A lot of changes

[Katrina]

I just finished my last day of student teaching. I'm graduating tomorrow, and I sat down to read my Bible this morning, but I really felt distant from God. I've been so busy with student teaching the past several weeks, I've really let everything else slip away. (Prayer time, keeping my apartment decent-looking, ect.) When I'm trying to pray now, I'm finding it very hard to concentrate. So please just pray for me that I can start patching up my relationship with God.

Also - since I'm leaving school, I'm also leaving my strongest group of Christain friends and I might be looking for a new church as well. I'm really nervous I won't have much Christain support. So please pray for me in that as well.

Thank you and for other people who are graduating, I'll be praying for you as well.

[Sammy Boy]

Hi Katrina - it does indeed get tough at times when we're not surrounded by other Christians to support and encourage us.

I recall how some years ago I prayed to God that I'd find a church where I could grow. And He provided. I'll be praying for you about finding a new church, finding a good one is definitely not contrary to His will, so I trust He will provide for you as well.

Regarding your prayer life, just build it up bit by bit again each day. It's a bit like exercise, you gotta keep at it, and sometimes you don't want to do it, but you know it's better if you did.

Keep us posted on how you're going. Take care.

[Rogie]

I say this often, but part of my prayer life involves being quiet at times. Sometimes, I have no words to say and so I just sit there, kneeling, eyes closed, and absorbing the silence. God has shown me things, spoken to me, and comforted me so much when I decide to be quiet and listen to Him instead. Sometimes He speaks, sometimes not. But the silence is healing. You're still devoting some time especially to Him, and if nothing else, you can know that He's sitting with you, just spending time with you in return.

Perhaps in spending just some quiet time with God, you can slowly restore your prayer life to the point that you can begin speaking to Him with more clarity, concentration, and confidence. Just remember to speak and to listen.

I'll be praying for you.

[brandon-chan]

I know how u feel, just recently I felt as if that was happening to me. I started to not really feel like I had the right to talk to Him. But God wants us to talk to Him! He loves us a lot. **I also learned not to make time for God, but make time for everything else. In that statement I mean that we should have to make time for everything else and focus mainly on Christ.** I'll be prayin that u find a bunch of new Christian friends that will support u and lead u closer to God. Take care

[ssj2gohan61]

i'll be prayin for you..

[freerock1]

I've been in similar situations, Katrina. As far as leaving groups of Christian friends... I was involved with Campus Crusade when I was in college, and after I graduated it was hard for me to find and become involved in a group of Christians about my age like that. But within about the last year, I've become involved with youth ministry leadership at a local church. The youth pastor and most of the leaders are about my age (mid 20s). So not only have I been able to connect with some of the kids in the group (which I have something of a heart for anyway), but it's been a blessing to me personally to be able to form friendships with a lot of the leaders who are close to my age.

You might want to consider getting involved in something like that. Not only will you have the chance to invest in the lives of the youth, but hopefully it will also give you a chance to connect with other Christians close to your age.

Anyway, hopefully this is of some encouragement. I said a prayer for you. Please keep us posted. And BTW, congratulations on your graduation!

[Tenshi no Ai]

I'll be praying as well for you^^

[dragonshimmer]

Everyone else has offered awesome advice. I'll keep you in my prayers.

[Katrina]

Your advice is really great, everyone. Thanks so much for thinking of me.