HOW TO FIND FAITH

Have you ever doubted your faith ? I was one who considered myself a Christian and said I believed in Jesus Christ. But my problem was that my faith was superficial. Deep down inside I had doubt. If there was a God ,how could He allow all these bad things to happen in this world and to me? So for years of being in and out of recovery with continous relapses I struggled. Because deep down inside I really didn't believe in a power greater than myself. Which really takes me back to Step One. I admitted I was powerless over alcohol and my other addictions because they continually destroyed my life but because I really didn't have a faith that was SURE I struggled in my own power to control my addictions. See any insanity there ? So Step 2 , CAME TO BELIEVE in a power greater than myself was where I was having a problem . I tried everything in my power to think my way out of this box I was in. I was powerless over my addictions (I later figured out I was powerless over just about everything), my life was unmanageable, but I had no power to stop . I needed to erase the doubts I had about GOD. I've been blessed with a really awesome sponsor, and He had suggested I read some books by Sam Shoemaker. It was in Sam Shoemaker's book "Extraordinary Living for Ordinary Men"that I found the solution which set me free. The second chapter in the book is titled , How To Find Faith. That chapter helped me immensely, but there was one particular segment which really caught me . It said I should begin a spiritual experiment in my own life. So, I began doing that. The experiment of faith is simple. Begin reading your Bible. Begin going to church.Begin acting as if God were, by praying. If you feel doubt, tell Him so.Be Honest. ( This was new to me . How could I tell God I doubted whether he was real or not .) Call on Him when you awaken in the morning. Say over the old familiar things like the Lord's Prayer. Ask Him to use this day, to guide you in working out the solution to your problems, all of them. Try that. Go as far with it as you can. Behave and live as if God were ,and you will find that He is. Reach out to Him in every way open to you, and He will make Himself known to you.Try and continue to try the spiritual experiment. And then act. Doubt of any kind cannot be removed except by action. You can't guide a bicycle that is leaning against a wall-you can only guide a bicycle that is in motion. God can't guide a person who always stands still, paralyzed by doubt and misgiving. Better step out and make a mistake, and really get in motion-then God can get at you and correct the mistake. WOW !!!  I encourage you to try this experiment in your own life and see what happens. Pray a simple prayer -Lord ,I believe, help me with my unbelief. And try this experiment , and I believe it will change your life . You will not only find faith and remove the doubts you may have , you will be amazed at the remarkable things that begin to happen in your life. And you will come to know in your heart and soul that God is with you .I would recomend reading any books by Sam Shoemaker and you can find them on Amazon.com by clicking on any of the links I have provided here on my site. I especially would suggest EXTRAORDINARY LIVING FOR ORDINARY MEN. What an awesome book.  I would love to hear the outcomes of your experiments.  Hope to hear from you and God Bless you.