Read a tiny little book called “The practice of the presence of God” by the monk Brother Lawrence.

It’s a 1 hour read and it will change your life.

TL;DR the move is not finding a way to be with Him. It’s to practice never not being with Him. And that takes a lifetime.

did you grow up religious?

I remember what he did on the cross for me, a vile and completely unworthy sinner. Despite my sin, he loves me so much that he died for me. Focusing on his sacrifice and love for me always brings tears to me eyes and gratitude to my heart.

You are like a wet dream come true for Christians with a question like that!

I imagine someone coming to me and asking me:

How does one feel strongly about Bitcoin? How does one have a personal relationship with Bitcoin?

I would have to excuse myself and do a little dance first before I answer the question without peeing myself in excitement.

Christians, enjoy this moment, but try not to pee yourself!

Phillipians 4:6-7

take that advice and put it to use intensively for a few days, and come back to us

maybe not the Jesus relationship but after i did that, i had the most epic adventure and now agree ... what does the Lords Prayer say?

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name"

Muslim version:

"Bismi Allah arahman arahim" (In the name of God, the most merciful)

these two lines were hugely influential for me in my spiritual progress

Jesus is awesome, and he's coming back, and what he did paved the path for our redemption

the cataclysm coming to this world soon will wipe out everyone who is not evacuated, most probably... 200k years humans have survived, but already on one occasion it was only 5000 humans making it through the disaster, God only knows what a hell they lived through

but God is merciful, otherwise he would not have granted Jesus' petition to save more people from the poisonous machinations of Satan

Jesus is like the best lawyer you ever had, you pledge allegience to him and strive as best you can to be free of evil, and he'll make sure you get on the bus

idk how else to explain it, my mind has been polluted with psychedelic mythology and many variants, taoism, osho, buddhism, austrian economics, but this is my model and why I'm down with my man Jesus

i will just say, "The Apocalypse of Yajnavalkya" will maybe help you see ... it is not written from a strictly christian viewpoint, but what it illuminates points in that direction... and it is approachable for people who are outside of this, for buddhists and hindus and muslims and atheists, the important thing is the history

most of the history has been hidden from us

Jesus was a literal man, I believe, but born of an extraordinary act of "angels", who are part of our ancestry, some of them fallen, mostly, because the holy angels had a rule about not taking advantage of us lesser humans.

he achieved full control of his consciousness and body and was able to be fully dead, and fully return that body to life with his mind still inside it

and because he could do that, he was raised to the highest place in the ranks of the angel race and as a result, i'm certain that they are coming to take us out of harm's way

the book of enoch also, you can read in there the "head of days" lamenting that they let a dodgy bastid onto the Ark and how that flowed on to the next cycle that peaked with Babel and in our time now the New World Order

anyhow, it's a lot to take in, and i'm still absorbing it, i have illusions that i might be able to write a long text that explains the whole thing, but i have to do a lot of research and i haven't even hardly started.

Look into Islam and becoming Muslim. The original teachings of Christianity were heavily distorted by the Church and by putting in between man intermediaries between him and God almighty, as well as creating logical contradictions with theologies like the trinity, (how can ‘God’ have a son who is also God but also man?!), the connection between people and their Creator was bound to weaken. If you look into all holy religions they trend towards having a One who originated All. Islam happens to be the final revelation that guides man on a natural way towards his Creator.

I don't subscribe to much dogma or many labels.

I feel like Christ was the personification of pure love. I feel closest to Christ when I tap into the feeling of being One with everything. It's only when I push aside the feeling of separateness that I feel connected to my Christ consciousness.

When I first started experiencing this I was a blubbery mess with joy. The ego also rejoiced in this feeling of being special but the irony is that it comes from a knowledge of unity rather than separate specialness. So many who experience this feeling end up with a god complex. Mental institutions are full of people who remember that they're Christ but think they're special.

Read Proverbs daily for the day of the month & pray 🙏 for frens family on their birthday date

Former Christian

I believe in god.

I often feel like religions were an injection of code to show early humans how to live without murdering each other.

They also made a rainbow 🌈 Bible that has everything highlighted by what it relates to by that translator. Found that helpful during my deep Christian journey.

This book is something like ~50 pages. It's a talk Fr. Rose gave in California to a college. His story in itself is worth investigating and his talks and writings speak to the post-modern age in an incredible way. This book may not answer your question but perhaps it will bring you to the person that could.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/262282.God_s_Revelation_to_the_Human_Heart

Pray regularly, read the Bible (starting with Matthew, Mark, Luke, John as others mention), fully seek for what you are looking for and you will find it. Ask and it shall be given!

If you bring this exact question in prayer to the Lord regularly, I’m sure He will show you

I would start by reading the gospels. I’d recommend The Message version as it uses earthy, modern language (while still being accurate).

I’d pray - reaching out into the void as if there might be something/someone else out there waiting for you. Ask Jesus to reveal himself to you - to answer or speak to something deep in you no one else is aware of - and in a way you understand.

