Having problems repenting (Full Version)

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rachsquelch -> Having problems repenting (9/5/2008 5:07:28 PM)

Lately I have been putting everything else before God. I haven't been praying except to ask for my family's safety whenever I remember. I haven't read my Bible in a while. And worst of all I've been selfishly continuing in a certain sin that I know is wrong, yet I keep making excuses for why it's ok for me. How disgustingly evil am I!! When a certain person is around, I put him before God, and that's why it's so easy for me to do this sin all the time. But when I'm by myself like I am right now, I feel worthless, dirty and like I don't even deserve to pray to or even think about God. I want to repent and turn from my sin completely, but it's almost impossible for me to turn from this certain sin because of the complicated circumstances. That shouldn't be an excuse though! I wish I could go back in time and do things differently but I can't and I feel like I'm destined to be a failure at serving God.

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deermousie -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/5/2008 9:28:14 PM)

Be of good cheer, Rachsquelch - when Jesus died for us, we were all dead in our sin. He's used to the idea that we are sinners, and that we can be trapped.

Go get your Bible and look up 1 John 1. It's right in front of 2 John, 3 John, Jude and Revelation, so it's all the way at the back. Now read verses 5-10. We sin, God says we sin and we make Him out to be a liar if we say we don't sin. So far you and God are in cahoots. But if we walk in sin we don't have fellowship with God. Now you and God have a wedge driven in your relationship.

Now go look at Galatians 5:

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

So, who are you? A person who clings to their sin when it divides them from God, or a person who got stuck and will cry out for help to Him to unstick her and give her the grace to quit the thing that she knows is wrong? When we have a job to do that's too big, we ask for help. You've already confessed the sin - to confess is just to agree with God and call it sin. Ask God to make you willing to repent - to turn around and walk away from it.

The difference between a Christian and a nonChristian is the nonChristian lives in habitual sin and the Christian blows it, confesses and repents it, and walks on, holding God's hand.

There is a saying that the Bible will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from the Bible. You are seeing your sin nature (we all do if we look - ugly, isn't it. I hate being a sinner) and letting it rule. You may want to check that you've actually made the choice to follow God and not your pleasures. Would you rather have your sin now or be in right fellowship with God? We all have to choose this (oh, about 1000 times a day...). And ask God for help; that's what He's waiting for. So crawl into His lap, thank Him for hanging on the cross for the thing you're struggling with and ask Him to break your heart over what you're doing.

Something that helps me is to remember God doesn't tell us to not do something because He's a killjoy but because it will hurt you. God's ways work, everything else is half a bridge over the Grand Canyon. So choose the life that can work and can give you joy and God's good provisions in His perfect timing. I am praying for you, dear one. (((Hugs)))



txpope -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/6/2008 5:14:55 AM)

The "certain sin" you speak of is the weakness that the devil uses to keep you sinning. We all fall short of God's glorious standard. Being a sinner is common place but it is what we do knowing that and where our hearts are that gives us hope and ability to seek Him in these times.

You have decisions to make, they are going to be hard but they are your choices. Knowing you are sinning and continuing in it can be harmful, read the word, pray and ask God for strength and guidance. Ask Him to light your path and protect you from the snares of the devil.

Life is about trials, similar to tests in school you will often face the same trials until you pass the test. God loves you, He wants you to turn from those sins and if you have faith that He can help you He will.

God Bless!



conrack50 -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/6/2008 7:19:46 AM)

I used to do the same thing, not really paying attention that I was placing everything else before God.
I even did the unthinkable in my mind, made a promise to God and still continued to go against that promise.
I suddenly realized I'm not supposed to do that(promise God) and not keep the promise.
The sin was gambling. I talked to my husband about it. He stands behind me and now WE don't go there or anywhere to gamble. I received forgiveness from the Lord for repenting about the promise and it's done.
We can't go back in time and that's that.
I judged myself enough before confessing my sin to God. He already knew anyway!

There are NO circumstances too complicated for God. Nothing is impossible for Him.
He is our Sovereign and can take away all those feelings you are having.

The devil is using this sin to keep you in bondage. Why would anyone give the devil a foothold?
I did but now I see that wasn't worth doing.
We are all human and make mistakes, that's why Jesus went to the Cross for us.
The mistakes we have made, are making and are going to make. Past, present & future.
Pick up your Bible & read, even if it's just a few sentences, it's a start.
The Book of Psalms has many verses that will apply to your life if you just read and study each verse.
You took the time here to place your post here, that's another start.

I am praying for you and God will take care of this.
In Jesus Name, amen

Connie Lou



PopsiLufsJesus -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/6/2008 11:06:22 AM)

repent by definition means to change your mind...it means that you were walking one way and you knew it was wrong and so you turned around and walked the opposite way...many people think repent means to feel sorry for your sin and that is not the case...



GraceBro -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/6/2008 8:45:30 PM)

Welcome to the human condition rachsquelch. There is somebody who struggled with the flesh, like yourself, that may help you.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." Romans 7: 15-20

The Apostle Paul struggled mightily with the flesh. We all do. The key to experiencing victory over the flesh is by recognizing who you are in Christ. The guilt and condemnation you are experiencing is not coming from God. When He sees you, He sees you as holy, righteous and blameless because of Jesus Christ. If you are struggling with a sin, the only answer is to flee from it. But, keep in mind that when you realize how God sees you then you will begin to ask yourself some questions that will help you overcome your sin.

Is my behavior consistent with who I am in Christ?

What am I expecting to get from this sin that I don't already have in Christ?

