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How to stop this?

C

cosmicutopia

Member
Regain faith, willfully sin, backslide, REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT.

How do I end this vicious cycle?

I am getting to the point where I don't even want to try because I know the cycle will repeat (or so my mind[or satan] tells me).

So how am I to overcome this? Maybe I'm not saved to begin with? Any counseling/biblical advice?
 
cosmicutopia said:
Regain faith, willfully sin, backslide, REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT.

How do I end this vicious cycle?

I am getting to the point where I don't even want to try because I know the cycle will repeat (or so my mind[or satan] tells me).

So how am I to overcome this? Maybe I'm not saved to begin with? Any counseling/biblical advice?
Click to expand...

oh i have been here with a type of sin,that i will elaborate elsewhere

it took a while but the lord healed me of that.

he does this so that we cant boast and say we are all this or that. hang in there.
 
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One thing is for sure. You come back to relying on God. We just can't do this ourselves.
 
I've never heard of an honest man who does not sin daily.
 
cosmicutopia said:
Thank you, I understand. So how did the lord help you out of this cycle?
Click to expand...

i'm there in still in other areas.

but he healed me when i least expected it on the other thing i mentioned.

i have learned to give things to god and let him take them in his timing and also to learn of him.
 
cosmicutopia said:
Regain faith, willfully sin, backslide, REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT.

How do I end this vicious cycle?

I am getting to the point where I don't even want to try because I know the cycle will repeat (or so my mind[or satan] tells me).

So how am I to overcome this? Maybe I'm not saved to begin with? Any counseling/biblical advice?
Click to expand...



I usually don’t post much, but when I read the post I had to comment. This reminds me of how I first felt when I became a Christian. I thought that after I accepted Christ into my life, confessed my faith in Him, and asked for forgiveness, that my life would suddenly just change, and that my mind would put away all the bad thoughts that I had had in the past, I could forget past deeds, and that I could start living this saintly life that I thought people led after they had become saved. Well, I have some bad news for ya, that isn’t how it works! .

First of all, we are all sinners. No matter how hard we try, or how good of a Christian we think we are, we are all sinners. There was only one man who was without sin who ever stepped foot on this earth, and that was Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh.

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

I used to get so upset because I believed I should just be this awesome Christian living for God right after I became saved. It just doesn’t work that way. For me, it’s been a process, and its taken a long time. I can still look ahead and realize I’m not where I need to be, but, I can also look back and know that I’m not where I was. (If that makes any sense.) So, in my opinion, cut yourself some slack. Read your Bible, pray for strength to fight old bad habits, go to church, love the Lord. You’ll be fine.
　
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Peace,
Tim
 
thought that after I accepted Christ into my life, confessed my faith in Him, and asked for forgiveness, that my life would suddenly just change, and that my mind would put away all the bad thoughts that I had had in the past, I could forget past deeds, and that I could start living this saintly life that I thought people led after they had become saved.
Click to expand...
I'm sure you know this now but if this was a true statement we wouldn't need a savior. We all fall short. We all continue to struggle with sin. Sin is a part of our nature and that is why we need our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. What happens when you finally surrender is that you come to the understanding that your sins are forgiven, you have been freed from your guilt, and that you have a much higher purpose in life than just living for yourself. You have a relationship with God himself. What an awesome gift!
 
Cosmicutopia -

Just one comment for clarity, when you say, ". . . willfully sin, backslide . . ."

You mean . . . ?



Be blessed, Stay blessed!
 
See, I have been hit with this very subject today. I have been talking with a trusted person because of it. Please do not take this the wrong way, but I specifically did not want to post on here about it because I figured I would get the old routine saying that "we all sin", "we all struggle with sin".

This is NOT meant to be negative toward anyone. Please do not take it the wrong way. But in all honesty we have ALL heard this from the very beginning of our Christian life. What I wanted was some serious truth about sin and our Christian life in Christ, and more importantly Christ in us.

This is one passage that sticks with me.

Hbr 12:1-4 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

So yes, there are going to be times of struggle, but that does not mean it has to be an every day thing. I have no doubt that temptation comes more and more to the one that desires to grow closer to God. But the constant up and down cycle just is NEVER alluded to in the NT. In fact, the Christian life is dictated as a steady walk upward. Day by day, moment by moment.

