How do you know God is real?

Tea said:

I’ve faced numerous challenges and hardships throughout my life, and currently, I find myself in the midst of one.

There have been times when I’ve considered that accepting my situation would be much simpler if I believed there was no God, that nothing bad has a purpose, and it’s all just random chaos in the universe. However, despite my efforts, I find it difficult to abandon my faith, as hard as I may try.

Once the dust has settled, it strengthens my belief that the reason my faith remains intact is due to a divine act of preservation by God.

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This is true. It seems no matter our little misadventures, agonies and doubts, Jesus is still supporting us.

I have found that the people who really lost their faith stopped praying, and I don't mean just verbal prayers, but daily prayer from the heart, inner speaking with the Lord. They fell silent with the Lord, indifferent. Hot and Cold Jesus can handle, but indifference He spits a great distance, repellent as pride.

Even if we are snarling our prayers to the Lord through gritted teeth as we find ourselves injured and angry, questioning why He has put us through all this crap. At least we aren't that silent cold dead indifferent creature that is loathsome to Him. Our hearts are still communicating strongly with Him.

Saint Theresa of Avila I think once said to Jesus, "If this is how you treat your friends, its no wonder you have so few friends", a very real heartfelt relationship we must have with Jesus. Friends throw jibes at times, its because they are friends that they can throw jibes at each other.

Many experiences in life are truly hurt filled, Jesus knows we are human, and the journey is long and painful.

easternstar said:

But He's not here.

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But He is by way of His Spirit.
Romans 8:9-10, . . . the Spirit of Christ . . . Christ be in you . . .

Matthew 28:20, . . . [Jesus] . . . I am with you alway, . . .

37818 said:

But He is by way of His Spirit.
Romans 8:9-10, . . . the Spirit of Christ . . . Christ be in you . . .

Matthew 28:20, . . . [Jesus] . . . I am with you alway, . . .

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Of course. But I need tangible.

easternstar said:

Of course. But I need tangible.

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You cannot have tangible. God is Spirit, not material. I wish God would sometimes manifest Himself in a physical form or in an emotional reality, but this happens rarely, and neither you nor I are probably worthy of it.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? / But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 11:1
Amplified Bible
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Ascetic X said:

You cannot have tangible. God is Spirit, not material. I wish God would sometimes manifest Himself in a physical form or in an emotional reality, but this happens rarely, and neither you nor I are probably worthy of it.

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? / But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Hebrews 11:1
Amplified Bible
Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [thGod would communicate e conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

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If I can't have tangible, I would be very happy if God would communicate with me in a way that my senses could perceive. Instead of some vague impression that might be God or might only be my conscience.

easternstar said:

Of course. But I need tangible.

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The tangible is now. The Holy Scripture which has been received by you and your current trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior because of that Holy Scripture.

easternstar said:

If I can't have tangible, I would be very happy if God would communicate with me in a way that my senses could perceive. Instead of some vague impression that might be God or might only be my conscience.

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Please re-state what you specifically want God to communicate to you. That He is real? That He is in control? That you can trust Him completely? That He truly loves and forgives you?

Sometimes, in moments where I think I’m too far gone, remembering horrible things in my past, I beg God to assure me that He does not hate me and that His mercy is truly available to me.

But that communication seems like it can only be a settled serenity in my heart, the silencing of my relentless self-tormenting, a divine peace that enables me to read the Word of God without being terrified by the harsh parts.

Ascetic X said:

Please re-state what you specifically want God to communicate to you. That He is real? That He is in control? That you can trust Him completely? That He truly loves and forgives you?

Sometimes, in moments where I think I’m too far gone, remembering horrible things in my past, I beg God to assure me that He does not hate me and that His mercy is truly available to me.

But that communication seems like it can only be a settled serenity in my heart, the silencing of my relentless self-tormenting, a divine peace that enables me to read the Word of God without being terrified by the harsh parts.

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That He is real first of all.

easternstar said:

That He is real first of all.

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For myself, the reality of God, His actual existence, is proven by the vast universe that is so complex and precise, it could not have just happened with no Creator. Secondarily, I know He is real when I read His Word and it resonates in my heart. The Spirit bears witness with my spirit, my innermost being. The compassionate scriptures delight me, the frightening scriptures trouble me.

I do not need God to appear in physical form or speak in an audible voice, “Hello there. This is God Almighty. Yes, I am real.”

I have been ruthlessly introspective recently. I am no longer absolutely sure of my being right with God. I can imagine Jesus saying He never knew me, for I cannot see a consistent obedience to His commands in my life. So I know God is real…and it freaks me out sometimes.

I mean, I see so many ways God has done incredible miracles in my life, especially giving me a holy virtuous wife for 21 years —and I worry that I have not honored Him sufficiently in my behavior.

Thus, I suggest you can sense how God is real by remembering His many blessings upon your life, and by fearing Him more, being more devout, reverent, in awe of His power and His strict requirements. Imagine standing before His judgment seat. What will He say to you? How should you improve now?