I’d also look at reading a book called The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel.

As a side note… many people I know (myself included) have had the most powerful, life-changing encounters with Jesus / the Holy Spirit when we’re at our lowest point. Where the ego etc has been crushed and we feel empty of ourselves, strength etc. If you feel you have everything together, have your strength and health intact and are completely self-reliant - you’ll find it harder to be in a place where you can find and receive him. That’s not to say it can’t happen… but I think it’s harder - from my experience anyway.

I’ll be praying for you though - and hopefully others here will too - that you find him and you experience the life changing, and life-giving power that I and many others experience on a daily basis.

Shalom!

the two most profound changes in my life is God and Bitcoin. i came to the end of myself, just like i came to the end of fiat. I said to God, i know myself and myself is not enough, i need you to show me how to do this life. i enjoy reading the living bible paraphrased which is an easier read. just like bitcoin the more you ask- the more you find.

I feel this. I want to get it but I just kinda don’t

I'm not a Christian, but I like what the Catholic mystic Bernadette Roberts has to say under "Warning" on this page: https://bernadetteroberts.blogspot.com/p/booksmanuscripts_22.html

Walk out in nature away from the noise. Pray. Talk to God. Thank him for everything he created. Thank him for all of your blessings and all of the hardships you have endured to make you stronger. Stop. Be quiet, meditate and listen. I see God in so many small things and the times I have felt the closest is the times I have needed him most and when I felt the most broken or helpless.

In my experience develop the qualities you so admire about Jesus/God in yourself and through this your relationship is revealed and strengthened.

There is no separation.

When you develop uncover these qualities within you pay homage to Jesus/God in knowledge and action.

How does one feel strongly about bitcoin?

Spend time interacting with it. (Quiet time.)

Spend time researching it. (Read the Bible.)

Spend time testing it. (Asking God to reveal himself to you in ways you can understand.)

There are a few particularly good ways to get to know God, and its best if all are done together:

- Read about what God has done and said (read the Bible)

- Talk with others who know Him about what He’s doing and saying (become involved in a church, probably also in a “small group,” where you can do this)

- Tell Him you want to get to know Him, and spend some time each day speaking to Him and open to hearing from Him (pray)

A bunch of us are about to start a Bible study Tuesdays at 8:30 pm EST and you are welcome to join. The first one will be Sept 10.

Start with the recognition that He is a historical person Who existed 2000 years ago. Forget the abstractions. He is a Man.

Set aside a few minutes to talk to Him. Ideally, do this on a daily basis, just for a few minutes. We have the ability to communicate with Him directly. If you randomly think of it throughout the day, continue to speak to Him. Just about anything that troubles you or anything you are thinking about. He will listen. He is like a friend who will listen to all your sorrows and comfort you and all your joys and rejoice with you.

If you do this consistently, you will find that He is the only true friend a man can have. He is always available. And He desires that friendship. You will find that every perfect gift comes from above and that without Him we can do nothing.

When you can’t find words to use, but you want to continue that conversation, the most ancient, most reliable, most effective formula that encapsulates anything anyone could possibly need to say to Him is as follows: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, the sinner”. Focus on those words and say them with your heart whenever you can.

Eventually, if you are consistent, you will seek the company of others who are friends with Christ. Having the full knowledge of mankind, He knew it would be best to establish a community. He promised this community would never fail. It’s important to recognize that He only established one Church, though. There are many communities that use His name, but only one is the Church that He himself established.

I won’t shill the name of the Church here, because first you need to recognize Him in your heart before you can recognize Him in His Church. But, when you’ve done your own research, you’ll find His Church is the one with the most proof of work. It’s the one with the longest chain. It’s the one that is most decentralized, without any man as His representative, but which has Christ as its head. Despite its decentralization, you will find there is a unity of faith. It’s not an invisible church, but a physical church, manifest in the world. It doesn’t look perfect because it is composed of imperfect people. But it is perfect, because He established it.

You don’t have to trust me, because you can verify for yourself.

It's not about how you feel. It's about knowing that God sent His Son to take the punishment for every single thing you've done wrong. And then paying it forward, not to earn your salvation, but in response to it.

You get to know him. It’s the ultimate rabbit hole.

The Indescribable Christ

By Dr. S.M. Lockridge. He is well-known for a passage out of his sermon titled “He’s My King”:

“He’s enduringly strong, He’s entirely sincere, He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful. He’s God’s Son. He’s a sinner’s savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He’s supreme. He’s preeminent. He’s the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest idea in philosophy. He’s the fundamental truth in theology. He’s the miracle of the age. He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick, He cleans the lepers. He forgives sinners, He discharges debtors, He delivers captives, He defends the feeble, He blesses the young, He serves the unfortunate, He regards the aged, He rewards the diligent, He beautifies the meek. Do you know Him?

