Struggle with A sin

[Dani H]

Ouch!! Is that what they mean by tough love?

That's what they mean by freedom!

We ain't nobody's victims. We all choose our own conduct, unless you had brain trauma, or you're a helpless young child or paralytic, or someone is rendering you immobile or under the influence of a mindbending drug, in which case you might have an excuse. If none of these apply, then ... nope, sorry.

So unless someone is forcibly shoving a cigarette into your mouth and making you suck on it ... you're choosing to do it. Which means you can choose not to do it and go in that direction instead. Any physical addiction can be beat by choosing to forsake the substance and focusing on recovery and detoxification by way of a firm long-term commitment without leaving a back door open. I choose to smoke, and I'm at peace with my decision. If I die from lung cancer, I already know God is going to say "Hey I'm glad to see you." And if I gripe about the cancer, He is going to say "You chose to smoke, and you knew the possible consequences. Nobody made you do it."

It's stupid to think that we're magically going to be immune to the consequences of our own poor decisions. We're not. Nobody is. We all reap what we sow.

Jesus chose the cross. He wasn't nobody's victim. As His followers, neither are we. I see nowhere in Scripture where He drags people kicking and screaming. It's all voluntary, by choice.

Besides, I'm just passing on the favor. That's how God deals with me. "Dani, you chose this; nobody made you do it."

Ngngngngngngng.

He's right, of course. I'm glad He treats me like an adult, capable woman and treats me with dignity. I love that about Him. A victim mindset is for the birds, and it's highly unbiblical to boot. We all take calculated risks with our choices, but for some reason when things go the way we don't like, we whine and cry about our "bad luck" or want to find someone else to blame. That's a juvenile, childish mindset, and grown adults should be ashamed of having it, honestly, because we're robbing ourselves of our own dignity and true place in God's creation.

So ... you're welcome.

[t1mlew1s]

O.k.

I originally opened this post regarding a problem sin I have, and there has been a lot of great insight offered.

Let me clearly state that I am not claiming to be a victim by no means. I am aware that the choises I make are mine and likewise, the consequences.

But having said that, we ALL sin and fall short. Anyone who claims otherwise, the truth is not in them. So, when we fall short, we obviously ask for forgiveness and move on. If we are repentant, then we should not return to that same sin again. But often, we do.

My objective with my original post, is to find out how other believers deal with it when they find themselves in the same old sin again. It doesn't matter what the sin might be. Just becasue my sin may seem petty to someone makes it no less of a sin. And I will admit that we all tend to classify sins in degrees, myself included. But God does not.

At some point in the thread, my perspective on MY sin changed to just sin in general because I realize that we all (believers) must feel the same guilt and shame at stumbling that I feel alter I have. And I began to think of the drug addict for example who may have only recently come to Christ and what they must feel trying to abstain from something that is likely more gripping and addictive than my cigarrettes.

Anyway, I thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I am taking it moment to moment and when the urge to sin arises, I am asking God for His strength to overcome. And that's all I can really do. That's all any of us can really do, cigarrettes or crack.

[Dani H]

Ok so just FYI:

Just because I quote you, doesn't mean every statement is directed right at you. If you don't feel spoken to ... great. If you do ... great. It's a public forum and I treat every conversation here as public and with the general populace in mind.

Maybe that'll help, moving forward.

I stand by every word I wrote, though.

[t1mlew1s]

Ok so just FYI:

Just because I quote you, doesn't mean every statement is directed right at you. If you don't feel spoken to ... great. If you do ... great. It's a public forum and I treat every conversation here as public and with the general populace in mind.

Maybe that'll help, moving forward.

I stand by every word I wrote, though.

Fair enough. I also was not directing my last post at any one particular person.

But if we are being honest here, you did kind of point your previous post at me when you began with, "So unless someone is forcibly shoving a cigarette into your mouth ..." But that's ok. You are absolutely right. As I said just before, I am aware that the choices I make are mine and so are the consequences.

And now this part is in no way directed at any one in particular, just an observation.

I came back to the forum, just for general fellowship with other believers. And to pick the minds of other believers to see if maybe there is a point of view I hadn't already considered regarding any issue or thought that I may have. When things turn confrontational, it makes me wonder how we expect non-believers to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ when they witness such. And again, I am not directing this at any one. What was said in these exchanges are extremely mild compared to things I have read in other threads.

I don't know anyone here personally, but I have felt your compassion and concern in each of your posts, even the rebuking ones. Thank you all for that. God bless you all!

[Dani H]

Fair enough. I also was not directing my last post at any one particular person.

But if we are being honest here, you did kind of point your previous post at me when you began with, "So unless someone is forcibly shoving a cigarette into your mouth ..."

Well lovey, as a fellow smoker ... that statement also was directed at myself.

I have to give myself a good preaching-to every so often just as a reminder, and I believe that straight-up honesty is always the best approach. I am horrible at the kid gloves approach. Just superbad. Now, if you want truth applied with a metal file so it goes into all the cracks just right, then I'm your gal.

