My Thoughts and Questions (your input please)

[Doer]

I personally have tried many times to change for the good, but every time, I fall. The problem lies not in accepting him, but the time that follows. The time I was most spiritual with God, I came home and had this really strong sense there was a demon in my room, and I could feel that he was telling me you wont be like this for long. I kinda smirked and said try me. It, unfortunately, won.

It seems every time I try to change I am attacked. Not attacked like I am everyday, but much worse. The hardest temptations I can possibly imagine will come about the very next day or worse, that night.

I want to live in God, I really do. However, I feel like I have a demon living inside me, and I cant get him out. I just asked God to forgive me for everything, but I can only hope I will survive.

I prayed he would give me strength, all I ask is that you do to. My weaknesses are:
1.Pride
2.Sexual thoughts
3.Embrassesment (sp) (i.e.)If I'm at church, and the preacher ask people to come up to the front to pray, I wont, simply because I get embrassed. I know thats very wrong, but I cant help it. I know I shouldn't be embrassed to go and show my faith and servitude, there and on the street.

Please, pray for me, all I have left is to hope that I stay strong. If you have any input or advice that would also be very much appreciated. Sorry If I took to much of your time. I just really need help, and I want to spend the rest of my life with God by my side.

[RichardE]

Well pride in your achivements and good points is a good thing, its when these things go into hurting other people it need to be controlled.

Sexual thoughts are yet again, a good thing, you will need them to want you future wife and sex has never become a bad thing, its when they are forever on your mind or pornography comes into it, then it becomes a problem

Embraressment is a true thing and we all get it, its very natural, thats not a bad thing, its just your nervous, let time pass and you will get more bravery, you need to look in yourself and just find that spark, that bit of couridge my brother.

Yes pray but also look inside yourself, do not tackle everything at once, find a single thing you dont like, and set targets.

Hope I have helped settle your mind a bit.

[ivory]

I personally have tried many times to change for the good, but every time, I fall. The problem lies not in accepting him, but the time that follows. The time I was most spiritual with God, I came home and had this really strong sense there was a demon in my room, and I could feel that he was telling me you wont be like this for long. I kinda smirked and said try me. It, unfortunately, won.

It seems every time I try to change I am attacked. Not attacked like I am everyday, but much worse. The hardest temptations I can possibly imagine will come about the very next day or worse, that night.

I want to live in God, I really do. However, I feel like I have a demon living inside me, and I cant get him out. I just asked God to forgive me for everything, but I can only hope I will survive.

I prayed he would give me strength, all I ask is that you do to. My weaknesses are:
1.Pride
2.Sexual thoughts
3.Embrassesment (sp) (i.e.)If I'm at church, and the preacher ask people to come up to the front to pray, I wont, simply because I get embrassed. I know thats very wrong, but I cant help it. I know I shouldn't be embrassed to go and show my faith and servitude, there and on the street.

Please, pray for me, all I have left is to hope that I stay strong. If you have any input or advice that would also be very much appreciated. Sorry If I took to much of your time. I just really need help, and I want to spend the rest of my life with God by my side.
Hi, You have the same kinds of problems everyone else have, but don't talk about. flesh and spirit will always battle, and the strongest will win. Pray for strength. You must get in to the word of God to strengthen your Spirit, that is your spiritual food, it can't live without it. Don't give up press forward. If you fall, get back up and try again. Don't listen to your mind, it will decieve you everytime. That where satan try to do most of the harm (in our minds) God loves you very much, more then you would ever know in this life time. The same things your going through we all at some point in time went through, but we did go thru, and so can you. The weaknesses that you have stated, you are not alone, they are the same weaknesses we all have. Read your bible and pray, and God WILL do the rest.

God Bless!!

[kogseeker]

1.Pride
2.Sexual thoughts
3.Embrassesment

Yep, Doer, we've all been there and are sometimes still there. The things you struggle with, and worse, can plague us and we wonder if we will ever arrive.

One of the problems with some forms of Christianity is that these forms tend to focus almost entirely on "sin management" -- on trying to stop sinning or on trying to stay forgiven. Sin is, of course, a bad thing. But the remedy for sin is seldom to become consumed with trying to avoid it. Read Romans chapter 7 and see how Paul describes his life under the law (sin management). Then read the very end of Romans 7 and all of chapter 8 to see WHO Paul says is the answer to his delima.