Well, my king is the king of knowledge, He’s the well-spring of wisdom, He’s the doorway of deliverance, He’s the pathway of peace, He’s the roadway of righteousness, He’s the highway of holiness He’s the gateway of glory, He’s the master of the mighty, He’s the captain of the conquerors, He’s the head of the heroes, He’s the leader of the legislators, He’s the overseer of the overcomers, He’s the governor of governors, He’s the prince of princes, He’s the king of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Well. I wish I could describe Him to you. But He’s indescribable. Yes. He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible, He’s irresistible. I’m trying to tell you, the Heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explain Him. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hands. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. That’s my king!

He always has been, and He always will be. I’m talking about He [who] had no predecessor and He [who] has no successor. There was nobody before Him and there will be nobody after Him. You can’t impeach Him, and He’s not going to resign. We try to get prestige and honor and glory to ourselves, but the glory is all His. Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and when you get through with all of the forevers, then ‘Amen’.”

“Oh I wish I could describe him to you.”

He’ll find you when you’re ready.

You get Jesus at the price you deserve is the short answer.

I do understand what you're feeling about "personal relationship". I struggle with that as well. A lot. Think of it this way: I know you love your wife because you talk about your family in nothing but positive language.

Do you trust her? That's the basis of your personal relationship with her.

I've come to trust God and Jesus and I think that's all there needs to be to my personal relationship with those two. The Holy Ghost thing I still don't understand at all so I just kind let that one float.

Directly related to my previous reply. 🙏

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1HBRRcFFTs

Read some Flannery O'Connor.

I was an atheist.

I know the Christ now.

My path was through plant medicine and mushrooms. (Because my arrogant ego and self destructive behaviour wouldn't let me know it otherwise)

I knew Christ as I opened my heart.

I don't think Jesus and the Christ are exactly the same

(They are)

But it is as Siddhartha Gautama was to the Buddha.

Buddha is a state of being.

Christ is a state of being.

Jesus was the awakened one who seeded the idea of the Christ and lived accordingly. And left us accordingly.

But the Christ is in me and you.

No judgements.

Complete trust in God.

Interrelation of all things

Within and without.

And when you step into your center knowing that you only have one relationship (it is with yourself and hence all creation). That is your cross.

To take responsibility for all of your experience.

And when you tune yourself to the frequency of love and grace, then you serve your father in heaven and your mother earth.

"A course in miracles" is a good practice.

It is a practice.

The Christ is a verb. It is alive. Not a set of words or dead rituals. And it is our responsibility to vivify it and express it whith our own unique voice and feeling

It is all you are. You just have to realise it. No one judges but you, to yourself and condemn and punish yourself.

Because there is only one relationship going on in the entire eternal vast universe.

And the Christ is the living loving miracle you are.

Open heart. And everything is good.

Be patient and compassionate specially with yourself. There is a magical stairway to the heavens and the more elevated life forms. Just set your intention and the Christ will guide you through signals and symbolic language. Trust, have faith more in that and less in fear and spooky things.

Just trust

i am neutral, not associated with any religious group. is this necessary?

You are god. It’s everything. You’re just one aspect experiencing yourself.

I grew up catholic but once I got to 18 I just couldn't stomach the thought of needing to pray to someone, somewhere. Lived all my life not thinking about any of that shit. Now many years later and looking at the state of humanity. I think everyone needs a little bit of direction these days because this rock is going down the shiter very quickly. 😎

Hi HODL, good question.

I’m a Chrisitan, and I don’t think I have a particularly satisfying or coherent answer to this but I’ll try! I long believed in God in a “great creator” type of way but didn’t have a relationship with Christ and felt he was more of a Ghandi figure. That changes when I felt the Holy Spirt enter my life.

The Bible speaks about the Holy Sprit entering into peoples lives 50 days after Christ ascended (Pentecost). The Holy Spirt is part of the trinity of God, a single entity in 3 parts (The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirt). With Christ no longer active on earth God sent the sprit info to us of keep us connected to him and Christ.

My pastor speaks about being dead in sin prior to entering into a relationship with Christ. The idea is when you are in a relationship with Christ you are “alive” or reborn.

In my experience it is through the Sprit that you feel more connected to Christ. The Spirt is in you and a part of you, a literal part of God. Much like owning a fraction of a bitcoin makes you part of the Bitcoin network.

When you pray (again, this is in my mind) you are talking to God. It’s a very personal experience. I do this while walking the dog late at night after the family is asleep. I just talk to God in my head about things I am concerned about, ask for help with people in my life etc. At first it feels like a one sided conversation.

But after while I will notice things in my life that I can only attribute as response or answers to my prayers. To be sure they are not always what I am hoping for.

I believe the Sprit is the conduit that relays my prays and helps me recognize their answers. In that way I am communicating to Jesus.

