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Post by Will on Apr 3, 2023 10:02:13 GMT -7
Hey folks,
thought I would start this thread as a way to be intentional about something that I realise I'm really bad at in my walk following Jesus.
That is genuinely, ernestly, seeking the Lord.
A lot of my walk as a Christian has been in a negative mindset of things I need to stop doing, or cut out of my life (obviously porn in particular), but really the focus of much of the example of Godly men and women is not in what they're NOT doing, but in what they are doing, and seeking - true communion with God.
I believe I've found a pretty good practical solution to the problem of not watching porn (though so far it keeps breaking down, but we'll see how it goes from here). That is for me a technique of not watching any video of any kind. But that's just it, it's still a 'technique', a method, a system or rule.
The Kingdom of God is not about rules. So that can't be the ultimate solution to this problem. Only a stopgap or temporary, worldly solution, to get a particular behaviour out of my life.
So what is the Kingdom of God about? Well I believe it's about the PRESENCE of God. BEING with Him.
So this thread is to remind me to put aside specific time to do that. And to record and invite everyone else's thoughts as well, on things that have worked to achieve this. Tbh I've been terrible at this. Prayer is absolutely central to everything in the way of following Jesus. My prayer life is not at all vibrant or living enough. I hear people talk of spending 'quality time' with God, that involves communing with Him intimately, and worshipping Him.
Right now there's a revival going on in Asbury. Revival begins with genuine, heartfelt prayer. That goes on for hours, sometimes days. I don't think I've ever done this!
So I'm going to try from now on to spend real time with God. Here's a couple of thoughts I have so far that I've picked up:
God wants us to seek His FACE. Not his hands. His hands are the parts that bless us and do things for us, and also punish us. But God, our Father, really just wants us to spend time with Him, because we love Him! Not because we want something from Him. His FACE, not his hands.
The main and most important character of God is His HOLINESS - His GOODNESS in other words. Wow Thank God there is an Almighty being who is actually good! What blessing that the God of the universe is good! Praise God for His goodness, His holiness. I sure can't do it. That God He can!
Well those are some thoughts. God bless you all! |
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KevinesKay
Administrator
Posts: 1,754 
Occupation: Balloon Artist
Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Apr 4, 2023 14:01:00 GMT -7
I can so relate to this. How I've looked at my own life, and though I'm a believer. Many times I've not felt like a follower. Many times I'm guilty of walking in my own flesh. God doesn't like that.
In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He'll direct your paths.
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Post by Ɖσмιиιc on Apr 4, 2023 18:27:59 GMT -7
we can see examples of heartfelt prayers in the thief on the cross, and the prodigal son, and also the publican saying "God have mercy on me a sinner, while not even looking to heaven and beating his breast'. This will be a humbling mourning over sins like it says in James. This is something I think real Christians do not for a show or for they have to, but when they sin, they do it, because there is no other way to do it. The godly sorry leads to repentance.
I need to pray through the day
I need to ask God into every situation as if He is right there.
No more lust
No more arousals
NO more emotional lust affairs
No more hidden agendas
all dying to the self found in Romans 6, 'consider the old man dead'
When we humbly, seek God, we feel sick, lost and broken and only hope for God to love and accept us, then actually believing He has heard us and be willing to run with that truth and with God, into more more days of fellowship.
We don't need to simply stop the lust,
We need a new God, I am talking about we need Jesus Christ for real, no joke, no more sin, and make the decision to give our all to him, and daily make decisions to actively follow him, taking all thoughts captive into the submission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan is all out to kill us and deceive us, making us think we are strong (which is not true, if we are just men, but we are strong WITH GOD). We are weak this makes us rely on the Lord for strength.
I cry, sleep, I get depressed and down on myself.
Satan is also trying to keep me down and not let me experience God's love and forgiveness but I have chosen to rely on Romans 8:1 "There is now no more condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ"
I need to tell myself and believe and stand on that truth.
"Dominic, God says you are not condemned"
"Dominic, God says "where are your accusers, neither do I condemn you"
"Dominic, God says "Today, you will be with me in paradise"
We need to come to our senses like the prodigal and just simply humbly confess "I have sinned against God and not worthy to be called his son" and forsake our sins (Proverbs 28:13).
