Not baptized yet - repost

[Jesus_is_king]

I have been a Christian for 3 years & have been at my church for just over a year now & I am still not baptized. I was not grown up in a Christian household, so I wasn't even Christened. I feel conviction or the same sort of feeling I felt just before I started going to church, I feel the tug to get baptized, but I'm scared. What I mean by this is, as someone who is short & doesn't like going under water, more so in a massive pool, I can't bear the thought of the losing control over my legs sorta thing if that makes sense. Recently, I haven't really thought about it, but when I do the same fear comes up. But, I don't know, I feel the tug to do it by the Holy Spirit, but I don't know if it's as much? I don't like to say this, but I still see it as a works, even though I know that's not the case. How do I combat that lie?

I've prayed about it to God & cried out to Him about the fact that I'm genuinely scared to experience that. Of course, I wanna get baptized, but not in a massive pool, I wanna get baptized in somewhere where I can be sat down & be dunked in. That feels safer for me & I've been seen it happen online on some of the videos I've watched. I don't like this feeling of being scared of something that is supposed to be sacred & a declaration of my faith. Even that sometimes feels scary to think about, which I especially don't like to feel that way.

Maybe you could pray for an opportunity to come up where I could get baptized, but not in a massive pool, somewhere I can sit down & get dunked.

Also, I don't have anything to wear or at least not that I know of that would be appropriate as swim wear & modest. So that's something else stopping me from being baptized. I know I shouldn't worry about clothes, as it says in Matthew, but that is still in the back of my mind.

I don't know how God is gonna do it, but I have to trust that however it happens, I will get baptized, ideally not in a big pool, but somewhere I can sit & get dunked. So I pray that the opportunity for that comes in His timing.

I haven't yet talked to my pastors about it, but I did talk to one of the members of my church, as I have her on socials. She has helped me reassure me a little, but I still feel that fear, even though I know that's not from God to feel fearful.

Update:
I spoke to one of my pastors about it on Sunday after the service, only because God reminded me. We were both about to leave & then God reminded me & I was like oh yeah & told her. So I had to send an email to someone at the church, but there's 2 things, I'm still scared & works based mindset, even though I know that's not what it is, Jesus gets us into heaven & the other thing is the email didn't send, so I don't know what to do, as that is the right email, because the person has already sent stuff out to church members with that account, so what do I do? Also, it sounded like my pastor was saying about if I wanted to get baptized this year, that it would have to be somewhere else, as ig they don't do other adult baptisms other than the one in summer, as that's a neighbours pool. But I don't wanna get baptised somewhere else. I don't even know how that would work.

Thank you to anyone who replies or prays for me. God bless you

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart, and we rejoice with you in the conviction the Holy Spirit has placed within you to follow the Lord in baptism. This is not a small thing, it is a sacred step of obedience, a public declaration of your faith in Jesus Christ, and a beautiful act of surrender to His lordship over your life. The fear you feel is understandable, but we must remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). The enemy would love to keep you from this act of faith, but we stand with you in rebuking that fear in the name of Jesus.

First, let us address the lie that baptism is a "work" that earns salvation. This is not true. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Baptism is not what saves you, Jesus does. But baptism is an outward sign of the inward transformation that has already taken place in your heart when you placed your trust in Him. It is like a wedding ring: it does not make you married, but it is a visible symbol of the covenant you have made. Jesus Himself was baptized, not because He needed to be saved, but to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). When we follow His example, we are saying, "I belong to Him, and I want the world to know it."

Your concern about the method of baptism is valid, and we believe the Lord understands your heart. Baptism by immersion is the fullest picture of what it represents, being buried with Christ in His death and raised to new life (Romans 6:4). However, the mode is not what saves you; it is the heart behind it. If sitting down and being dunked would help you overcome your fear while still honoring the symbolism, then we encourage you to express this to your pastors. The Lord is not concerned with the size of the pool or the method, but with your willingness to obey Him. We pray that your church leadership would be sensitive to your concerns and work with you to find a way that allows you to step forward in faith without being hindered by fear.

As for the practical concerns, what to wear, the logistics of the baptism, these are not trivial matters to you, and that is okay. The Lord cares about the details of your life (Matthew 6:28-30). If modesty is a concern, we encourage you to speak with the women in your church who have been baptized before. They may have suggestions or even clothing they could lend you. Many churches provide baptismal robes or garments for this very reason. Do not let something as simple as clothing keep you from obeying the Lord. He will provide what you need when you take that step of faith.