To close, I’ll go back to the Holy Spirit entering my life. I was out for a late night walk and did my first prayers to a God that I wasn’t sure was real. So there after I found myself drawn - compelled - to attend Church. The desire to learn more consumed me. Frankly I was much like learning about bitcoin. Eventually I prayed to God that I didn’t know I’d he or Christ where real but I hoped they were. After that a light when on.

Good luck in your question. I hope this was helping. Send me a message if you have questions or want to chat.

“God is a concept by which we measure our pain” John Lennon

The relationship you seek is with the self and the universe, which are one and the same.

https://youtu.be/kTjo10yneD0?si=O56n-kwSi4kDT3Lk

Flip it on its head. Would it help you to believe that he feels strongly about you? How does that make you feel? He loves you. Spend some time there.

If I could venture an answer…

Don’t trust, verify.

Faith is the Greek word pistis from the root pisteo, meaning to be persuaded by evidence. It is passive, it happens to us and cannot be drummed up. My advice is to let the evidence do its work.

Every time I work from first principles I end up at this person of Jesus of Nazareth being by far the best explanation for what the bloody hell we are doing here! The arguments from cosmology, teleology , biology, morality and history are overwhelmingly persuasive to me.

Put all options on a level playing field and it is very apparent that there is no second best (see what I did there ;))

Then watch The Chosen series.

Use deduction.

If that doesn't work, wait until you meet the Devil.

could I ask what led you to feel this way or was this thought always at the back of your mind? Maybe it is not the question itself needs answer. Perhaps the reason for raising the question and what the answers will give you. I know this is deviating from your question, but worth a ponder. 👌😀

imo the Christian Church or around 3-5th Century AD doctored the teachings of Dionysus - the previous popular Greek Religion to Christ and that early part of the AD's. In order to have a personal relationship with God or higher beings I recommend ditching the teachings of the Bible and just praying and asking for guidance. God and higher beings are always present but it is often hard to understand this. Regardless if you feel any connection or not, speak to them. Ask for guidance, ask for connection, they will give it to you if you are earnest and consistent. Their responses are not often direct but indirect. You may get signs or interactions or random things happen in support of your prayers and it will seem unrelated or by accident. Such is faith. If you want much more direct contact the realm of psychedelics is one obvious way. The Greeks said that Dionysus was given to us humans by Zeus as a way to see through the endless cycle or death and rebirth. Dionysos was the God used in 'Mysteries' which was basically a Greek version of a shamanistic ritual to contact gods and involved psychedelics often times. You can read more about this if you like in Brian Mururescu's Book - 'The immortality Key'.

Well for starters

Jesus was a mere mortal human .. a black man

The pale blue eyed fictional Disney character image of Jesus they brainwashed everyone in the west to believe is an absolute farce

A shitcoin if you will

He was a great guy but he is not God

God existed way before Jesus

God is the root

The source

Do you have kids?

Witnessing child birth should bring you closer to God the greatest planner the greatest designer the greatest architect of all time

Waking up everyday able bodied should bring you closer to God

Admittedly I did read through all 100 replies…

I will say the first few I glanced over were not Biblically based per se. (Again I haven’t read through all the replies)

Based upon the initials ones I saw; this may be a topic you want to discuss in DM’s or I’d even be happy to hop on a Zoom with you to discuss and answer questions you have.

For context, I’ve had a personal relation with God through Jesus for ~35 years and I’ve led Bible studies / small groups in my community and church.

The offer being extended aside, the short answer to the question “how does one have a personal relationship with Jesus” is as simple as ABC…

A: Admit you are a sinner (we all are! We have all fallen short of the Glory of God due to our sin nature)

B. Believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for you as the ultimate and final atonement for your sins (past, present, and future). Your debt has been paid in full!

C. Confess before others that Jesus is your Lord and Savior and through Him you now have eternal life with God the Father.

(I’ll add D)

D. Depend on His Holy Spirit to draw you closer to Jesus and God, day by day, moment by moment. Build that friendship with God. Ultimately God created humans to rule the Earth for Him. We screwed that up. But it doesn’t change the fact that God wants us as a part of His family.

—

Let me know if you’d like to chat more about growing closer to God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

I’d be happy to chat with you.

Most people that have achieved this "personal relationship with God" have had years of brainwashing to achieve it. You're just going to have to put in the time.

That is because there no such thing as a god, except some vague concept in some people’s heads.

I created this profile to share a unique series that explores the application of mathematics to the Bible. Through this series, I aim to present findings that have profoundly strengthened my faith. While the topic is esoteric, my goal is to break it down in a clear and coherent manner for anyone interested.

It’s not some that just happens. What has always led to this for me is genuine seeking of Him while reading the Bible or even just dwelling on Him and His ways in prayer etc.

I can read the same passage in the Bible ten times but each time I approach with a heart that’s patient and awaiting His insight while reading, new perspective is revealed. I know when He is speaking through His Word to me compared to when I’m just reading it with my own reasoning.