I am not going to treat that women as my god
I am not going to worship the demon of lust
I am not going to worship my body parts
I am not going to worship her/his body parts
I am not going to listen to lie anymore
I am going to live on "every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God"
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Post by Will on Apr 5, 2023 13:34:08 GMT -7
Yes exactly. We are all guilty of walking in the flesh. And for me even trying not to sin and stop watching porn has been fleshly!
"We don't need to simply stop the lust"
Totally! It's the positive we need - not simply the negative of 'not' looking at porn. Our joy in the Lord is not in what we're 'not' doing. It's in fellowship and communion with Him. Being WITH Him!
This is all kind of new to me. Man I have trouble being intimate with other people! Let alone God! But I'm trying and it's happening. Something's changing for the better!
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Post by Will on Apr 5, 2023 13:57:45 GMT -7
Dominic you remind me of me in what you say here. This year I have I believe received some healing. It was a supernatural healing, like a message from God. And honestly I can say that it was something I absolutely needed and all of the many years I have been trying to persuade myself that God loves me and I'm truly forgiven and accepted and knowing the Bible inside and out and doing good works and being a 'good Christian' or at least an 'improving Christian' with all my metrics of how my life was (very slowly!) changing from how it was before I was saved (but hmmm there was still a lot of similarities!) were never going to get to the actual change in how I viewed God and my self and our relationship together - the beliefs I held about God and myself. - It took supernatural healing and honestly that's what I believe a lot of us need. For instance, if you have extreme lack of self-worth issues and inadequacy issues like I had, how does that change? It only changes with a change in belief. For me I could read the Bible all day and of course it's great and inspiring and true and wonderful. But this healing has (I think) actually changed the belief. Made me realise I'm loved and privileged by God. How does a heart change like that? I think only God can do it. There were two parts to it: 1) I received a message that showed me that a lot of my bitterness and anger and resentment was towards a family member, and it was caused by their lack of love for me, or at least less love than I felt I needed from them, that they didn't care as much about me as I wanted. And that I was cut up about that and had been for my whole life. The end of the message was "But no-one cares like God cares." This showed me and made me realise that I had been holding this person to an impossible standard. Only God cares like that! And also that it was only God who had what I needed. Only God cares, loves like that. That's what I needed. Only God could fix me and could help me and heal me. So I started praying to God. 2) Jesus let me know that He would heal me. Not when, not 'I'm going to heal you now', or 'this year'. But only that, at some point in the future, He would heal me (this is spiritual and physical healing). It may not be this side of eternity. But somehow He made me know and believe this truly and completely. Wow, so simple, but I actually believed it, and now know it.  Here's something a friend of mine said to me (not a Christian): "I am increasingly convinced that selfishness and all the other negative behaviours we inflict on ourselves and others are rooted in a degree of self loathing and insecurity. If we truly love and accept ourselves then that love can spill over into the rest of the world. If we always have an internal deficit, we always need to claw something back." So true, and very true of me. I was so miserably insecure, I took a lot of it out on other people. Not saying I'm cured of that lol! But am no longer so worried about what others think or so sensitive and self-defensive as I was, because I can rejoice in the blessing of God that I now actually believe I have. Well, brothers, sorry for the long ramble. But I wanted to share this joy. I can only recommend asking God to heal you completely (of whatever it is that you are lacking, or feel you are lacking, or hurting from), in recognition that only He can do it! Everything else is pointless! |
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Post by Ɖσмιиιc on Apr 5, 2023 16:18:17 GMT -7
Amen brother you said it well. I agree with you.
God will make us born-again
God gives us His Holy Spirit
When I cry to God, I want to keep in memory Jesus cried for me too on the cross and same for you and everyone here and my hurting wife and all hurting wives and the other women in the past I have lusted over, Jesus died for them. They are not "body parts" Jesus died for people/humans/souls, them,
God please change us. We need You so much. You are our refuge and our salvation. Our sweet and holy and great Lord Jesus Christ. Messiah, help us. Thank you Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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