I have a question

[Doer]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?

[CrazyforYeshua]

You're not wrong in trying to work on 1 thing at a time. But, you can't put a timeline on it. Allow God to do the work, you will never live up to His "standards" on your own. Let Him deal with you, and through His strength and grace, change your heart. Ask Him to help you, and don't allow satan to condemn you if you slip up. Repent, with a willing and ready heart, and take it one day at a time.
Stay in the Word, and make those scriptures your prayers. When you see where it talks about a gentle spirit, personalize it. The same with anger, lust, anything you have a problem with.
The thing is, don't give up, that is when you fail.

[Scorcher505]

Here is my advice to you, and you can take it how you will. Everyone struggles with stuff like this so do not feel bad.

Try not to judge yourself so harshly, for God does not judge you so harshly. Is sin bad? Of course. Does he hate sin? Of course. Does he hate sinners? No. Becoming a christian does not make you any less a sinner than the person next to you. The only difference is you are forgiven. Anger thoughts can be hard to control, but sexual thoughts can be even harder. Anytime you feel like sinning, remember that it is just Satan or one of his lackies trying to get you back on their side. Fortunately for you, you have Satan's worst nightmare on your side, the Holy Spirit. Tell Satan to shove off and start praising God for something, there is always reason to praise Him. Hopefully that will help.

[jsimms615]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?
I think as you realize your failures you need to confess them to God and ask the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out. It is impossible for you to live up to God's standards. The good isn't in you to do it. It isn't in any of us. The good is in the Holy Spirit that is in you. Our joy is to love God and love others and to abide in Him as it says in John 15:1-5. As you nurture your relationship with Christ you will find it easier to say "no" to old sins and to find victory. Adopt the attitude that the old nature is dying and a new nature is developing in you. The fruits of the Spirit are growing in you, but they are not your fruits, they are the Spirit's fruits.

[tturt]

No matter what area we're working on, we all can pray and rely on the strength that comes from the Father including His Word. For me it helps to keep handy some verses such as:

Psalms 51:10-13 NKJV) "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

[MARK777]

Hi Doer, one thing I have learned in my spiritual walk so far is, the more I am educated about who and what God is, the more I realise how far away I am from God in my flesh, however, the flesh has been crucified with Christ on the cross, God doesnt look at this but rather who you are in Christ and in Spirit, we all Sin, there is no perfect man other than Christ who lived the perfect life on our behalf, and became our substitute, the one who knew no Sin became a Sin offering.

We are not to try and live a Sinless life, but rather a spiritual life, the Sin issue has been dealt with once and for all on the cross, that is, the penalty of Sin which is death (seperation from God)

We all have a calling in our lives and our primary function is to walk by means of the spirit, when we operate by the filling of the spirit we are using the same power Christ used while he walked the earth, the power of the Spirit is the power of God, and is the greatest power in the universe, the power of the Old Sin nature is like a brital twig compared to the power of the spirit.

When you become born again and saved you receive a human spirit and the power of God the holy Spirit, the human spirit is a seed which must grow and bear fruits, and this takes time and disapline and success and failings.

Joh 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

The fuits of the Spirit overcome the power of Sin, but like a tree it takes a while to grow, part of growth is failiure and realisation of shortcommings, as it says in this scripture you must remain on the branch (walk by spirit) in order to bear fruit.

When we do Sin we temporarally lose the power of God the Holy Spirit, as God cannot have fellowship nor look upon Sin, we are instructed to name, cite and move forward in Gods plan for our lives whenever we do Sin, as in;

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Its as simple as name, cite, move forward, do not dwell on Sin but rather dwell on the things of God, the good things.

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease."

In order to reach Spiritual maturity its important to understand this verse, the power of God must increase, the power of the sinful nature must decrease, its quiet simple to understand, but good to dwell on, in order to beat sinful self, you must allow the power of God do this for you, this brings glory to God and blessings to you in time and eternity.

[MarkEvan]

There is only one thing for you to strive after....love, love first of God and then of your fellow man. If love for God rules your heart then nothing else matters because you will try to do everything that you see pleases Him.

Mark :)

[pletho]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?
Hello and God bless, Quick question, where does it say that you are to accept jesus as your lord and savior in the bible? As far as i know that is not in my bible , it does say though in Romans 10:9,10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the lord jesus (say jesus is my lord), and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him (jesus) from the dead, thou shalt be saved. There is a big difference between accepting and confessing, You can accept that what someone said is true but not confess that it's true, what i mean is that accepting is passive and confessing is active, you have to litteraly act upon God's Word in order to get the results it promises, it's called believing, I'm not trying to be a critical jerk with you but eternal life is on the line in understanding the difference between the two, if God said to confess and believe then that's what is required for salvation not accepting. If God doesn't mean what He says, and say what He means then words as a whole are useless for communication, I'm sharing this with you so that you see accurately what's required for being saved not what someone taught you previously but what God says in His Word.