So ... don't take it personal or attack-y. If you knew me pesonally, you'd know. It's just who I am. I'm German so ... there you go. I'll tell you what is, just how it is. I was raised to do things efficiently and straightforward. So um ... I'll pat you on the back later and try not to bruise you in the process. But I will always, always, always have anyone's best interest at heart, and especially the betterment of their relationship with the Lord because it's about Him at the end of the day and not me or anyone else here.

[angelwingz]

I just want to say that I understand the struggle with sin and that I wil pray for you .

[svfox]

Best thing is to ask the prayer section to pray for you.
Ask yourself why you do it if you don't want to do it and follow it to wherever it leads.
The problem is people think about what they want and what their desires are.
It is hard to stop thinking this way.
This is what picking up your cross means.
Then you can start thinking 'hey what does Jesus want me to do'
And it isn't easy. When the thought of wanting a cigerette hits you have to this is the enemy.
I detest the enemy. Then go outside for a walk or something to alter your train of thought.

[t1mlew1s]

I just want to say that I understand the struggle with sin and that I wil pray for you .

Thank you. Been two days without one, praise God! Moment to moment.

[t1mlew1s]

Best thing is to ask the prayer section to pray for you.
Ask yourself why you do it if you don't want to do it and follow it to wherever it leads.
The problem is people think about what they want and what their desires are.
It is hard to stop thinking this way.
This is what picking up your cross means.
Then you can start thinking 'hey what does Jesus want me to do'
And it isn't easy. When the thought of wanting a cigerette hits you have to this is the enemy.
I detest the enemy. Then go outside for a walk or something to alter your train of thought.

Thanks. Been two days without it, beginning day three. Just taking it moment to moment. His strength not mine, all glory to God.

[Indueseason]

Thanks. Been two days without it, beginning day three. Just taking it moment to moment. His strength not mine, all glory to God.

That's the road to victory brother! I uphold you in prayer

blessings to you

[Slug1]

Thanks. Been two days without it, beginning day three. Just taking it moment to moment. His strength not mine, all glory to God.

Also... by putting into effect James 5:16 by exposing this problem with all of us... the meaning of that scripture can now be effectively applied as well as we pray and God heals.

[Acquired Person]

We need God's grace for salvation, but we also need His grace to live for Him day by day.

James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

It would seem from this verse [Mat 18:4] that the most important thing required from any child of God, is to be humble.

Mat 18:4 "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
Mat 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, younger people, subject yourselves to the elders. And all of you be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility, because "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
1Pe 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares about you.

Perhaps there are possibly times, when our motives for becoming less sinful or more spiritual are not humble motives, but prideful and boastful motives.

If we are gentle and humble of heart, then God will give us more grace, but if we are proud and boastful, then God will resist our prayers and pleadings.

[angelwingz]

Thank you. Been two days without one, praise God! Moment to moment.

Yep..thats all we can do....take it moment by moment..day by day..pray ..pray ..pray...will keep u in my prayers

[glad4mercy]

Thanks. Been two days without it, beginning day three. Just taking it moment to moment. His strength not mine, all glory to God.

I will be praying for you. I have personally found that in order to overcome sin we need to overcome the desire for the sin, and here are some things that have helped me, and continue to help me.

1. Begin and end each day with prayer, with much prayer in between. When you confess your sins ( in a genuine sorrow and desire to repent) do not stumble at believing that God has forgiven and cleansed you. He promised He would, so accept it by faith. Also get in the habit of praising God, telling Him how much you love Him, and recounting all the wonderful things He has done, as the Psalmists did. God inhabits the praises of His people.

Where God's presence dwells, there is joy and with the Joy of the Lord, there is strength.

2. Get into the daily habit of literally devouring the Word of God, and meditate and chew on God's Word day and night. The scriptures talk about the washing of the Word, and also that we must desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby. Don't just nibble on the Word here and there, devolope a habit of reading as much as you can retain and asking God to help you understand, apply, retain, and hide His word in your heart. I always pray that God would continue to sanctify me by His Word, because that was Jesus' prayer in John 17 as well.

3. Be sure to stay in fellowship with other believers, and keep going to church even when you don't feel like it. I used to feel like staying away from church if I stumbled on a certain day, ( for example, I would stumble in some way on Wednesday, and not feel like going to Wednesday night service) Go anyways. You will be blessed and strengthened. It is when you are struggling that you need fellowship and edification the most. Don't let the devil's whispers rob you of your blessing.

4. The last thing is never, never, never give up, never quit. No matter how great the struggle, there can be no surrender. The devil takes no prisoners. If you give up, he will devour you. Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions and temptations are being faced by your brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere. In this world you will have struggles, be courageous for Jesus has overcome the world, and many others have as well through His grace and help in time of need.

Blessings from your fellow soldier in Christ.

[t1mlew1s]

UPDATE:

Beginning day 8. God has empowered me to overcome so far. I'll just keep leaning on Him.