I think it goes without saying that what you are experiencing, what I have experienced, happens, but should not be the norm. It should be lessened more and more. If it keeps on a steady line, then there is something that needs to be addressed.

However, take heart. Because indeed you are correct, repentance only comes from the Lord. So if there is a repenting spirit in you then you know the Lord is still working on you. But beware, He does not do so in vain. It is for a purpose.

Hbr 12:5-13 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

If there is not any righteousness being produced, but just a sense of 'boy I am glad that is over', then it is not producing what it should be. But the fact that you seem to be grieved over the cycle indicates that this discipline is definitely working in your life. But understand, you still have free will. So that means that YOU work with this discipline to bring about obedience. Do not get caught in the, "it happens to us all" mentality and let that stop the work He is doing in you. He does not punish us, He disciplines us.

Discipline is different than punishment because it works toward the goal of bringing about right actions. Punishment simply deals with the wrong with no regards to the future good. Above all, remember that you play a part in this. Yes, temptation and even sin is going to come, but if it is not progressively becoming less and less there is something wrong and you should be concerned.
 
cosmicutopia said:
Regain faith, willfully sin, backslide, REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT.

How do I end this vicious cycle?

I am getting to the point where I don't even want to try because I know the cycle will repeat (or so my mind[or satan] tells me).

So how am I to overcome this? Maybe I'm not saved to begin with? Any counseling/biblical advice?
Click to expand...

This may sound strange, but I don't believe you sin willfully and the bible says you don't. Sin is a state of depravity. You can't will your way out. That's why Christ died for our sins. Thats why he said forgive them for they know not what they do.

Believing you must try to stop your sin only makes you beat yourself up with guilt when you fail. Take heart, for Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, that's you:help

How to Get It? First, know love is a man's righteousness. For you to have God's righteousness, you must acknowledge it comes through Him. Your standard of righteousness must be the Christ that would die for others. You must bear your own cross. Only God's pure love can accomplish this. It's because we don't give God His proper regard that sin exists.

Don't hold others responsible for their tresspasses. When you see bad things happen in the world don't blame people, think to yourself, they know not what they do. Think about how Christ suffered for us and understand why, even because he knew we couldn't help it. Stop believing anyone else can help their sin. Then you won't be in a state of hypocrisy and your conviction steady. Forgive all people who have ever hurt you and forgive those who are yet going to. Understanding no one can help their sin and being convinced of that, will remove the guilt. Change your mindset.

Now make some step in the right direction. Do something good in the world, let's start small. Give some little kid $5. If you truly are hungry for righteousness you will do your charity gladly, looking forward to doing it. As you walk away thinking about the joy you brought that little kid, now this is important, immediately thank God for your love, do not take credit for it. If you do you missed the point. God is our righteousness. If you take credit for it, you can't have His righteousness. You steal His Glory, remember Jesus said, Thy will be done, not mine. Treasure your Love that He is, The more you treasure it, the more you walk in it. You can't treasure it if you think it's you doing it.

All sin is carnal, your flesh only understands pain and pleasure. It's not about trying not to sin. It's about using love to sacrifice yourself for others. To walk in the Spirit is to put the interests of others ahead of your own. Love is the power that does this, if you only believe in Him and not in yourself. Use moderation in everything that is a potential vice. The Holy Spirit will guide you and the more you realize it is Him living in you, the more you will know Him and the more you will love Him. He will cleanse you of sin the more your faith grows. He loves honesty and humility, and this is all He asks from you. Believe me, if you're honest with Him, He'll straighten you out, and He'll do it with the sweetest gentleness. No matter what other people tell you, don't listen if they say It's up to you to conquer your sin. You won't get the true Spirit from the cross if it makes you feel guilty to look at, or think of, the Christ crucified. Therefore I leave you with strong scripture to force your resolve. When you doubt, in other words when the devil attacks, think of this, Romans 7:18-20

For I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells nothing good; For to will to do good is present in me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good I will to do, I don't do. But the evil I wish I wouldn't do, that I do. Now If I do That which I wish I wouldn't do, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Romans 7:24,25

O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
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childeye said:
O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Click to expand...

O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I too thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Be blessed, Stay blessed!
 
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