You can only change one thing at a time because you can only think one thought at a time, one attitude after another, it's called renewing of the mind in Romans 12:2,
once you are born again you are to do exactly what your doing, God looks on your heart and your motivation, He is highly pleased that you want to become more like His son Jesus Christ, and that you are putting on the mind of Christ, one thought one attitude at a time. Bless Steve

[whatfor]

I think we all deal with our problems daily.
One of my goals is to stop swearing, I am doing well in my opinion but do slip up now and then.
I try to ask God to forgive my sins every day, I know I will sin but am trying not too.
I think if you keep trying that is the main thing, don't give up.

[BGMCFAR]

Doer don't forget your a human being we all make mistakes and there was only one perfect person. Quit making serving the Lord a burden and at the end of the day pray Lord forgive meI made some mistakes today I love you Lord .:wave:

[Jaison]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?
Brother Doer,
Treat me as your elder brother, I will help you out of this problem. Our jesus like people like you who are open in heart. Every body including me is sinners. Anger is a sin I agree and the bible agree. But I think it is not that much serious as sexual thought. People with a good belief and a very clear cut policy will get angry when they see something wrong. They may react on seeing a person doing bad things like lying, punishing the poor and innocent, theft, sexual immorality , unfaithfulness etc but on the contrary a man of not good belief and who is having no specific policies will not get angry on the above said aspect. Which one is good, the angry one or the calm one? So, this depends on the situation and basic nature of the said.
Satan is the bigest murderer and the father of all lies. He will not appreciate you on turning towards our Jesus Christ. This is why he gives some temptations like sexual lust etc. We will succeed in this when we recognize his tracks and tricks and change our direction. To say this is simple but in practical it is very difficult like you felt. We need the help of Holy Spirit in this. If you need to know more like How to get this Holy Spirits guidence when needed, you please PM me, I will help you. I like to help you out because once I was like you.

[flyingsum0]

If those are your only problems your doing great...at least your not killing poeple or something negtative like that...

Congratulations and keep working on it bro!

[linssue55]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?You are a new baby,.....RELAX. We ALL sin until we die. When you learn new doctrines, apply them, when you are in sin, use 1 John 1:9 to get back into fellowship (use EVeRY time you sin). God gives you time on this earth to learn and APPLY His words, you have time. Just keep learning, for worry and guilt are some of the WORSE sins, and you acn't learn when you are always sinning over your sins.

[Doer]

I do not want to humble myself though, it sais in the bible to exalt yourself. I try the best I can. However, it has become AMAZINGLY easier lately. :)

[Zecryphon]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?
Recovery is a part of life. And life is a lifelong process. You can't rush these things. Let God work in your life, He will take you where you need to go.

[Lisa0315]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?

Dear One,
Stop everything you are doing and Let God be God. The reason you keep on failing is because you are trying to do all of this all by yourself. Give it over to God and watch what happens. Every failure is a lesson. Every sucess, Give glory to God. You will probably fail more than you suceed, and THAT is the lesson of humility. Trust me on this. I am an ACTION person too. One of MY lessons is to WAIT ON GOD!

Lisa

[linssue55]

I do not want to humble myself though, it sais in the bible to exalt yourself. I try the best I can. However, it has become AMAZINGLY easier lately. :)

Not true.

“Don’t sit in the seat of honor. Don’t exalt yourself. Be humble.”

Humility as a System of Thinking and a Way of Life.


1. As a system of thinking, humility is freedom from both subjective and objective arrogance related to Christian degeneracy.

a. Humility is both a system of thinking as well as a way of life. Humility is a system of thinking before it becomes a way of life. Humility is comfortable, relaxed system of thinking. It is not thinking in terms of inferiority, for we are all equal as royal family of God from the baptism of the Spirit. We have equal privilege and equal opportunity, wiping out any human distinctions.

b. Humility is a system of thinking that reaches its peak under spiritual self-esteem. Spiritual self-esteem is the quintessence of humility. In spiritual self-esteem, you no longer feel threatened, have self-pity, and no longer make an issue of yourself in hypersensitivity. You are totally relaxed, and this is the most comfortable possible status quo until you finally advance to God’s perfect happiness, the greatest of all problem solving devices, the sharing of the happiness of God.

c. Humility as a system of thinking doctrine becomes a way of life.

d. As a system of thinking, humility is freedom from cosmic one, i.e., from arrogance in any form. There are many hidden forms of arrogance of which we are unaware, but humility protects us from all of them.