Isaiah 66:2
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my Word.

Psalm 119:120
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

When I listen to people like Dr. Hugh Ross and Dr. Stephen Meyer, I am absolutely convinced of God's existence -- and yet, that is head knowledge. I want personal, experiential knowledge.

easternstar said:

When I listen to people like Dr. Hugh Ross and Dr. Stephen Meyer, I am absolutely convinced of God's existence -- and yet, that is head knowledge. I want personal, experiential knowledge.

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My entire Christian life has been head knowledge, most of it anyway. I wonder how much of my study of the Bible and devout books has really influenced my personality and my behavior.

Have I acted like I believe in God and the final judgment? Or did I act like I had a free grace ticket to heaven in my back pocket, so now let’s party! Have I had one foot in the Word and the other foot in the world? Have I been haughty, self-serving, uncaring about my parents or the persecuted church in Nigeria and Somalia?

Have I trusted God to meet my needs, then thanked Him, but gone right back into pleasing my flesh?

Personal, experiential knowledge comes from only one thing. You are smart enough to know exactly what that is, Easter star. You will get there, because you now crave it.

Ascetic X said:

My entire Christian life has been head knowledge, most of it anyway. I wonder how much of my study of the Bible and devout books has really influenced my personality and my behavior.

Have I acted like I believe in God and the final judgment? Or did I act like I had a free grace ticket to heaven in my back pocket, so now let’s party! Have I had one foot in the Word and the other foot in the world? Have I been haughty, self-serving, uncaring about my parents or the persecuted church in Nigeria and Somalia?

Have I trusted God to meet my needs, then thanked Him, but gone right back into pleasing my flesh?

Personal, experiential knowledge comes from only one thing. You are smart enough to know exactly what that is, Easter star. You will get there, because you now crave it.

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I've been craving it for a long time.

easternstar said:

I've been craving it for a long time.

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Craving it is not enough. Doing what you need to do is the key. To arrive at an experiential sense of God being real, we must obey Him and then the experience will be there sooner or later. For it is impossible to consistently obey God and feel like He is unreal or distant. Faith is the power that makes God real, and faith results from obedience, denying self, taking up our cross, following the Shepherd to green pastures.

easternstar said:

Thanks for all your replies so far, very good ones indeed. I have strongly believed all my life, but now in my senior years, I am struggling to keep my faith.

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Read the Bible. The Word is GOD(John 1:1), GOD Himself, GOD the Father, our Father, Father of our Lord JESUS Christ,the Word made flesh, Both are One, Self Executing, Self Executable, it is the Power, the Word is an invisible Power, invisible GOD, GOD is Life, the bread of life, the bread of the angels(Psalms 78:25 combined with 1Corinthians 10:1-12, take a look) the heavenly bread, GOD is Truth.

Furthermore, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". Without faith it is impossible to please GOD: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.-Hebrews 11:1 and 6.

easternstar said:

I feel that God does not communicate with me. The Holy Spirit is supposed to be in me, but I feel nothing.

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GOD comunicates with us by His Word, the Word is GOD. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives Life-John 4:24. ->JESUS said:-> He that believeth on me, as the Scripture(the Bible) hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.-> Revelation 22:17->the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

easternstar said:

Thank you for this.
I was raised Baptist but have been in and out of different denominational and non-denominational churches over the years.
Lately, I'm just sad and depressed, and empty-feeling. And sick.

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Your spiritual condition is a consequence you are listen to people which preach Scriptures only by the letter, but have not the Spirit. GOD is Spirit.
1Corinthians 2:9-11: -> 11 What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of GOD knoweth no man, but the Spirit of GOD.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But GOD hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of GOD.

easternstar said:

If I can't have tangible, I would be very happy if God would communicate with me in a way that my senses could perceive. Instead of some vague impression that might be God or might only be my conscience.

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The Word is GOD, GOD Himself, Self-Executable, if you believe and keep the Word in your heart, then GOD is in you and He is Life, tree of Life. JESUS said to the Devil:-> Matthew 4:4:-> It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD. It's it, understand?

easternstar said:

When I listen to people like Dr. Hugh Ross and Dr. Stephen Meyer, I am absolutely convinced of God's existence -- and yet, that is head knowledge. I want personal, experiential knowledge.

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Mere delusion. This explain the why you feel just sad and depressed, and empty-feeling. And sick. Brother, I work with the Word of GOD, not with mine own words. As our Lord JESUS said:-> John 12:49-50: -> 49 I have not spoken of MYSELF; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His commandment is LIFE everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. Alleluia!

To the only wise GOD our Saviour, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:25

Ascetic X said:

You cannot have tangible. God is Spirit, not material.

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God is tangible. Or there would be NO existance. Yet intangible being His presence is not something we can touch. His presence is His Omnipresence.
Acts 17,:28, For in him we live, and move, and have our being; . . .