We can lie to ourselves but we can’t lie to Him. It’s not easy to put everything else on hold and enter into time with Him that is not pressured and without agenda. But that’s what He desires. Quality time and hears listening and heart seeking.

In that place there is so much beauty and intimacy. He is a good, good Father.

Thinking about God and Jesus defies the purpose, it’s like fighting for peace or fucking for virginity…

Find people who are peaceful, content, happily enjoying life. Observe how they live, sort out the fake ones, copy their lifestyle.

That’s when you start having the God experience, moment by moment, stop trying to mentally masturbate, and start living true life.

Beyond a mental concept ❤️

Jesus was an anarchist who opposed tyranny with love instead of hate.

He taught us that God was not of this world so that we would stop honoring tyrants as semi-gods and thus set us free.

Watch this serie and when you do it let me know

https://www.thechosen.tv

From my experience to feel the presence of Jesus you need to be in very bad mind condition. If you experience trauma and call Jesus you can feel his love and power.

Start by thinking about the holy trinity. This is imo the best starting point for spiritual Christians who are mostly intuition led. As a man, a father and a soul, the holy trinity is always within you and you are connected to God naturally. The masculine plays a very important role in life, which God and Christianity can help you honor (just as it does for the feminine). The duality between man and women is easier for us to grasp because we see it on the daily. The holy trinity is something which the creative mind must ponder to understand. Which is why I recommend starting there.

As other people have commented, also find a good church that has inspiring sermons (which help introduce and clarify the Bible as well as relate to modern life) and has nice music (healing frequencies). In my experience Catholic Churches are easier to find this bc they’re typically very traditional and based (but can be boring — find a good one).

Just start talking to him. Be as honest as you possible can.

For someone who has taken a "leap of faith" there's already a strong conviction that God exists. From that point, it can be relatively straightforward to convince yourself that you have a personal relationship with whatever it is you believe in. It's like once you've accepted the initial premise, the rest can fall into place through personal interpretation and reinforcement.

Not to be difficult but, you already know the answers.

How does one feel strongly about anything? Through knowledge and experience.

How does one have a personal relationship with anyone? In this case one must first except hat the person is a person. No person, no personal relationship. After that? Get to know them. Exchange value for value with them. You're in the hole there and always will be. We (who believe) owe Him everything but, attempts to pay will pay for nothing. We'll give because He first loved us. Add this to knowledge from the first answer and we'll find how he interacts with us in His Word. This will give us the experience.

If Jesus is the center of the question then God is not a vague concept. Those two are fairly well identified and described in The Word. If it's vague to you, read more of those words. That's where the knowledge that can lead to experience comes from, His Word. Commentaries and theologies can come later. Start with what all those commentaries are commenting on. Let them later help you after you have first thought for yourself.

And of course, no. You'll never get there. It's an endless journey. Once the relationship is established there is no end of the rabbit hole. Just how far down it you wish to dive. Every inch has it's trials, tribulations and rewards.

Those are great questions and I struggled with in my journey in the beginning.

When I read the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and studied what Jesus was saying, his claims are very profound.

Then it becomes a quest of truth. And if what he is claiming is true then that requires my full attention.

Thats where the personal relationship comes in because I’m always refer to the word in accordance to my life.

And I feel you will find many similarities in your bitcoin journey. The conviction you have didn’t come over night, it took time and trials and seasons to the point where no once can tell you any different. So much conviction you evangelise to others.

When the Holy Spirit convicts you… it’s makes you want to share and spread the word.

Hope that helps.

Try reading proverbs a chapter a day. 31, can finish in a month.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.3.5-6.NIV

Look for places and experiences that inspire awe, like in enormous churches, undisturbed nature, music. Feel the feeling and stop to absorb it whenever possible. This is as close as you can get to the holy spirit.

Then consider your relationship to death. Face your mortality. A near death experience or psychedelics might help but are not required. Then read the Christ’s passion and absorb his choices. When you feel in awe of him, you will have found your destination. You will likely feel awe at being alive and it’s as if he’s with you always.

> “How does one have a personal relationship with Christ?”

By making yourself available to Him. Do this and the questions about feelings and vagueness will sort of take care of themselves.

You’ve already made a huge first step with this question. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

It will take time and like me you may need to go through some serious personal pain but you’ll find him if you truly seek him.

God is calling you and I’ll be praying for you.

The relationship with Jesus is all about love . Nothing more , nothing less.

You will crave a relationship with Jesus when you realize you have done evil/sin in your life and others. He took your guilt and shame away on the cross. Its freedom on another level. Sin makes slaves - Jesus sets the slaves free

If you'd like to chat about this, let me know.

Thanks for reaching out. This is a common experience for most Christian’s. Our walk of faith is filled with glorious mountain tops and tearful valley of death experiences. Christianity is a walk of faith and not of sight. Our faith is this: “I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilot, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.” This is the historic Christian faith. Faith is apprehended and grows in two ways: Gods word (the Bible) and the sacraments (baptism and the Lords supper). I recommend finding a church that believes and confesses these things and you’ll do well. Hope this helps.