You will begin to avoid situations that lead you to the sins you are trying not to commit. Remember, the Christian life is not about trying to avoid sin, but learning to trust God with our everyday lives through dependence on the Holy Spirit. As we learn to do this we will begin to see a decrease in the sins in our life. But, what is even greater is the fact that, even if you do sin, you are not separated from God because of it. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ has taken away your sins from the eyes of God for all eternity. This allows the life that now indwells you to never leave which, in turn, gives you the ability to approach God with confidence in your time of need.

The Apostle Paul, no matter how hard he tried, could not escape the indwelling sin which controlled his flesh. But, what was his answer to dealing with that revelation?

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24-25

Grace and Peace



Thessa -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/7/2008 9:01:23 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: deermousie

Be of good cheer, Rachsquelch - when Jesus died for us, we were all dead in our sin. He's used to the idea that we are sinners, and that we can be trapped.

Go get your Bible and look up 1 John 1. It's right in front of 2 John, 3 John, Jude and Revelation, so it's all the way at the back. Now read verses 5-10. We sin, God says we sin and we make Him out to be a liar if we say we don't sin. So far you and God are in cahoots. But if we walk in sin we don't have fellowship with God. Now you and God have a wedge driven in your relationship.

Now go look at Galatians 5:

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

So, who are you? A person who clings to their sin when it divides them from God, or a person who got stuck and will cry out for help to Him to unstick her and give her the grace to quit the thing that she knows is wrong? When we have a job to do that's too big, we ask for help. You've already confessed the sin - to confess is just to agree with God and call it sin. Ask God to make you willing to repent - to turn around and walk away from it.

The difference between a Christian and a nonChristian is the nonChristian lives in habitual sin and the Christian blows it, confesses and repents it, and walks on, holding God's hand.

There is a saying that the Bible will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from the Bible. You are seeing your sin nature (we all do if we look - ugly, isn't it. I hate being a sinner) and letting it rule. You may want to check that you've actually made the choice to follow God and not your pleasures. Would you rather have your sin now or be in right fellowship with God? We all have to choose this (oh, about 1000 times a day...). And ask God for help; that's what He's waiting for. So crawl into His lap, thank Him for hanging on the cross for the thing you're struggling with and ask Him to break your heart over what you're doing.

Something that helps me is to remember God doesn't tell us to not do something because He's a killjoy but because it will hurt you. God's ways work, everything else is half a bridge over the Grand Canyon. So choose the life that can work and can give you joy and God's good provisions in His perfect timing. I am praying for you, dear one. (((Hugs)))



AMAZING POST!!!



butterfly616 -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/7/2008 11:17:41 AM)

For years I willingly continued in a certain sin too. I rarely read The Bible and prayed very little. I was never truly happy. Circumstances led me to pray one simple, heart-felt prayer, "Lord, please have YOUR will in my life!" From that point on, Jesus led me to repentance, forgiveness, and His unfailing love.

I believe He allowed me to live life MY way, yet never left me. The only way I could see "the forest for the trees" was by realizing the mess I made of it. When I sincerely asked for His Will to be done, the angels rejoiced, and He did, indeed, work His will and purpose in my life.



Beth67 -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/7/2008 12:27:00 PM)

When we continue doing something that we know is wrong, that's when we tend to distance ourselves most from God...our Bibles get dusty and our prayer life is almost non-existent...and we're miserable...that's because of our guilt. Sadly, it's during such times that we should run to Jesus!

I heard a statement a few years back on a Christian radio station (www.cjtk.com) that has stuck with me and I hope it will help you also...I can't remember who it was that said it, but it goes something like this:

If there's something or someone in your life that is keeping you from being in a right relationship with God, then you had better squeeze every ounce of pleasure out of it that you can, because once this life is over, it will have cost you eternity.

That helps puts things in perspective for me. I hope it does the same for you.

I too was once stuck in a continual sin, and never felt worthy enough to turn to Jesus for help...I wanted to, but always felt as though I first needed to get things in order before I could do that. During this time of struggle, the Lord brought the following verse to my attention:

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

Most of us have heard this verse before, but it suddently held new meaning for me: You need God TODAY to help you get your tomorrows in order. My sin was also a complex one, but once I finally surrended to God, He brought me through it. It wasn't overnight. And it involved some life changing decisions, that also involved other people, but ultimately God led me to making the right choices, and now I am much better off because of it!

Whatever your sin is, stop letting guilt get in the way. Bring God into your situation and ask him to get you through it. It will take time, and no doubt there will be some hurt along the way, and some tug-of-wars with Satan, but you'll get there!

God Bless.



rachsquelch -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/7/2008 12:29:43 PM)

Hi guys I just wanted to thank you all for your replies and encouragment, I can't tell you how much it has helped. I know it's going to be difficult but I have my faith in God that He will show me His will and help me to follow it so that I no longer feel I need to commit this sin for whatever reason. Please please will you pray for my boyfriend/fiance's true repentence and salvation and for Gods will to be done in his life, and for our relationship. Thank you all again. Take care and God bless. :)



rachsquelch -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/7/2008 12:31:46 PM)

Thanks Beth, that quote really is an eyeopener!



manda59 -> RE: Having problems repenting (9/8/2008 7:08:54 PM)

rachsquelch

Hope you don't mind me asking - are you saying that your fiance isn't a Christian?

(btw this sin you've mentioned could be the reason why you've been feeling "bleh" - sin has a tendency to come between us and God and prevent us from having such a close relationship)



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