slimshadyJB Posted August 23, 2004 Group: Nonbeliever Followers: 1 Topic Count: 29 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 122 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/10/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 05/23/1987 Share Posted August 23, 2004 Okay well basically my name is Josh and I'm 17 and I have a problem with repenting..every time I ask God forgiveness for a sin I go and do it again intentionally...it's like I can't stop "liking" sin..I can't make myself hate it. Now I know that some of you have been reading my posts and know that I've had problems like this before..this time it's different. I mean, I can't turn away from sin no matter how hard I try. This might seem ridiculous but I think it's a big problem with me. I swear a lot and I think it's fun and I know I should turn from it and I've tried but I can't! I've asked God for help and read the Bible but none of that really killed my sinful desires....sorry if I sound annoying about this. I'm posting this on all the Christian message boards I know of so I can get help. I really do want to go to Heaven but it's really hard for me to live the Christian lifestyle. I don't know what's wrong with me but I've just noticed this a few days ago and I don't know what to do. I guess Satan really has me screwed up, I dunno. If you can help me, please try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittyjo Posted August 23, 2004 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 53 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 523 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 05/11/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted August 23, 2004 Let me share this with you... Dime Store Stuff Author Unknown The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for you. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores, and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill, and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere-Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving daddy, and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess - the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite." "That's okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you," And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling, and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her Daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure. Jenny's father is like our heavenly Father. He also is waiting for us to give up our dime store stuff and seek Him first ... so He can fling open the windows of Heaven and pour us out such a blessing that we will not have room enough to hold it. What are you hanging on to? Our selfish desires, sins, habits, etc are like those cheap dime store pearls and, like little Jenny in the story, we need to make the choice... Who/what do we love more? The fleeting pleasure of instant satisfaction that sin provides or our heavenly Father? It's a choice Josh, and it isn't easy giving up our bad habits and sinful desires... But I see the Lord working in you. The Holy Spirit is making you aware of what you have been neglecting... He's talking to you, be still and listen. God Bless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LCPGUY Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 Beautiful story Kittyjo Slim my Bro, I hope you got the true meaning of what Kittyjo posted. It is so true and a wonderful summation of how your Father wants to treat you. You must die to self, and live for Him alone. This is not easy at all for any of us. It is a constant and daily struggle. Read Romans chapter 7 through the first part of chapter 8. You will see that Paul struggled too. You are not alone Slim. God loves you and is calling out to you. Listen. In His Love, Bro John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rejoicevermore Posted August 23, 2004 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 24 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 230 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/22/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted August 23, 2004 Hi. I understand that you like to swear, watch tv, and secular music, it is fun and it is pleasing your old man, your sinful nature. When we repent and accept forgiveness, our Father start to mold us in to the image of His son, Jesus. The old man do not like it and always resists. And that is why he needs to die (according to the scripture). If the old man is dead, than something is keeping him alive and feeding him. Stop feeding the old men. Ask your heavenly Father to help you to hate those things. Be honest, say to your Father that you love this music, to swear, etc. And if it is wrong ask Him change your attitude, and He will. This is very good prayer. And also we have the enemy, who comes only to kill, to steal to destroy, remember that. God bless you and deliver you from your enemy. I pray that the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon you, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; That God will bring a godly person into your life to edify and strengthen you in your journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Eaglewings Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 Hi Josh. My name is Steve. I'm 34 years old and live in the UK. I've been following Christ for 15 years now and know exactly what you mean. Please do not think that you are annoying by sharing such things. I wasn't even concerned about such things when I was 17. I didn't come to know the Lord until I was 19. I see it as a positive thing that you are seeking to change for the better. God knows the frailty of man and understands our weaknesses. If your heart's desire is to live a life pleasing to God then He will be delighted with you. It is a good foundation for Him to build on. So, try