If you are up for it, I would consider a daily devotional from a Tozer, Spurgeon, or some old school Christian like that along with actually reading through the whole Bible. You will start to see how his calls to you are about personal responsibility, self discipline, and morality that all stem from the relationship you have with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This, of course, is predicated upon acceptance of Christ as your Savior. If you’re just looking for some mystical journey of wisdom to find spirituality, you will never find it. That only comes after fully committing to Christ and daily prayer. Like all good things in life, it’s a low time preference endeavor that begins with one high time preference decision.

Beyond the mystical, for me is upmost respect, even when I thought I was agnostic I always respected Him, but not for what He said, but for what He did. All His actions led him towards the cross.

Here is a good translation of a XVI century Spanish poem from an anonymous author, original title "No me mueve mi Dios para quererte"

The author just like Descartes' Meditations, searches for reality as foundation, in his/her case, is not mathematics, but staring to His body at the cross:

"I am not moved, my God, to love you

By the heaven which you've promised.

Nor am I moved by the Hell I fear,

And for that reason, not to offend you.

You move me, Lord! It moves me to see you

Humiliated and nailed to a cross;

It moves me to see your body wounded so;

It moves me to behold your suffering and death.

Ultimately, I am moved by your love,

In such a way that even if there were no heaven, I would love you,

And even if there were no hell, I would fear you.

You need give me nothing for me to love you,

For even if I had no hope for things hoped for,

I would love you the same as I love you now."

Come spend some time in the Amazon…

HODL,

Our faith is strengthened by hearing his voice……….

We are blessed that He gave us the Bible and that is how we strengthen our faith in Him by reading His word. That is our connection to our Heavenly Father.

My first question to you is when did you last read the Bible?

That is a barometer of whether we are lukewarm in our beliefs.

Remember that although there are many faiths, the below stands firm.

It’s is your belief in Christ and Christ alone, that leads to salvation.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Read your Bible HODL, and meditate on the verses…….

A Proverbs a day or a Psalms a day!

It starts from within. In the heart and with renewing of the mind.

Until those are changed by seeking wisdom Jesus/God will seem like an abstract concept.

Job 28 describes seeking wisdom. There are many places that describe a need for changing of the heart and a few that describe renewing the mind.

Reading scripture and making it a habit is the way. I myself struggle to make it routine, but the more you immerse yourself in Christ this way the more connected you will feel. Attending church and being around other Christians will help as well.

How do you feel strongly about bitcoin? Jesus is the bigger truth just keep seeking and he will reveal himself to you!

2 Cor 3:14, talks about a veil on the non believer which will be lofted if you believe in Jesus.

Keep going and you build a stronger relationship, you may not be able to pin point when you gave yourself to Jesus but I assure you if you approach him with open heart the Holy Spirit will come upon you and help you to get crazy about Jesus!

for me, I believe that God gave us free will. He never violates that gift. The only way to feel close to God is to ask Him to be close to you.

James 4:8 (KJV): "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

Psalm 145:18 (NIV): "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

Zechariah 1:3 (NIV): "Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Return to me, declares the Lord Almighty, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty."

God will become as close as you want Him.

I believe our decision to call to Him is what gives us value in Gods eyes. Because we have free will.

I would suggest the book “The Reason for God” by Timothy Keller. It is an exploration of arguments from Christian skeptics. There is a section that focuses specifically on the relationship with God

You get to know him by reading the bible. Can’t feel strongly about someone you don’t know much about.

And of course prayer

My advice would be to pray. Many would say, "But, how?" I'm a Catholic, so for me the Rosary is my prayer of choice. I pray a full Rosary each day. I also spend an hour and 20 minutes in Eucharistic Adoration each day. I'm blessed our church offers an adoration chapel. It took a long time to build up to this, but I wouldn't change it for anything. It brings such peace in this crazy world. If you want to give the Rosary a try, you can start small. One Decade (Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be) takes about 3-4 minutes. If that's too much, just talk to Jesus each day like you'd talk to a friend. He's a great listener.

God is a social construct

I’ve come to feel close to him as a way to have someone to turn to when things are tough. It is my strong belief that as a father and leader of my family, I must always be the one they can turn to for comfort and strength. My ability to do so greatly diminishes when I show weakness or uncertainty in the face of difficulties.

Jesus Christ is the king of kings. The lord of lords. Showing your weakness and uncertainty to him in a personal relationship, while gaining strength and decisiveness is a solution where none of the people who depend on you have to hear or see your struggles.

One has a relationship with Jesus by acknowledging that we lack wholeness of being with Him in our life, and that we're incomplete and broken without His presence in our lives. All our striving for purpose and meaning in life is our soul crying out in longing for Jesus.

