How do you other Christians deal with temptation?
I sometimes feel like giving up because I try so hard to be sinless and be a really good Christian and I keep forgetting about Christ's forgiveness, is there anything I can do or pray to show to prove to God that I want to be his child forever?
2007-05-05 05:44:44 · 12 answers · asked by aforcednotation 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
By just resting in Him. All you need to do is just love your Lord. Everything else will fall in to place.
John 14
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
...and just walk in the Spirit.
Ro 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
I used to feel the way you did. 1 Cor. 3:11-15 set me free...
Of all the things I do, whether worthless deeds of the flesh, or worthwhile things of the spirit. It does not matter. If your foundation is Christ, I will be saved, and the acts of my flesh will be burned to a crisp, and the fruit of the Spirit will be gain--purified by His judgement.
Now go in the grace and mercy of God and just praise Him!
2007-05-05 05:47:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you read Romans 7 lately? Paul describes his own struggle with exactly the same thing. What he wanted to do was not what he kept doing.
Is there anything you can or pray to prove your sincerity to God? Not really. God already knows your heart. He knows if you are sincere or not.
Does this mean you can live however you want and still be a Christian? Well, if you are married, does that mean you can live however you want from then on? In a way, yes and no. Sure, you CAN live however you want, but if you are married and love your spouse, you will want to live in a way that pleases them.
Similarly, if you love Christ, you will WANT to live in a way that pleases Him.
Maybe your focus has been too much on trying to stop the sins instead of nurturing a loving relationship with Christ. If you look at temptations more like, "If I do this, will I be pleasing God or myself?" then you will make more godly choices.
2007-05-05 12:56:09 · answer #2 · answered by Chalkbrd 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wish I had a magic answer....unfortunately, there isn't any.
Thankfully, God weighs what we do and say with the Truth within our hearts...just like a parent does with their children.
He knows our weaknesses, and He knows Satan's ways....
We are toddlers learning to walk within the scope of time that God understands....we are BOUND to fall on our butts when we try new things or reach for the forbidden candy ....especially when Satan is so cunning and "angelic" looking...
If Satan WASN'T there with the intent to destroy what God loves like the jealous brat that he is, I doubt that God would be as forgiving or understanding...but...Satan IS here, and, is quite powerful in his own right, so God DOES understand.
What God wants is for us to admit what we had done, learn from it, and try to do better with the help of the "tools" God had provided free for all to "use" (God Himself, His Book of Truth-the Bible, His Son Jesus our Savior, and God's Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts) which are also free for all, all they have to do is ask and receive them and then USE them.
Easier said then done....takes practice.
We are undergoing "spiritual war-fare"....as soldiers of the Lord, we must practice using the weapons and tools God provides
Thankfully, God is a Master Healer, and well needed whenever we "knick" ourselves!
We can never be sinless while upon this earth, so that is a fruitless effort...however, once we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, He is there forever..
As a parent....God may not like everything we do or say or think, BUT...the LOVE doesn't go away....
We are "family".....what more can I say?
2007-05-05 13:16:53 · answer #3 · answered by ForeverSet 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are two keys for knowing God's will for a given situation (1) Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing is not something the Bible forbids. (2) Make sure what you are asking for or are considering doing will glorify God and help you grow spiritually. If these two things are true and God still is not giving you what you are asking – then it is likely not God’s will for you to have what you are asking for. Or, perhaps you just need to wait a while longer for it. Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult. People want God to basically tell them what to do – where to work, where to live, who to marry, etc. Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
God rarely gives people that direct and specific of information. God allows us to make choices regarding those things. The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will. God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will. So, how do you know what God’s will is for you? If you are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life – God will place His desires on your heart. The key is wanting God’s will, not your own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). If the Bible does not speak against it, and it can genuinely benefit you spiritually - then the Bible gives you the "permission" to make decisions and to follow your heart.
2007-05-05 13:35:45 · answer #4 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love this question, because I want to do the same thing- show God that I want to be His child, too. There's nothing like it, there's nothing more rewarding or peaceful.
When I'm tempted I try to just start thanking or praising God, it really keeps my mind off the distracting things.
And my favorite thing to read when I feel like giving up is Hebrews chapter 12.
2007-05-05 12:57:06 · answer #5 · answered by girl. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pastor preached not too long ago.
When we are born of God, the old man is dead & we are cleaned by His Blood and the new man in Christ alive forever more.
Our new man is a corruptible body, a soul & newborn spiritman. Our soul works out its salvation. We have everlasting life in us in the spiritual birth, but the Holy Spirit doesn't force us to follow after the Spirit. We have to make the soul decision to.
Because of our corruptible flesh, we will sin again after born of His Spirit. But we need to make the soul decision to die to the flesh lust, & choose to follow after the fruits of the Spirit; faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, truth, etc... The Holy Spirit won't force us.
If someone pushes our buttons, we need to die to the flesh lusts and not react yelling, cussing, talking dirty, etc... Instead, make the soul decision to follow after the Spirit (fruits of).
Remember, even though we have everlasting life in us, we still need to overcome our flesh (sins tendencies). That is why 1John1 writes, that when we sin, we are to confess our sin (To Jesus in prayer) and He is faithful & just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are a work in progress.
Christians will sin again, but the Holy Spirit convicts the sin. That is Good. We need to confess it to God. We are Gods Work. When we received His Redeeming Blood, we are made the righteousness of Christ. Nothing we do or don't do will change that. When we pray to God, God sees the righteousness of Christ. Our corrupt bodies will metomorph into an everlasting body at redemption day complete. Then we will stand before Christ whole; spirit, soul & body, in our everlasting new self.
Once you are born of God, born of His Spirit, cleansed by His Blood, joint heirs with King Jesus, you are Gods child forever. God doesn't abort His children. What you should do when you pray is just say, "Thank you God, for being my Heavenly Father & you will never leave me or forsake me.". Give thanks in all things for this pleases God. Remember all things work for the Good for those who trust in Jesus. What the devil meant for destruction, God can turn for Good.
Read http://www.fathersloveletter.com .
2007-05-05 13:15:13 · answer #6 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have to keep reinforcing his truth in your life. We live in a time and culture where we're constantly bombarded with images and messages that conflict with and oppose what we believe so we have to come out of it and spend time with God and with other Christians for support. Then, when refreshed, we have the strength to go back out there.
2007-05-05 12:49:23 · answer #7 · answered by sonfai81 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God's will according to Jesus is for us to get along with each other. (Please remember that the next time you decide to hold a grudge against someone or God forbid, seek revenge - I am sure you wouldn't want to seek revenge?)
Jesus said, "If you do not forgive others, your father in Heaven will not forgive you". That is one of the clearest verses in the Bible, yet it seems to be the most difficult; to forgive someone who has hurt you.
2007-05-05 12:55:52 · answer #8 · answered by MrsOcultyThomas 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Read:
John (3)
Romans (3,6,10)
Ephesians 2
Hebrews
Psalms
1 John
Jude
Job 19
1 Tim
2007-05-05 13:45:32 · answer #9 · answered by robert p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These 7 sins were designed by a normal person who wanted to try to create a vision they had for the world. If i have temptation then i will take it up and make myself happy. adham ate the apple and it meant immortality was lost, oh well, were all gonna die one day, so have fun, enjoy temptation (as long as its legal)
2007-05-05 12:50:33 · answer #10 · answered by joshua 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