MY ANSWER

My brother and his wife go to church fairly regularly but it doesn't seem to affect the way they live much.
Billy Graham writes, "Only God knows your brother's heart and whether or not he has honestly given his life to Jesus Christ. Tragically, many people today are outwardly Christians—and yet their faith is only superficial."

MY ANSWER

How can I tell if God is telling me to do something, or if it's the devil?
Billy Graham writes, "Pray and ask God to guide you in this decision. Often, we want to tell God what we want Him to do—but ask Him to help you guard against this, and to seek His will instead of your own."

MY ANSWER

Does it matter what church I belong to?
Billy Graham writes, "Ask God to lead you to a fellowship of believers with whom you won't just feel comfortable, but where you can grow in your relationship to Christ."

MY ANSWER

How can I keep my prayers from being so selfish?
Billy Graham writes, "Include praise and thanksgiving as a regular part of your prayers. In other words, focus on God in your prayers, and not just on yourself."

MY ANSWER

Is it possible to stop sinning completely?
Billy Graham writes, "As long as we are on this earth we will never be completely perfect, and sin will always be a problem to us."

MY ANSWER

I get all kinds of things going through my head but I can't seem to control them.
Billy Graham writes, "Simply trying to empty your mind of bad thoughts won't help you. But when your mind is filled with Christ and His Word, old ways of thinking get pushed out."

MY ANSWER

I stole money from my company years ago. Now that I'm a Christian, I'm wondering if I need to make this right.
Billy Graham writes, "What you did was wrong, and the only way to make it right is to go to your employer, tell him what you did, and repay what you stole (with interest)."

MY ANSWER

I believe in Jesus, but I don't get anything out of church and can't see much point in going, to be honest.
Billy Graham writes, "God wants you to have fellowship with other believers, and you will be weakened spiritually if you don't have active contact with His people."

MY ANSWER

What is your prescription for a strong faith? Or is it something that some people have and others don't?
Billy Graham writes, "God wants us—every one of us—to have a strong faith in Him. He wants us to have a faith ... that will be strong enough to see us through life's trials and temptations."

MY ANSWER

What, in your opinion, is the most important characteristic of a Christian?
Billy Graham wrties, "God wants us to be like Christ, and when we take this seriously we won't want to leave out anything that is good or right."

MY ANSWER

Why is it so hard to be a Christian and do what's right?
Billy Graham writes, "One reason is because you and I are part of a much larger spiritual battle—a cosmic battle between God and the devil."

MY ANSWER

Many of the people who go to church don't seem to be any different from those who don't. How do you explain this?
Billy Graham writes, "It's accepted or even popular in some places to go to church. But what often happens is that a person only goes through the motions, and never allows God to touch his or her heart."

MY ANSWER

I've never had anything to do with God, but a few months ago I became a Christian. What do I do now?
Billy Graham writes, "First, make it your goal to grow stronger in your faith. Just as a newborn baby is supposed to grow and eventually become an adult, so we are to grow and become mature in our faith."

MY ANSWER

I've always been extremely shy. I became a Christian a couple of years ago, but I can't face going to church.
Billy Graham writes, "One of the ways God has given us to grow spiritually is through fellowship with other believers. And that's why I hope you can find ways to overcome your shyness, and little-by-little become connected with other Christians."

MY ANSWER

I hate the gossip in the community where I live. What can I do about it?
Billy Graham writes, "The first thing you can do about it is to refuse to be part of it! Don't listen to gossip and avoid gossiping yourself."

MY ANSWER

Our church is getting ready to elect officers in a few months. What kind of people should we look for?
Billy Graham writes, "Study the Bible to see what it says about the responsibilities of church leadership, and what kind of people God wants to be officers in the Church."

MY ANSWER

Does anyone have the right to say that someone else isn't a Christian?
Billy Graham writes, "God alone knows a person's heart, and only He knows if a person is sincere in their commitment to Christ or if they are only pretending to be His follower."

MY ANSWER

What did Jesus mean when He said we have to carry a cross?
Billy Graham writes, "In Jesus' day, a cross wasn't just a symbol of pain and suffering; it was mainly a symbol of death. He calls on us to commit our whole lives to Him."

MY ANSWER

Our pastor wants me to be a church officer, but I'm very busy. Would it be wrong for me to turn him down?
Billy Graham writes, "The real question is what God wants you to do about accepting this position—and that's why I hope the first thing you do is pray and ask Him to guide you."

MY ANSWER

My husband and I had issues with the church we both grew up in, and we finally stopped going. Now, I feel our faith is slipping away.
Billy Graham writes, "The most obvious solution would be for you and your husband to seek out another church—and I urge you to do so, because otherwise your faith may continue to fade."