Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2020 5:57:46 GMT -7
Yep, been there with that thought as well bro. Recently God has been showing me a couple of things about this cycle (get some sobriety, get more tension and stress, things seem more difficult, give in to temptation, pressure released, feel better and clearer, can see how dumb it was to give in, start with new intention to be clean, repeat from beginning). Like you I often thought 'hmmm I seem to be better even with my walk with God AFTER I've given in to lust. What's that all about?' But the Lord has shown me why: Like He said to someone else on here "I don't care about your sobriety". Basically, it's God's GRACE and MERCY we need, and we get this by HUMILITY. When we've just sinned, we know we are sinners and are HUMBLE. We say "yep God, it's all true, I suck, please have mercy on me, a sinner". That attitude of humility, I believe is what the Lord wants from us MOST. But we think then, okay we'll start building sobriety again. Then when we've got a few weeks up, we're like 'Hey God, look at me! Pretty good, right?!' And God's like 'oh no, I'm going to have to humble him again'. Because yeah sobriety's great, but it's the attitude of humility that counts most. What happens with me is that when I get that sobriety up, like now, I become uptight, highly strung, and everything seems really difficult and stressful. That's because all the bad stuff in me, the dross, like anger, resentment, difficulty, that I was using porn to numb, is now coming out up to the surface, like during a detox from a drug, which is what it is. So it's super tough! And I feel further from God, because I'm not humble enough, instead I'm thinking 'man, I deserve a much easier life than this, because I'm such a sober, amazing Christian!' wow what a joke, what a Pharisee! The point is, humility is what counts, and we have it more after falling (should we then sin more that grace should abound? NEVER! - Paul). But the grace of God and us knowing we're totally helpless and dependent on God's mercy, is where we should be always. Right now, the Lord is showing me some of the stuff that really is in my heart: pride and arrogance! Am about to dive in to one of Andrew Murray's books - amazing Christian writer - called 'Humility'. God bless you Saved! Also the fasting thing works great! Love from Will Will, I know that you know this but I want to put this out there for others who don't know this. God does not cause any bad thing. We do it ourselves by choosing wrong, by sinning. So when we choose pride, we give an in to sin which causes us to stumble and if we are smart become humble and ask for forgiveness. On the other hand, if we choose correctly and remember to give God the glory for the strength He has given us to resist sin, we remain humble and do not give an in to sin and continue in victory as overcomers.
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Post by savedbygrace on Jun 30, 2020 8:09:11 GMT -7
Yes, bad things are a part of life. And if I get out of fellowship with God, then bad things become a wake-up call!
Life is hard enough anyway; how much better to go through each day having God's peace, joy, and strength.
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Post by savedbygrace on Jun 30, 2020 20:25:40 GMT -7
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 2, 2020 10:25:32 GMT -7
Wed. evening online Bible studies... Q&A with the Pastor. He loves to get us reading books, and I continue with the Tony Evans book I mention under helpful resources. Will I continue to the end of a book without a fall??? Pastor Evans truly speaks to the heart of the issue.
Another great thing from last night... Bible promises about fear:
2 Timothy 1:7 King James Version (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Psalm 27:1 King James Version (KJV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 118:6 King James Version (KJV) The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Isaiah 41:10 King James Version (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 43:1-2 King James Version (KJV) But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
In time of temptation I need to stop, refocus, and remember God's promises!!
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 3, 2020 15:48:39 GMT -7
Good days, but still afraid of falling. My usual cycle. Continuing my reading.
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Post by Will on Jul 3, 2020 17:46:03 GMT -7
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 4, 2020 10:32:52 GMT -7
Yes, their Passover looked forward to the true Lamb of God; our Communion or Lord's Supper looks back to the true fulfillment, Jesus the Lamb of God!
And since God raised Him from the dead, I too can walk in newness of life. Along with Paul in Romans chapter 6, I must declare, I died with Christ. I am a new creation in Christ Jesus and I am to live in terms of that fact.
Thanks for sharing!
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 5, 2020 14:30:39 GMT -7
It was a beautiful day in the house of the Lord. Thankful for virtual church!
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 6, 2020 9:23:28 GMT -7
Monday - pressing through discouragement to get the stuff done that I need to do.
Revelation 3:20 New Living Translation (NLT) “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 7, 2020 18:44:30 GMT -7
There is a group in Facebook called Man Up God's Way. Various subjects and prayer requests are discussed and prayed for. A man on there just posted that he has almost 4 months porn free, and offers for any of us to post to him if we're having a hard time. I will make note of that!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2020 6:03:41 GMT -7
There is a group in Facebook called Man Up God's Way. Various subjects and prayer requests are discussed and prayed for. A man on there just posted that he has almost 4 months porn free, and offers for any of us to post to him if we're having a hard time. I will make note of that! He might make a good Christian brother to add to your accountability team. You can invite him to join here if you want.
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 8, 2020 14:54:30 GMT -7
No response from him in response to my comment; now can't even find his post. Nevertheless, an encouraging example!!!!
As we read the Bible through, we will eventually hit boring geneologies...BUT, God has tucked away some little gems in those pages. For example:
1 Chron. 5:19-20 NLT
19 They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. 20 They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated.
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 9, 2020 15:10:01 GMT -7
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Post by savedbygrace on Jul 11, 2020 4:31:48 GMT -7
"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood."
Thank you Jesus!
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javajake
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Occupation: retired
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Post by javajake on Jul 11, 2020 7:36:28 GMT -7
Good days, but still afraid of falling. My usual cycle. Continuing my reading. I hear ya SBG. What is it with this? Right around 30 days after the last fall comes this assault and pull from the flesh that wants a fix! I mean I do know but each time I do not prepare for it properly. I need to learn to be diligent and sound the alarm knowing the enemy ( my own flesh and satan ) are gearing up for attack. Praying for you too!
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. ( Romans 7:18-24) NKJV
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