2. As a way of life, humility is the virtue of grace orientation and occupation with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is both submission to legitimate authority in life and capacity for life, love and happiness.

a. As a way of life, humility is grace-orientation and capacity for life, to include capacity for love, happiness and gratitude.

b. As a way of life, humility includes, as one of its many expressions, a recognition and submission to legitimate authority in life without any feeling of inferiority or of feeling threatened.


3. Humility must never be defined in terms of legalism, self- effacement, asceticism, or any form of subjective arrogance, including unrealistic expectation, role model arrogance, iconoclastic arrogance, self-righteous arrogance, crusader arrogance, or any of the other things that are mistaken for humility in life. Humility is not self-effacement, or any form of asceticism or sincerity. Asceticism is basically hypocrisy and/or stupidity. It is a form of pride rather than humility. All forms of asceticism are related to the most subtle forms of arrogance.


4. Humility is mandated by Jam 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will promote you.” Therefore, it is a Christian virtue, not a form of arrogant hypocrisy. This humility is the very core of integrity and virtue.


5. Humility as a system of thinking has many synonyms, such as spiritual poise and courage.

a. Poise is the expression of humility under pressure or grace dependence upon the Lord. It is recognition that a far greater power is operating in your life.

b. Courage is the expression of humility under great adversity. It is the ability to think doctrine under pressure, hence, a combination of grace orientation and doctrinal orientation.

c. Humility is the basis for thinking under pressure. Courage and poise are the clothing which covers such thinking with glory. Poise is the function of humility in normal life; courage is that function in abnormal circumstances of life.


6. Humility is freedom from pride and arrogance. Humility cannot and does not exist inside the cosmic system.


7. Humility is a state of honor and integrity. It is living inside the divine dynasphere, gate number three of the divine dynasphere. Humility is the motivation of your “station in life,” as per Eph 4:1.



8. Humility is not humiliation or mortification. Prov 15:33, “The fear [respect for] the Lord is instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.” There is no honor without humility. Respect for the Lord is the prerequisite for humility. Humility is the prerequisite for honor in the Christian way of life. Respect for the Lord is personal love for God, one of the characteristics of spiritual self-esteem. No believer can have honor or integrity in his life without the virtue of humility.


9. Prov 11:2, “When arrogance comes, then comes dishonor; but with the humble is wisdom.” The only basis for having wisdom in life is through humility.


10. Prov 29:23, “A person’s arrogance will bring him low, but a spirit of humility will attain honor.”


11. Humility is first of all a mental attitude directed toward yourself. Then it is a mental attitude directed toward other people. Above all, humility is a mental attitude directed toward legitimate authority in life.


12. Humility is the means by which the protocol plan of God is executed, for humility is one of the productions of the Holy Spirit.


13. Humility is teachability, Ps 25:8-9, “Good and honorable is the Lord; therefore, He instructs sinners in the way. In justice [divine integrity] He guides the humble; consequently, He teaches the humble His way [plan, purpose].” No believer in the cosmic system can learn doctrine; gnosis never becomes epignosis. Without humility there is no teachability. Teachability demands enforced humility and genuine humility.

a. Without teachability there is no humility. Humility is the most basic system of teachability. No one has the ability to learn, no matter how great his I.Q., unless he also possesses humility. A great I.Q. can only learn to distort or refuse to learn Bible doctrine. Humility is what keeps the person with a high I.Q. in a teachable state.

b. Teachability recognizes two things: the authority of the teacher and the content of the message; hence, the authority of the Word of God as the thinking of Christ.

c. Humility is the sum total of grace orientation. Grace orientation occurs in three categories:

(1) Pre-salvation grace—common and efficacious grace.
(2) Salvation grace through faith in Christ.
(3) Post-salvation grace—logistical grace.

d. Humility responds to many kinds of truth. First, it responds to establishment doctrine by submitting to legitimate authority. Humility responds to the mystery doctrine of the Church Age by executing the protocol plan of God, living inside the divine dynasphere. When outside the divine dynasphere in the cosmic system, humility uses rebound (1 John 1:9) instantly.

[lamblion]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?

first of all i want to say welcome into the family of God!! you are my brother in christ. thats awesome.

as far as your situation and question is concerned. You can not try to perfect a sin, because the truth of the matter is we will never be perfect. I do not believe that you should just focus on one sin and forgret the rest, but that you should constantly focus on renewing your mind. For we are commanded to bring every thought into captivity before the Lord. Although you may think it is hard for you to focus on all your sins at once, it is very necessary and required in order to stay in the spirit. We worship the Lord in the spirit, not in the flesh. Every one sin committed knocks you out of the spirit. So how can you stay in the spirit when you only focus and confess one particular sin?? With all that being said, you must confess all your sins in order to allow God to use you for his purpose.