He gave His life in atonement for our sin and conquered death so that he might have relationship with us. He yearns for us to be with Him! Cry to Jesus and He will answer you.

Praying for you on your journey towards Him.

Ephesians 1:17-18 CSB

[17] I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. [18] I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

https://bible.com/bible/1713/eph.1.17-18.CSB

It takes time. Just like any other relationship, it takes time to build. It starts out with a simple faith, but if you really love somebody, then you want to get to know them more.

The only way to do this is to meditate on the word of God, share time with other believers, and participate in the traditions of the church - as watered down as they are these days…

I came to Faith in my mid 20s out of a life of psychedelics and nihilism. I had no desire whatsoever to become a Christian, I wasn’t looking for purpose or lonely or anything like that. I just realized one day that if there is such a thing as absolute truth, then “it” must be absolutely exclusive . That’s when I started reading the new testament, and it was almost as if the words were alive. I wouldn’t even get into the Trinity and how God is both centralized and decentralized….

As the years went on, the “it” turned into a “Him.” And now I am at the point where I know God so well that I can actually anticipate his providence to a degree and talk to him in a non-schizo way.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

I'm a part-time believer.

For example, during funerals, I believe the person is in a better place. I see it as a tool. I need it so I use it. When it's done, I put it back in the toolbox.

I also believe that religion creates value for people even if we find out there's no god(s).

By Alan Watts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wi7Wtocj9M

HODL, great questions. Lots of answers here already but I’ll add mine to the list.

A relationship with Jesus starts with repentance, knowing that you can’t meet Gods perfect standards on your own, and then asking God to forgive you. The Good news is that God already knows you can’t do it on your own and has made atonement for your sins through Jesus’ death and resurrection. When you put your faith in Him, he says you’re forgiven and He sends His spirit to live with you and guide you.

Google “Romans Road to Salvation” and you can see a few verses from the book of Romans that explain this process of coming to faith.

It’s at this point you can start grow in your faith, Christian life and feel strongly about Him like you asked.

If you want to read some from the Bible, I’d suggest starting with the book of John, Romans, and Galatians.

If you want to read a different book explaining Christianity, my go to recommendation is Mere Christianity by CS Lewis.

I’ve been on my Christian walk for 40ish years and I can’t imagine doing it any other way. I pray that you find the answers you’re seeking.

A few things:

When someone first grokks Bitcoin, they need to recognize why they need it. In much the same way, one needs to recognize their need for Christ before they can develop a relationship with Him. That's where contemplating all our sins and imperfections comes into play. But this is also where controlling, fiat religions love to take over and inundate you with guilt and shame in order to squeeze money out of you, so it's vital that you don't stay at this stage, but only use it as a springboard to launch yourself into a personal relationship with Christ.

Have you ever watched The Chosen? It's only a TV show, but IMO its depiction of Jesus' personality is the closest to what I've experienced personally, when talking to Him and receiving His answers in my heart. You can watch The Chosen for free here:

https://watch.thechosen.tv/page/seasons%201-3

One of my favorite quotes from The Chosen comes from a woman in the 2nd episode, who, in the 1st episode, experiences demonic possession and suicidal ideations. But in episode 2, she says:

The whole point of building a relationship with Christ is to change us into better, happier, more peaceful human beings. It's not to go through Hell here to somehow accrue "points" get into Heaven some day later; it's to have a bit of Heaven in us here and now, as much as we're able to take, to strengthen and prepare us for Heaven later.

And lastly, test and try out different holy books, different ways of praying, and different styles of worshipping, and then measure their results. Basically, use the scientific method by living the teachings you find, and examine the "fruits" you get from them.

For example, I grew up Mormon, but now my relationship status with that church would be best described as "It's Complicated" (I'm actually planning on posting a note about that soon), but I've still found a lot of value in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon (which is not a replacement for the Bible by any means, but is more like a spinoff series, lol). Anyway, in the Book of Mormon, there's a great chapter in which a man named Alma is preaching to a group of poor people all about humility and faith. The humility part basically touches on the same thing I said earlier (about recognizing your need for Christ), and the faith part is all about this "scientific method" approach to coming to know God, using an analogy of planting a seed, seeing of it's good by seeing if it grows, and then nourishing it until it bears fruit. You can read the whole chapter here:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/32?lang=eng

I'm glad you're asking about this, and hope you'll find Jesus at the best time and in the best way. And I think you already know to be cautious about some religious people (like Mormons and others), who may see your note as an opportunity to convert you to their particular church or way of life. While I think you'll find a lot of value in reading the Bible and the Book of Mormon side-by-side, I would actually warn you *against* the main church that champions it, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("Mormon" is just the nickname, coined by the church's opponents because of the Book of Mormon, similar to Vitalik calling us "Bitcoin Maximalists"). Contrary to popular belief, Mormons *are* Christians, but their biggest difference from other Christians is that they believe they have God's authority, which gives them a monopoly on the way back to God.

