Stressed

Galadriel · #11 27th October 2003, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Whitehorse

Okay-I think I see where the problem may be. It's a matter of truly and fully experiencing God's forgiveness, and knowing He doesn't hold against you all the things you hold against yourself. Don't worry-He knows every thought and action before it happens. He knew you before time began. And He chose to die for you because He would not spend eternity without you. He was willing to go to any length, even die rather than be without you. Because He just wants to be with you. THis is a tough battle, and a lot of CHristians go through it. But at least you can know that God isn't condemning you, even if you condemn yourself. The Bible says that if we judge ourselves, as you have, He will not judge [condemn] us. It's a sign your heart is sensitive and in the right place. There are some scriptures that may help-I'll start gathering what I can. I'm sure I'm not alone in praying for you.

Blessings to you, my friend.

I agree with WhiteHorse,
I think we do tend to "beat ourselves up" when we mess up, I don't know why, but we do. I know I do. I think we just have trouble with thinking God doesn't remember our past faults, cause we sure do, and tend to beat ourselves over the head with them, especially when we feel we keep on making the same mistakes. WhiteHorse is right, we are not condemed.

paul becke · #12 27th October 2003, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by P.O.D. Cincy Warrior

Hey you all thanks for your advice. I'm still feeling kind of down though. It's basically one main thing I forgot to mention.

Prayer lately just seems to be nothing more than apologizing to god for how much I've failed lately. I ask him for help but I know I'm not doing it the right way. Prayer just ends up putting me in a bad mood becuase it's just me having to talk about all the times I messed up. I know I should be thankful for what I've done right and what I have but it's hard.

That's a very desirable state to be in, POD! The bad mood bit must make God laugh. "A humbled contrite heart, Oh Lord, you will not spurn".

If you were more superficial, you wouldn't feel like that; you'd set yourself low targets, and seem to the untutored eye to be an observant Christian, but your righteousness would be that of the Scribes and the Pharisees.

Before the Apostle, Paul, was converted, his life didn't seem to be at all messy; it was all neat and clear and confident. But afterwards, the tone of his epistles suggests a much humbler character, who, like Christ, his master (as truly man as true God), learnt through suffering - the way of the cross. The more trials Paul went through, the more joyful, he would have become. But, in the early days, remember how annoyed he became, when he was buffeted by an evil spirit. And what was Christ's response? "In infirmity, I am made whole". You'll soon be praising God, don't you worry about that.

Maybe you're really complaining that you would like your prayers and Bible study to be the central part of your life, but you have all these less likeable distractions, such as studying, that are trying to take center stage! I know the feeling. But, it's not the lucidity and "feel-good" quality of prayers that counts; it's the persevering disposition of the heart. I wonder if you are being called to the ministry. If not I suspect you're being torn in a number of directions, highly laudable in themselves, but which you haven't yet prioritised, so that you're falling between a number of stools. And the only one you're really concentrating on is your prayer life! Rather than the other way around... Just thoughts.

WeakButHopeful · #13 28th October 2003, 12:30 AM

I certainly agree with virtually everything above, so this is just a little added bit, not to take away from any other folks' comments.

I happen to be reading C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, where he shows the various ways devils try to snare us for Satan. And that was one of the ways just listed, getting people discouraged about praying because of how they always seem to be admitting how poorly they measure up. Well, let me tell you, if every day you had a child come to you after school and say "Mom (or Dad) I messed up again at school. I try to do good but I just don't seem to" wouldn't you be pleased at the honesty and the trust. And even if every day you gave them the same advice, wouldn't you still want to hear from them how it went?

Also, a little practical suggestion that has helped me. Try to make your focus at the weekly level. If you divide up your time that way, the months and years will take care of themselves. If you focus on a day, you'll find there's always far more than will ever fit. And a month is too much to keep straight in your mind (at least it is for me).

I have struggled with the same issues of stress and feelings of ineffectiveness. I just had a conversation with someone else here at CF about that yesterday. Please know that you're not alone.

May God bless you abundandly.