Living life, knowing that you will fall is not the exciting part, thats just a reality, but knowing that God will forgive you is the exciting part. I enjoy living my life everyday trying my best to stay away from sin mentally, verbally, and through actions, but when i do sin, which is everyday of course, i dont beat myself up about it. I just simply confess and move on. Remeber, feeling guilt or shame is a sin in itself. Going to the throne in shame of a sin is one thing that may be acceptable, but after you have asked forgiveness for that sin, all negative emotions tied to that sin must be demolished.



remember. it is very easy for christians to start taking advantage of the "oops, God forgive me". So, When you ask for forgiveness of sin, be specific in what you are asking forgiveness about and always make sure you are sincerely sorry for the sin and not just engaging in a routine.

God will always forgive you IF you ask for the forgiveness.

[Doer]

first of all i want to say welcome into the family of God!! you are my brother in christ. thats awesome.

as far as your situation and question is concerned. You can not try to perfect a sin, because the truth of the matter is we will never be perfect. I do not believe that you should just focus on one sin and forgret the rest, but that you should constantly focus on renewing your mind. For we are commanded to bring every thought into captivity before the Lord. Although you may think it is hard for you to focus on all your sins at once, it is very necessary and required in order to stay in the spirit. We worship the Lord in the spirit, not in the flesh. Every one sin committed knocks you out of the spirit. So how can you stay in the spirit when you only focus and confess one particular sin?? With all that being said, you must confess all your sins in order to allow God to use you for his purpose.

Living life, knowing that you will fall is not the exciting part, thats just a reality, but knowing that God will forgive you is the exciting part. I enjoy living my life everyday trying my best to stay away from sin mentally, verbally, and through actions, but when i do sin, which is everyday of course, i dont beat myself up about it. I just simply confess and move on. Remeber, feeling guilt or shame is a sin in itself. Going to the throne in shame of a sin is one thing that may be acceptable, but after you have asked forgiveness for that sin, all negative emotions tied to that sin must be demolished.



remember. it is very easy for christians to start taking advantage of the "oops, God forgive me". So, When you ask for forgiveness of sin, be specific in what you are asking forgiveness about and always make sure you are sincerely sorry for the sin and not just engaging in a routine.

God will always forgive you IF you ask for the forgiveness.

I'm glad you told me its a sin to be shameful, I have been very shameful. Thank you. As far as what I said, I've tried doing ever thing at once, and it is working.

I thought I had to be shameful for my sin for it to be sincere. Thanks for the advice.

[mysterychristian]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?
hello

[Nadiine]

I'm glad you told me its a sin to be shameful, I have been very shameful. Thank you. As far as what I said, I've tried doing ever thing at once, and it is working.

I thought I had to be shameful for my sin for it to be sincere. Thanks for the advice.

Hi Doer =)
I'm happy for your decision towards the Lord.!

About shame, you either "feel" it or you don't. I don't think it's 'shame' if you're trying to make yourself feel remorseful for a past sin.
We either feel bad, or we don't.

Honestly, I have some sins that I don't "feel so horrible" over... but I do know they're wrong & need to be stopped.
We operate by FAITH, not feeling. :angel: God says it's sin, and despite how I FEEL about my sins, I'm repenting & working to keep them from being practiced.

As far as trying & working on issues, I agree w/ Lisa0315 earlier, let God work these things into you in His timing.
As a new Christian that wants to please Him, you're going to get ahead of Him & think you're progressing & succeeding at your trouble spots - when that may not even be the case.
Give God the full control to lead you where HE wills, and then you'll get the results; we are able to do NOTHING by our own power.
It's all Him - we're incapable of even willing to stop sin outside of HIS will working thru us.

It took many years before God fully worked 2 serious issues out of my life (chronic habits) - but when He's done the work, IT'S COMPLETELY DONE! and done RIGHT. :thumbsup:

[ivory]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?
Once you get the understanding that you can not fix it yourself and give it to the Lord in prayer, the Holy Spirit will then begin His work.

[Exiled]

You're not wrong in trying to work on 1 thing at a time. But, you can't put a timeline on it. Allow God to do the work, you will never live up to His "standards" on your own. Let Him deal with you, and through His strength and grace, change your heart. Ask Him to help you, and don't allow satan to condemn you if you slip up. Repent, with a willing and ready heart, and take it one day at a time.
Stay in the Word, and make those scriptures your prayers. When you see where it talks about a gentle spirit, personalize it. The same with anger, lust, anything you have a problem with.
The thing is, don't give up, that is when you fail.
Well said! Living a Christian life is a constant effort. It's never easy. Keep sincerity and love in all you do. The absence of those attributes can hurt too.