No church has such a monopoly. The way to God is directly through His Son, Jesus Christ, on an individual level, and not through any church. But I'll say more about this in a couple days, when I share my note about the church I grew up in.

Thanks for reading all that! I hope and pray that it helps. 🙏

Having an emotional connection to Jesus is a modern Protestant invention. The Eastern Christian tradition does not place the same value on logic (Aquinas) or emotions (pietism) as the West. In the Orthodox tradition, you can directly perceive and relate to Christ through the "nous" (the spiritual organ of perception). In order for the nous to function properly, it needs to be purified through prayer, fasting, works of mercy, regular consumption of the Body and Blood, and confession to a priest. The nous is like a dirty mirror than cannot reflect God's glory until it is cleaned.

My relationship with Dionysus and Hermes is much stronger. Jesus lost touch with his followers and given the history of the church that claims his legacy, I'm ok with leaving it in the history books.

Resources that have helped me:

https://fountain.fm/show/wbri6yYyncujgAP4yWpy

https://youtube.com/@chadbird1517?feature=shared

https://youtube.com/@1517org?feature=shared

One will live happier and more principled by having a Master. Ego is a destroyer of life. Wisdom brings more solutions.

Begin with daily prayer, asking the God of your understanding what you can do to be of maximum service to others. Ask Him for the strength to do His will. Pause many times throughout the day to invite Him in to any and all of your endeavors. Practice faith, reliance and trust in Him. This is a good way to begin to have a relationship with God.

BRO I’m the same way! I feel like it’s an amazing feeling to truly believe it, but my logician brain refuses to let me view it as anything more than a construct of the human psyche. It always comes back to being one way to shield and protect yourself from the inevitable shitstorm that is life, and a way to make every end justify the means.

Not necessarily a negative thing, despite the vernacular, but it just feels like a spiritual safety blanket.

You don't have to approach divinity through religion. You yourself are a part of God, therefore, you *are* God. The key is to "know thyself." This means turning inward through meditation, quieting the mind, and practicing one-pointed focus. As you still your thoughts, the truth becomes clearer. After all, *"Be still, and know that I am God."* It’s about connecting to the divine within, not just outside of you. When you understand yourself deeply, that’s where you’ll meet Christ, quietly waiting.

In saying that, if one wants to walk the path through religion, we must respect their choice. There is no right or wrong path to the divine. Some take a shorter route, some get sidetracked, and some take detours. Ultimately, we all come from the same source and will return to the same source. It’s about honoring the journey, no matter the form it takes, because the destination is shared by all. So whether you meditate, pray, or explore scripture, the divine remains present in all ways.

reach out and touch faith

https://www.youtube.com/live/MKHAy7xsOYY?si=iTxchqCgTg9UHK3T

No rules until there are

1: study scripture (I recommend starting with the New Testament)

2: pray for understanding. One question I like to ask is "IF this were true, what would that MEAN for me?"

3: observe and repeat

I love Johns Gosple, John 14 is beyond words, it resinates in your soul

Thought this was a good explanation.

https://m.primal.net/KjBR.mov

It’s Love. That’s All. Love everyone and everything that comes before (in front of) you and you will feel something Within….THAT is God, Light, Source, Universe….Love.

One usually needs to suffer a great hardship or shock to find faith, regardless whether it's Christianity or some other faith.

I had a breakdown in my 20's and through trying to understand what happened discovered Buddhism.

Have you ever read “Mere Christianity” by CS Lewis? IMO, this will be a good start.

My curiosity is what brought you to ask this question. Why isn’t a vague concept of God not enough? I don’t have a relationship with Jesus and never needed one because I have trust in cosmic laws. What came before Jesus and religion? That’s where I tend to gravitate. The Kybalion is an interesting book to start with. Something created this universe we are living in, I think the concept of this is meant to be vague but your connection to source/God is alive within you and all around you. Observing and being in nature, in silence illuminates that connection.

1.

https://youtu.be/hlBzA1pNNmc?si=AcEe0_sPUd4SS93-

(~3 min)

2.

https://youtu.be/pUBAG-7Wjok?si=_mmu6DmYJs2ZtLwi

(~1.5 hrs)

Worth your time if you’re really seeking, many answers here in this thread represent clearly the wide path that leads to destruction (look inward/ seek the spirit realm through forbidden means, etc.). The call to repentance and faith isn’t a game and it isn’t optional, there’s no fence sitting, wish you and your family the best 🤝

Hebrews 2:10-18

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist

Personally I found Christ during a heavy LSD session. Many Christians might dismiss my take, but it's not about them. I do have a personal connection with Christ. Some days more than others.

I believe in order to have an authentic emotional experience With Christ, you would first need to see him face to face. If you ever did, it wouldn't be a warm-fuzzy, lubby, dubby experience, it would be one of absolute Reflection of yourself and how you are intrinsically so inadequate, compared to his purity.