Struggle to read my Bible

xeon · May 22, 2007

Every time I try to read my Bible, I am faced with a tremendous episode of ocd because certain words are tiggers to me like Holy Spirit for example. I wish I could read my Fathers word freely. The same happenes whaen I try to engage in praise and worship. I often feel worse after trying to read my bible than if I just left it....wich I hate
Has anyone else struggled with this?

marcb · May 23, 2007

I was going to post a similar thread. I have been struggling for some time. I am trying to read the Old Testament for a small group I meet with. It has been a struggle. My pastor suggested reading commentaries along with the difficult portions to grasp the context. Maybe we can exchange successes and setbacks in our journey through the scripture. This is not easy, but God will instruct us. Marc

polishmanmike · May 23, 2007

try a version that reads easier perhaps, do u have E-sword?
google it, e-sword, it is like a (if u already dont know this) computer Bible but..... on their website u can download a bunch of free versions for it, so its like bunch of free Bibles, u can get sweet free versions! trie it

http://www.e-sword.net/

when u go to downloads (upper part of the website) u can check either esword versions or Bibles, commentaries, etc

satan hate u readin the Word, try choosing the passage of the Word hiding it in ut heart and maybe thinking about it all day long

I Thes. 5:16-18 I love that one

meditate, see that the Lord is a good, intimate God and not a tyrant who requires u to read 3 chapters of the Bible a day or else...

gracealone · May 23, 2007

I've sat in church singing praise to the Lord and having rotten obsessional thoughts bug me at the same time. When I was really going through a bad time of ... "I'm probably not a real Christian." I found it very hard to read my Bible etc. I did it anyway cause I figured it was the perfect exposure/response therapy. Not comfortable, but necessary. Don't let the OCD win. If reading the Bible is a trigger then we have to keep on reading it in order to desensitize our brains to the obsessional thoughts that are triggered by it. I've always thought of it like having an allergic brain. If you keep exposing your brain to the uncomfortable trigger, eventually it gets used to it and doesn't throw as big of an anxiety tantrum as it used to.
I don't know if any of this makes sense to you guys.. but I wanted you to know that I can relate.
Blessings,
Mitzi

xeon · May 24, 2007

Thanks for the sound advice Mitzi. I have managed to read a bit today...I'll keep at it

Boxers1 · May 24, 2007

gracealone said:
I've sat in church singing praise to the Lord and having rotten obsessional thoughts bug me at the same time. When I was really going through a bad time of ... "I'm probably not a real Christian." I found it very hard to read my Bible etc. I did it anyway cause I figured it was the perfect exposure/response therapy. Not comfortable, but necessary. Don't let the OCD win. If reading the Bible is a trigger then we have to keep on reading it in order to desensitize our brains to the obsessional thoughts that are triggered by it. I've always thought of it like having an allergic brain. If you keep exposing your brain to the uncomfortable trigger, eventually it gets used to it and doesn't throw as big of an anxiety tantrum as it used to.
I don't know if any of this makes sense to you guys.. but I wanted you to know that I can relate.
Blessings,
Mitzi

gracealone,
I never knew how true it is what you just posted until I stopped fearing the exposure of my thoughts. I have recently been working on desentizing myself to thoughts that I used to have an all out panic attack over in the past. It truly has been the only pathway to some peace of mind again for me. Let the thoughts be there, re-train your brain and body to not react, focus on what you really believe to be true and move on with your day. Fearing and fighting the obsessional thoughts only empowers them and then they never leave. Facing them and then realizing that they have nothing to do with what I truly believe helps me stop fearing them so much. So the next time that obsessional thought arises, it is easier to dismiss b/c its just that "OCD thought again." Working through OCD for relgious obsessions is extremely difficult, but there really is no other way to get better than to let the thoughts be there and desentitize the mind to them. You have good insight.
Thanks!
Boxers1

gracealone · May 25, 2007

Thanks so much Boxer for all you said. It encourages me to know that others go through what I experience. I'm so glad you understand how to handle the OCD thoughts. I used to continually debate with them. There are days when I can easily slip into that old pattern but like you I'm learning to just let them be there and not struggle against them.
Glad your posting on this forum. Your words of advice and encouragement will go a long way to comforting others who are similarly afflicted.
God Bless,
Mitzi

stacii · May 29, 2007

I have also been through times where I could not read my Bible without feeling as though I somehow fell short and was not really a Christian. I could not see the promise - even though I knew it was there. Now, I know that in fact I do fall short, and that's why I need Jesus. Going through that difficult time made me remember why I need salvation and ultimately made me a much stronger Christian. I still struggle and have problems reading every so often, but nothing like I used to. I will pray that God works in you and speaks comforting words to you through His word.

frank1234 · Jun 4, 2007

Yes, I am struggling like that every day, to the point that lately all I can do is to watch or listen to christian messages on tv or radio; Only occasionally I can read some in my bible any more, unless I have a paticular subject in mind to follow, then I am a little better. But we must know(and I am telling this to myself too)that GOD is aware of all of this and He has no condemnation for us. But we have to do our best and not give up, for this is our struggle and this is our lot. GOD bless you.

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Struggle to read my Bible

xeon

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marcb

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polishmanmike

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gracealone

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xeon

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Boxers1

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gracealone

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stacii

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