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Need Encouragement?
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feel lost
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I struggle with sin and feel I cant get right with god and the bible sais we are free of sin I know even if I try to not sin I still cant get right with god the thing I dont get is why is everyone trying so hard I know if I try I will just messs up again . then again god sais we are free. I just dont get it If I try Ill just mess up again If its a free gift why have to press forward as to receive a prize already gained if we cant I know Ill just mess up =-(
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Brent Mistretta 09/07/2012 11:45 |
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Catholica
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09/07/2012 13:20 |
Dear Brent,
You are in a tough situation, but the Truth will set you free. Simply said, we cannot honestly tell ourselves that we are free until we have cast aside sins. Sin leads to slavery and a divided heart. God loves you so much that he wants you to be free from sin, because sin makes you less than what He knows that you can become. He has a plan for you, we know this, but it will take your cooperation to get there. And it may take some painful cutting in some parts of your life for you to come to that place where you can know that you are free. But you need to know that God does love you, He loves you enough to help you get free, and He will never abandon you. The gift is free but we need to unwrap it and lay claim to it, and that involves work with God's help.
Whatever this sin is, know that God is more powerful than any sin that man can conjure up. His grace is His help for you through this. You do need to overcome your sins to be free, and you may fall along the way and "mess up". If that should happen, repent again and make a firm purpose of amendment, to fix your life. If you are Catholic, the sacrament of reconciliation is your best help for this, as is frequent mass attendance. Aside from that, no matter where you are, you need to pray and read the Bible. Every time you are tempted, pick up the Bible and read a chapter. In these ways, you will draw close to God and you will know his presence. Talk to Him as He is a loving father. He does give people what they need, but they have to want it. He is not going to force you to not sin, just to help you. God is not a dictatorial overlord that way, and it seems sometimes like it would be nice if He was, but He is not.
It is through loving God through knowing Him (prayer, sacraments, the Bible) and keeping His commandments that you will be saved. If you are not baptized, get baptized. Reject Satan, his promises are empty and they destroy your spirit. God is calling you to be a man like Jesus and you can do it with God's help. You are not a victim when you know that God is on your side.
I hope this helps you in some way.
May God Bless you.
Andre
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Brent Mistretta
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09/07/2012 19:47 |
Yea I was raised catholic then either I was shown something more or fell away becouse of sin. I saw a youtube video with Catholic Saints puilt right on and mixed with Pegan Gods . seen alot of stuff really I wanna do whats right but my flesh is week spirit strong
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Jake Van Horn
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09/08/2012 01:23 |
Hey Brent,
Check out Romans Chapter 3, specifically verse 9 through the end of the chapter. Romans chapters 4 and 5 deal with this as well. For that matter the entire book speaks to this. But this is the struggle we all face daily. But there's good news in that it's not our righteousness that matters. It's the righteousness of Christ. Saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for paying the price. for wiping out a debt I couldn't work off in a billion years.
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Jake Van Horn
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09/08/2012 01:32 |
Romans 7:14-25 NIV
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
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Brent Mistretta
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09/08/2012 02:31 |
cool I have that one highlighted in my bible its my faverite bro . I guess I was just down this morning in doupt or something idk but earlier today I had a tlk with a brother of mine from the church I was attending before I was diagnosed with Partial Complex seizures now hes saying it is only some kind of abnormal activity .
But its my fgaverite Romans 7:14 --- God has brought me a long way I just need to stay and faith and press forward not becouse that will save me but becouse gods all deserving and died fopr me God bless bro !!
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Laura
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10/30/2012 02:06 |
Hi Brent,
I know I'm a little late to this thread, but I am so thankful that Jake brought your attention to Romans, specifically chapter 7, it was life changing for me. To add to his encouragement, I will exhort you to KEEP READING! :) Romans 7 ends with Paul realizing that he is wretched because he can't ever escape sin, but thankful that Jesus has delivered him. Chapter 8 goes on to explain what it looks like to live a free life.
One additional distinction I will make is that while we are NEVER free from sin, Jesus brings us freedom from the POWER of sin. To me, that looks like accepting that I will mess up, but not allowing that fact to ruin my day, or even my morning. The power of sin is the guilt we feel when we've done something wrong, it is an internal condemnation that tells us that we're no good if we're not absolutely perfect - that is a lie from the enemy and should be recognized as such. Everyone does stupid things, we always have and we always will. Christ freed us from being condemned because of our sins as we repent and ask for God's forgiveness.
So yes, definitely chew on every word of Romans, the whole book will help you know who you are in Christ and, importantly, who you are not which gives you freedom to accept and be your amazing, imperfect, beautiful, human, self.
God, I'm excited for Brent! Father bless him with revelation of this true freedom that comes from letting go of the expectations of others and the expectations we put on ourselves so that he can simply rest in Your acceptance of him just as he is now. God help him to know how much You love him and reassure him that nothing he does, or has done or ever will do surprises You and that You love him unconditionally in spite of everything. Lord fill his heart to the brim with peace and walk him through this life with Your glorious light revealed by his joyful countenance so that people will want what he has, which is You. Thank you God for Brent and for the opportunity to come beside him with the rest of the DAB family in prayer.
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