[Lisa0315]

Yes, it was a sin for me to continue to smoke, and I tried on my own a thousand times since I became a Christian. It is only recently that I have the maturity to overcome this, not because I have leaned the "secret", but because I have failed often enough to realize that I can't, but God can!

Lisa

[Nadiine]

Yes, it was a sin for me to continue to smoke, and I tried on my own a thousand times since I became a Christian. It is only recently that I have the maturity to overcome this, not because I have leaned the "secret", but because I have failed often enough to realize that I can't, but God can!

Lisa
Wow, this is exactly how I got over 2 of my habits too! It wasn't all at once, one came years later.

I'm amazed at how God can deliver - and it WAS Him, it wasn't me. I couldn't do it on my own & when I quit, it wouldn't last.

I'm so glad you were liberated from smoking - as good at it tasted & felt, it was heavy bondage (on the wallet too).
Praise the Lord! :clap:

[JDIBe]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?

I think a little remorse for what you have done is better than no remorse at all. One of the paradoxical things about trying to live a good life is you find out how impossible it is do perfectly on your own. It is the realization of this that makes you see how much you need God's help in your life to make you the person He wants you to be. Now too much guilt, to the point to which it is debilitating, is certainly a bad thing. (I suspect fewer of us suffer from it than we suppose...)

But sometimes you find yourself wondering alone through Wal-Mart at 10:30 at night thinking, "I don't like myself very much". You might find at that point, you are closer to God than you might think.

As for fixing one problem before starting on another, I'm afraid if you did that, you would never get past step one. If you wanted to CONCENTRATE on one problem while still working on the others, I suppose that would be ok, but temptations will always come. You will just be better able to handle little ones with time. Just try with God's help to do the best you can.

I think this applies to every Christian, young or old. As you mature in Christ, you will find some things easy to do but others still hard. You may even find new temptations spring up. Maybe what really matters to God is the struggle, not the results. (For what credit would it be to me if I were nice to people just because I enjoy being nice?) What is pleasing to God is when I decide I'm going to be more Christ-like whether I want to or not. That is when I grow and I think it is a never ending process.

The interesting thing is, when I try, the results come naturally. A person who goes to the gym and tries to lift weights can't help but get stronger.

Good luck with your struggles.

[kenrapoza]

Hey, I just recently accepted Jesus as my lord and savior and am loving every moment of it. However, I seem to have a problem. I have accepted him in the past multiple times, but failed to live up to his standards, why? Because I tried to perfect everything at once. Right now I'm trying to perfect one thing at a time, and I am not even worried about the other things. I feel really bad when I do the other things, but I know that if I try to fix everything at once, I will probably end up back where I was. Do you think God will punish me for all those other bad things I do when I'm trying to fix one thing at a time?

For example, I am trying to fix my anger problem, I really am. I also have problems with pride and sexual thoughts. My next step is pride. I plan on working with anger for one week to a month just to make sure I've had enough training to use it in the future. What do you think? Am I wrong?

Hi Doer! First of all, welcome to the family of God!! It's awesome that you've dedicated your life to the Lord. :thumbsup:

I think the best advice I can give you is to put most of you effort and concentration into developing your relationship with Christ. This helps to put you in the mindset of building something positive (closeness with God) instead of trying to stop something negative. I think it's easier for us to work toward our goal in that frame of mind. For me, it's usually easier to try to accomplish something rather than try to quit something. Also, as you grow closer to Christ you will find that the sins which are holding you back, such as anger, will naturally become less prevalent in your life. This way you beat the sin and grow closer to Christ at the same time. I can spend my time and effort quitting all the negative things that I can think of, and if I do it in my own will power, I have not necessarily grown closer to Christ at all through it.

Also, I think for me another big thing was following the advice of 2 Cor. 5:10 and making every thought captive, or obedient, to Christ. Since our actions come from what is in our heart, if our thought life becomes sanctified, then so will our actions. I think this is key to overcoming sin.

With all that being said, let me say that I think what you are alrady doing is good, perhaps these suggestions will help you. God bless you in your walk! :)

[linssue55]

Yes, it was a sin for me to continue to smoke, and I tried on my own a thousand times since I became a Christian. It is only recently that I have the maturity to overcome this, not because I have leaned the "secret", but because I have failed often enough to realize that I can't, but God can!

LisaWhere in the bible does it say that smoking is a sin??