Since I made my introduction, I figured the best way to start things was to tell you why I'm here in the first place...this is kind of Religion based, but I felt it best belonged here due to the "supernaturality" of it...
One thing in my lifetime, one event, one sole thing, was what got me on the quest for spiritual answers..
Maybe 2 years ago, I'm not even sure of the exact date anymore(it isn't that relevant), I was "living in sin" as people around here call it....I was pretty much living with/sleeping in the same bed as my girlfriend(now my wife) at her parents house...
A little intro...It was a time in my life that I was mentally debating the state of humanity. My main area of concern was my exact situation. Was I doing wrong in "God's" eyes? I was raised a Christian (Free Will Baptist), but never really felt the need to be a weekly church attendee, but I did read the Bible. I always felt there was more knowledge out there than just that one book. But, everything I had ever heard, and what I was actually feeling, was that I was doing God an injustice to "live" with my girlfriend. Also, the issue of pornography weighed heavily in my life as a teen and young adult. Was is so bad to look at women and commit the sin of lust? I was kind of depressed over the whole fact that I might be condemning myself, even though I know I can always be forgiven. I say that even though I feel "sinning with the knowledge of commiting that sin, is a greater sin than sinning unknowingly"....
Now the event..... I was lying in bed one night with all these questions swirling in my head. I prayed, something that I didn't do often, and asked "God" to give me an answer. I felt like it was a shot in the dark, but you always hear about people asking for things in prayer, then receiving them. As I was finally starting to doze, I suddenly felt wide awake, a chill shot through me, and I heard a voice in my head very clearly say "Galatians 5:17". The voice I heard was not mine, and it was one I hadn't heard before or since.
I was creeped out. I looked around to see if someone was in the room. I felt panicked. After a few moments though, I calmed down. I told myself that in the morning, if I remembered, that I would look it up. I felt if it stayed with me overnight, it was truly something that was meant for me.
Galatians.....Galatians??...I had heard of the book, yes. But, it seemed odd because it isn't one that is commonly preached or quoted.
The next morning, I remembered the voice and what it said. I grabbed a bible, flipped through the pages, and read....
Galatians 5:17 - "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
THIS WAS AN EXACT REFERENCE TO THE EXACT ISSUE THAT I HAD ASKED ABOUT IN MY PRAYER!
I just got chills typing this, as I did that morning and every time I tell this wonderful story. I feel special in a way. I asked a question, and something or someone answered. Who or what was it? Was it "God". Was it simply a mental reference to something I heard a preacher say as a kid? All I know is, it was an answer.
I guess my purpose in this post was to share this experience, and to get your opinion on it. Also, it sheds a little light on how I got started on my quest for spiritual knowledge. After this incident, I picked up my Bible more often, read other historical texts, researched Angels, Demons, etc., and, most of all, tried to understand other peoples views of the world.
Whether it be religious, supernatural, scientific, or even theoretical, I'll lend an ear. I believe we are all here for a reason, and by interacting with each other in places like this, maybe we can unlock some of time and space's secrets.
Thanks for reading...
please respond if you feel the urge..