not to be too hard on yourself. Now, you say you want to go to heaven. Well, that's a wise thing to want and a good reason to come to God. However, we do not earn our place in heaven by "doing the right things". If we could, Jesus would not have had to have died for us on the cross. Our salvation comes from believing in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross etc. , knowing that, apart from Him, we could never qualify to be a child of God or a citizen of heaven. When we come to know Christ in this way, our names are written in the Book of Life and we are already citizens of heaven even before we get there (Phillipians chapter 3 verse 20). It is when we know Christ in this way that we can begin to live right through His Presense with us and within us. We must rely on His strength. One thing we must be careful of is that we don't aim to just do the minimum to get into heaven. If Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John chapter 14 verse 6) then we should follow Him wholeheartedly because this is the reality and not only to get a passport to heaven. I know what its like to sin, confess the sin, try to repent of it, then go out and commit the same sin again (often deliberately). We cannot continue in this way throughout our lives and still claim to want to live in a way that pleases God. However, don't panic. You're only 17 and God understands your struggles. He will be patient with you and wants to lead you step by step in changing your behaviour. I understand what you mean by not hating the sin enough, in fact you like it. This is because you do not yet see it completely for what it is and its consequences. I've probably gone on far too much and if you are still reading this at this point, WELL DONE and thanks for staying with it. It won't have completely answered your problem but I just want you to know I have been where you are many times. I will pray for you. Feel free to contact me with any further thoughts or questions. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born Again Posted August 28, 2004 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 22 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 965 Content Per Day: 0.13 Reputation: 1 Days Won: 0 Joined: 05/19/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 05/28/1979 Share Posted August 28, 2004 I really do want to go to Heaven but it's really hard for me to live the Christian lifestyle. First Josh- no one is getting annoyed with you- we're here to build each other up! Now, I have a question about your statement above. You don't have to answer publically, but I want to give you something to think of- is the only reason why you're a Christian is to avoid eternal damnation? Be honest with yourself here- it's very important. Lemme tell you why- a very good friend of mine pointed out to me that my motive for what I wanted (in my personal relationship with God), was completely wrong. I desired things for MY joy and MY comfort. And you know what he told me? It's about HIM- not you, not me, not anyone. So let me ask you again- what is your motive- to avoid Hell and save yourself? Or is it to glorify God and be used to build His kingdom? PM me if I can help you in any way. Shannon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OBEY Posted August 28, 2004 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 5 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 30 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/14/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 05/23/1987 Share Posted August 28, 2004 It's about HIM- not you, not me, not anyone. So let me ask you again- what is your motive- to avoid Hell and save yourself? Or is it to glorify God and be used to build His kingdom? Wow. That is awesome :wow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimshadyJB Posted August 28, 2004 Group: Nonbeliever Followers: 1 Topic Count: 29 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 122 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/10/2004 Status: Offline Birthday: 05/23/1987 Author Share Posted August 28, 2004 I really do want to go to Heaven but it's really hard for me to live the Christian lifestyle. First Josh- no one is getting annoyed with you- we're here to build each other up! Now, I have a question about your statement above. You don't have to answer publically, but I want to give you something to think of- is the only reason why you're a Christian is to avoid eternal damnation? Be honest with yourself here- it's very important. Lemme tell you why- a very good friend of mine pointed out to me that my motive for what I wanted (in my personal relationship with God), was completely wrong. I desired things for MY joy and MY comfort. And you know what he told me? It's about HIM- not you, not me, not anyone. So let me ask you again- what is your motive- to avoid Hell and save yourself? Or is it to glorify God and be used to build His kingdom? PM me if I can help you in any way. Shannon Well I understand your beliefs..thanks for the advice... Actually I became a Christian because I wanted to stay out of Hell AND serve God and serve his kingdom and all that..so it was actually two reasons...don't know if they were the correct reasons..I think they are but whatever...I'm trying my best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tilly Posted September 1, 2004 Group: Junior Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 3 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 92 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/10/2004 Status: Offline Share Posted September 1, 2004 Slim, just say no. Like you would to a child that already has had too much candy. Say no to yourself. It's good to learn discipline. Helps you grow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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