I think I'm starting to backslide, and not because I want to
This is your first mistake.
You will not backslide if you don't want to, nothing can make you backslide. Otherwise it wouldn't be your fault.
You will have no excuse for your backslide.
These are no excuses.
These are tribulations; but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience (Rom 5:3)
[b]James 1:2[/b] [color=660000]My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials;
[b]:3[/b] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.
[b]:4[/b] But let patience have its perfective work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.[/color]
What have you been giving your self over to?
What have you been doing with your thought life?
T.V. &/or Movies may contribute to your condition.
More than that, the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and YOU becomes unfruitful (Mat 13:22).
One clue is the fact that you care that you are save or not. However, that is not the conclusive way to know.
The main way to know is if you Love Jesus and choose to abide in Him (John 15:4-10)
This is only 1/2 of the faith you need; now you need proof of that faith, which is works.
See how faith worked with Abraham's works, and by works faith was made perfect (James 2:21).
Only the intent of your heart for doing this is what matters.
It is because Jesus never told them to do such things as they were bragging about; notice He called them "workers of iniquity".
Meaning they were lawless.
How is anyone lawless when they "prophesy in His name", "in His name cast out demons", and "in His name do many wonderful works"?
They were lawless in the other things they were doing.
Eternal life is not only ministering to the world, but ministering to God.
They said "Lord, Lord, we did this & that, but they never consulted God in their matters.
Hypocrites can.
Not really.
Why do you think it was a temptation for Jesus if it was Easy (Luke 4:5 )?
Sure, we had our arguments over religion, but I never hated Mom once. What does it mean?
The "hate" is a comparison of how much you will love God over your Parents.
It is not a literal hate.
First of all, take full responsibility for your backslide.
PRAY to God to reveal Himself even more to you.
Even if you don't "feal" that God hears this prayer, He does ans will.
Examine, scrutinize yourself, whether you are in the faith; test, discern yourself (2Corinth 13:5).
We can not do this, Scripture alone with out prayer is futile.
God will reveal it to you in prayer....
[b]2Peter 1:5[/b] [color=660000]And for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge
[b]:6[/b] And to knowledge self control; and to self control patience; and to patience godliness;
[b]:7[/b] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love.
[b]:8[/b] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[b]:9[/b] But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
[b]:10[/b] Therefore rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for
[b]if you do these things, you shall never fall[/b][/color]
[b]Now go and pray.[/b]
He will hear you.