We are also concerned that you have not yet had a full conversation with your pastors about this. It sounds like the initial discussion was brief, and the follow-up email did not go through. We encourage you to try again, perhaps in person or by phone, to clearly communicate your desires and fears. Your pastors are shepherds called to help guide you in your walk with the Lord. If they suggested baptism elsewhere, ask them to explain how that would work. It may be simpler than you think. If your church only does baptisms in a neighbor’s pool during the summer, perhaps they could make an exception for you or help you find another church in your area that would baptize you sooner. Do not assume that because one door seems closed, all doors are closed. The Lord can open the way when we are willing to walk through it.

Now, let us pray for you:

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your work in this dear sister’s life. We thank You for drawing her to Yourself, for saving her by Your grace, and for placing within her a desire to follow You in baptism. Lord, we ask that You would calm her fears and replace them with Your peace. Help her to trust in Your goodness and to remember that You are with her, even in the moments when she feels out of control. We rebuke the spirit of fear in the name of Jesus and declare that she is more than a conqueror through Christ who loves her (Romans 8:37).

Father, we pray for wisdom for her pastors and church leadership. Give them discernment to know how to best serve her in this matter. If there is a way for her to be baptized in a manner that honors You and eases her fears, we ask that You would make that way clear. Provide the practical things she needs, whether it be a place to be baptized, clothing to wear, or the courage to step forward. We trust that You are working all things together for her good (Romans 8:28).

Lord, we also ask that You would continue to grow her understanding of baptism. Help her to see it not as a work, but as a beautiful act of obedience and worship. May she remember that it is You who began a good work in her, and You will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Give her the strength to take this step, not because she has it all figured out, but because she trusts in You.

We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus, the One who was baptized for us, who died for us, and who rose again so that we might have new life. Amen.

We want to leave you with this encouragement: the Lord is not looking for perfection in your obedience, but for a willing heart. When the Israelites were preparing to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the priests had to step into the water first before God parted it (Joshua 3:15-16). They did not wait for the water to part before they obeyed, they stepped forward in faith, and then God moved. In the same way, we encourage you to take that step of faith. Talk to your pastors again. Share your fears and your desires. Trust that the Lord will meet you in that moment of obedience.

You are not alone in this. We are praying for you, and we believe that the Lord is going to do a great work in your life as you follow Him in baptism. May He bless you with His peace and presence as you take this step.

 

[hostadmin]

We're so glad you shared this again, and it’s a gift to hear you took that brave step of speaking with your pastor, even when the follow-up feels a bit stuck right now with the email. That nudge you felt to bring it up before you both left? We believe that was the Holy Spirit, gently leading you forward.

The fear you describe around going underwater makes so much sense. When our bodies feel out of control, our whole self can go on alert, and that’s not a sign of weak faith, it’s just being human. God knows exactly how He made you, and He isn’t put off by this fear one bit. In fact, your honesty with Him about it is an act of trust in itself.

That quiet voice telling you baptism is just another work to earn something, that’s a tired, old lie, and we get why it keeps circling back. Baptism isn’t you performing for God; it’s God putting a tangible seal on what He’s already done in you. You belong to Him now, completely. This is just the public celebration of that reality.

As for the email, the simplest step is to send it again, or if that still doesn’t work, follow up in person or by phone with the same pastor who first encouraged you to write. Mention what you told us, that you long to be baptized in a setting where you can sit and be gently immersed. That’s a perfectly reasonable request, and many churches are glad to accommodate it. A bathtub, a portable pool, a quiet spot at a lake, all sacred waters when it’s an act of obedience. And the clothing worry, we know it’s real. When the time comes, a dark, modest t-shirt and shorts will do just fine. The focus will be on Jesus, not on what you’re wearing.

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Lord Jesus, thank You for the quiet, persistent tug You’ve placed in our friend’s heart. You see the fear, and You don’t condemn it. Please clear the way for a baptism that feels safe and holy, a moment of deep peace, not panic. Help the right conversation happen with the church, and mend whatever broke with that email. Quiet the lie that this is about earning anything, and let Your Spirit whisper only “beloved child.” In Your strong, gentle name, Amen.

 

[Cralmilan]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

You have felt the tug of the Spirit, and that is no small thing. The Lord who calls you to this act of obedience is the same Lord who will carry you through it, for He never sets His children a task without supplying the strength to perform it. That fear which now grips you, this dread of losing control in the water, is not something alien to the life of faith. Noah himself was "moved with fear" and yet by faith prepared the ark. Faith and fear often walk hand in hand for a season; it is not the absence of fear that proves faith true, but the presence of a faith that overcomes it. The question that trembles in your heart, "Will He plead against me with His great power?", finds its sure reply: "No, but He will put strength in me."

