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OCD Vows

girlrose

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Hello, I have recently found this website and so many of the things you talk about I experience everyday. Let me start by saying that I have been struggling with OCD for almost 10 years now and it keeps changing its ways.

Lately, it's in my Bible studies. I vowed that I would do my bible studies or God will punish my family, then I vowed that I'll redo them or He will punish them and I keep going crazy. Doing my bible studies has turned into a nightmare. I can't do anything else. I promised not to watch movies, not to read books, magazines, etc until I finish them. I can't wait to be done with the bible studies, but I know that when I'm almost done I'll vow again for something else. Usually when I finish my bible studies I feel better but I cannot do anything else and I keep living in fear.

I constantly have thoughts that if I listen to a certain song the devil will harm someone who I love. I fully understand the ridiculousness in all of this but when the thought comes to my head it freaks me out. Sometimes it is as if I speak to the Devil. I asked God to give me the same type of quick connection with Him and Jesus so I can always talk to God first instead of with my OCD.

I keep coming up with countervows which make my anxiety even worse.

I cannot afford a therapist so Im pretty much on my own with these problems. I'm afraid of medication and prayer doesn't always work for me. Some days I have to pray the same thing over and over again and I can't work or socialize.

If I am unable to complete my vows would God punish me or my loved ones?
Can I change my vow? Once I made it, can I explain to Him that I didn't really mean it? I commit to them mostly because of fear. And if I decide to break them I know I'll feel guilty and scared.
 
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God knows you have OCD He will never punish you or your loved ones. The best thing to do is to ignore the vows. Let the vow pass by not giving it your attention. For example if you vowed to not eat a lolly eat the lolly because if you don't you are giving the thought power yes you will feel anxious but this is not God mad at you it's anxiety. With vowing to do a bible study remember God will not punish you if you miss it sometimes the bible study will help you to grow in your walk with God.

See your doctor because I am seeing a psychologist for free as she gave me a mental health care plan. When the thoughts about vowing come maybe say to yourself this is just OCD it has no meaning God understands. Keep yourself distracted, do activities you enjoy. Breathing when you feel anxious will help as well as exercise everyday will reduce your anxiety. As much as possible refrain from the counter vows as this worsens. OCD even though it provides temporary relief. Keep letting the thoughts pass and say to yourself this has no meaning it's just OCD. Praying for you .
 
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Cola Seven

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Romans 8:26-27 - [26]In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. [27]And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

Does this apply to vows that we personally make to God in our own head, just as much as it applies to other things that we pray for?

Does this mean that the Holy Spirit will void some of our vows the moment we say them to God?
 
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Cola Seven

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The Bible gives examples of where following through on your own oath to God is a sin:

Judges 11:29-40 -- Jephthah offered his daughter as a burnt sacrifice (Which means that she was killed and slaughtered for this sacrifice like an animal, if you interpret this story literally.).

1 Samuel 14:24-48 -- Saul promised under oath to have his his son Jonathan killed.

1 Samuel 25:1-39 -- David promised under oath to have every male in Nabal's household killed.

Matthew 14:1-12 -- Herod promised under oath to have John the Baptist killed.

Acts 23:12-35 -- More than forty Hebrews promised under oath to not eat anything until they killed Paul.


Since these pop-up vows prevent us from living a productive life, and God wants us to live a productive life, maybe it's a sin to follow through on our vows. I'm not saying this to offend anyone. If it's a sin to follow through on our vows, then we don't need to follow them. Then it's NOT a sin to NOT follow through on our vows.
 
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