What to Do when...

[Hawkanomics]

So, what does a Christian do when...they don't doubt their salvation, but are stuck in habitual sin? How do we fight out of lukewarmness? Why does depression still capture us, even though we're promised all surpassing joy (I understand this is not happiness, but satisfaction). Why can we still be dissatisfied, and what can we do to break all of these things holding us back? Is it just youth? Will it just go away with time?

What makes the giants of the faith different than a regular beleiver, what made Paul so different, Martin Luther, so different? What understanding did they have that some of us don't? I realize even these men had their faults, but by their example set, they were doing something right. And by my standards, habitual sin, lukewarmness and depression don't seem to be a good example for me to follow.

How do I get free?

 

[wavy]

So, what does a Christian do when...they don't doubt their salvation, but are stuck in habitual sin? How do we fight out of lukewarmness? Why does depression still capture us, even though we're promised all surpassing joy (I understand this is not happiness, but satisfaction). Why can we still be dissatisfied, and what can we do to break all of these things holding us back? Is it just youth? Will it just go away with time?

Obedience should grow with time. We all sin. We are all guilty. But if we stay in prayer and sincereness towards Yahweh, then we can overcome our weaknesses. We need the Spirit in us to guide us.

What makes the giants of the faith different than a regular beleiver, what made Paul so different, Martin Luther, so different?

I'm not so sure about Martin Luther...at all.

What understanding did they have that some of us don't? I realize even these men had their faults, but by their example set, they were doing something right. And by my standards, habitual sin, lukewarmness and depression don't seem to be a good example for me to follow.

How do I get free?

Depends on where our hearts are. What do we focus on? Are we focusing sincerely on Yahweh or do we focus on other things and just hope we don't sin along the way?

It does get tough. But we must continually abide and Yahweh and meditate in his Word. If we can get back to this simple truth, we'll find Yahweh if we seek him through his Word.

Paul made this same cry:

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Yahshua is the answer and his will for us is revealed in his Word. He is the Word personified. That's where we need to look to: the scriptures. His precepts. David speaks of this in Psalm 1. Read also my signature above.

When I am tempted to sin, one of the tactics I use to overcome it is to pick up the bible and read. Psalm 119 is one of my favorite passages. Long, but valuable.

I'm not any better (and probably worse) than most people on here. We all need to pray sincerely. When the beginnings of something sinful works in us, then from the start we should get away from it. If we see a woman on t.v. for instance, half naked in a bikini, we should turn the channel so as not to be tempted to lust, for example. We need to watch what we expose ourselves to.

Always remember Messiah's words as he prayed for his disciples (which we can be one of) to Yahweh our Father:

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 

[Geo]

I think depression and "..still be dissatisfied" are clear signs that
you haven't been broken and accepted the cross.

You are maybe a victim of a compromised gospel, or a "easy Jesus"
was preached to you that doesn't really touch your life. You should
either change your life, your church or your position before God.

Confess your sins and dissatisfaction to Jesus directly, and let him
know that you "had it". Don't try to fix it yourself, be clear that you tried
all and give up. Ask him to fix it for you, and don't accept substitutes.
He loves the humble person that seek him, and he WILL lift you up.
That's the real joy. A true relationship that goes into a deep one doesn't
start on a mountain and looking down how great everything is. It comes
from a low position and there is no shortcut. Nothing we do in our own
strenght will satisfy him or us.

 

[Imagican]

Never forget to pray constantly and to HAVE FAITH. Love God and Christ and your faith will grow. As your faith grows, your relationship will grow. As your relationship grows God WILL change your life. Perfection? Harldly. As long as we are flesh we are bound to sin. BUT, that sin begins to be simply a part of the flesh and NOT something that we live FOR.