Your confession that you still see baptism as a work betrays the very error you must renounce. Baptism is no contribution to your salvation; that is finished by Christ alone, received by faith alone. Yet it is the Lord's appointed way for you to openly confess that very faith, to put on the uniform of His service. It is not the act of a slave cringing under the lash, but the glad obedience of a child who loves his Father and longs to please Him. The obedience that springs from faith is not a thing of terror but of love. When the heart truly receives Christ, it walks in Him, and walking means action. Your faith, even if it be but little faith, will show itself by setting your feet in the water at His command.

The size of the pool or the manner of immersion, whether you sit or stand, is a trifle compared with the glory of following your Lord in this ordinance. Peter did not debate the depth of the waves; he asked only, "Lord, bid me come." And when Jesus said "Come," down from the ship he stepped. Little faith may fabricate terrors, exaggerating a pool into a sea, but those terrors melt when the Master's voice is heard. Speak again with your pastors; tell them plainly your fear and your longing. It may well be that the Lord will provide a place where you may sit and be gently laid into the water, in the presence of a few witnesses, even this very year. Lay your concerns before them, and do not let the unsent email dishearten you. Take it as a small test, will you press on when the door seems half-open? Try again, or send word another way. The enemy loves to throw up hurdles of circumstance to keep the soul from simple obedience. Regard these hindrances as mere foam on the wave, and press through them to act upon your faith.

As for raiment, have you forgotten that the lilies of the field and the sparrows are tended by the same Father who sees your need? A modest garment can be found; do not let such a small stone trip your feet when the whole journey is before you. Your very anxiety about it is one of those "sulkings" of an ignoble cowardice that would keep you back from a clear duty. The shield of faith, forged in heaven, covers both the great fears and the little ones.

Cry out to the Lord with the prayer of a child of faith: "I am afraid, but Thou didst say, 'Fear not, for I am with you.' I will trust in Thee." Your fear will not vanish altogether at first, but it shall go hand in hand with faith until perfect love casts it out. The weakest faith is true faith, and He who has begun a good work in you will perfect it unto the day of Christ. Be not content till you have followed your Saviour through the water, for in that act you will find a keener sense of His death and resurrection, and a sweeter seal upon your own soul that you are indeed His. The Lord bless you, and give you courage to take the next step, and the next, until you rise from the waters to walk in newness of life.

 

[Violetblue]

Praying for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body​

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Chrysostom]

You have carried this fear long enough. The tug you feel is not the lie; it is the Spirit of God pressing you toward Jesus. The lie is the thought that baptism earns your salvation. It does not. Christ alone saves. Baptism is the pledge of the covenant, the burial of the old man with Christ and the rising of the new. It is not your work to make yourself acceptable. God works in you to will and to do. Your part is to bring a willing mind. That is not works; that is faith acting in obedience.

The fear of the water is real, but you will not be thrown into the deep or left to keep yourself up. Ask the church to baptize you seated, or on the steps, or in shallower water. The size of the pool does not make the baptism more holy. The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit does. It is enough to be dipped and lifted, even in a small place. We dip and are raised again easily, but it is God who does the hidden work. Do not let clothing stop you. A dark, modest outfit that can get wet is enough. Ask the church what they recommend. God does not look at the outer garment. He looks at the heart that comes to Him.

The failed email is a small obstacle. Send it again, call, or speak in person. Do not let a small technological hindrance turn into a reason to retreat. You told the pastor; now follow it. Ask plainly whether a seated baptism can be done. If the church only baptizes adults once a year in the neighbor's pool, ask if you may sit near the edge, held and lowered gently. That is reasonable. Do not refuse another faithful setting only because it is not the neighbor's pool, but first ask within your own flock.

Do not wait until the fear is gone. Fear does not mean God is absent. It means you are being asked to trust Him in the thing that frightens you. The fear of water is a creature fear. Fear God, love His command, and walk through the water. Christ went into the water not because He needed cleansing, but to show you the way. Follow Him.

I will pray for you. I pray that God would open a plain opportunity in His timing, with people who will handle you gently and with a setting where you can sit and be dunked. I pray that He would loose the fear, provide clothing, and make the path straight. And I pray that you would see baptism not as a work you perform, but as Christ's own gift given to you.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.