As Christians, we want to be good people. God has created us for good works. But our focus shouldn't be on our sin because whatever we aim for, we will hit.

When I was learning to drive, my father said, "Always keep your eyes on where you want to go. Be aware of your surroundings and things happening in your peripheral vision, but look at where you want to go and you will steer towards it."

I think there is a similar principle in the Christian life. Sin cannot be defeated by focusing on the cessation of sin. Why? Because all sin is rooted in the absence of love -- the absence of love for God, the absence of love for one's self, the absence of love for one another. So the answer is not to "quit sinning" but to "start loving". As you seek God's kingdom and learn to love God, to love yourself, and to love others as the Spirit empowers you to do, the sins will become less. You'll never be "sinless" here in this age, but you can sin less. But the goal, again, is to love more.

So I'd encourage you to discover as much as you can about the love of God and about how God demonstrates his love for you and for others in the person of Christ. The goal of Christianity is not to "stop being like the devil" but to "be conformed to the image of Christ." Focus on that. And find others who have a similar goal so you don't feel so alone in your journey. You're not alone. God is with you, even when you sin. And he won't leave you or forsake you. So ask him, not to help you sin less, but to learn to love more. Then follow the Spirit's leading in your life, even when you fail. You may find that God can use your worst weaknesses to demonstrate his power and love.

Grace and peace to you, Doer.

[dancingwithhim]

It is about discovering as much as you can about the love of God, like kogseeker said.

My pastor even talked about that strength comes when we face adversities. Yes, we are going to be tempted and tested, but those things bring about strength.

If you just focus on the sin, then what good is that.
Focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask for forgiveness and go on. (I have to do this too because I have about some areas that need to be gone as well, but I don't focus on them) As time goes on, you will see yourself changing. It isn't going to be you that changed you, but the love the Lord changing you. You will not desire those things anymore. So, just sit at the feet of Jesus and talk with Him. Spend time in worship and in Fellowship with Him. Read His Word as much as possible.
In Romans 12:2 it says, "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." So, renew your mind by reading the Word and through the fellowship with Him.
I have found it to work beautifully in my life. He has changed me so much and I am still changing. I don't have the same desires (sinful) as I use to have. I still have some that I have to fight against, but the Lord gives me a way out. Sometimes I fall.

Don't beat yourself up. Just know that the Heavenly Father loves you so very much and desires YOU.

[malckiah]

Hello, i am sorry that you are having these troubles.....many of your brothers in Christ struggle with these things also! Remember that we are to look to God to make the change in us!.....yes we are to do our best we can to endure and overcome, but think about it......where do you get the ability to overcome or to endure or to do anything?......The Bible tells us that our sufficiency comes from God!....So if you lack in something......pray and trust in Him......watch as he will change you! Who are we to take the credit? If we are trying to win the battle under our own strength or will we will lose.........As the Bible also says, "With us is The Lord to help us and to fight our battles!" Truly Trust Him and let Him change you! The Bible Also says "there is no fear in love!" "God is Love!" And Also "He (Jesus) who is in you is greater than he (satan) who is in the world."

[tturt]

You have powerful weapons at your disposable such as prayer and G_d's Word. You said "The hardest temptations ... come about the very next day or worse, that night." So get prepared. Get some meaningful verses and keep them with you such as:

Psalms 28:7 NKJV) "The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him."

"Psalms 63:6-7 NKJV) When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. {7} Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice."

Say them out loud.

We'll never get where things aren't thrown at us but when we take a stand in the name of Jesus Christ, the enemy has to flee.

Jam 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

[ProfessorJ]

prayer and God's word are the best weapons. Ephesians 6 is a good chapter for spiritual warfare and strength. We all have been there, at one time or another. The thing is, we can't fo it on our own. We NEED God's help, and He will provide it if you ask. You have my prayers, also.
In Christ, J

[jasper123]

There Is Nothing Wrong With You, You Are No
Different Than Me When I Was Your Age.

God Is In Charge Not Satan, Your Problem
Is Emotion That Comes From Someone Preaching
Fear In You

Sit Back And Take It Easy From People Playing
On Your Emotion If Yor Tired Of Emotion Trip
Go Tothe Catholic Church And You Wont Get
It, That Is What I Had To Do To Keep From
Going Nuts. Lets Stick With Reason, Its Like
God It Does Not Change,

Ron