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Encouragement

Z3AL

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Hi everyone,
I just wanted to post this here as an encouragement to everyone going through afflictions concerning obsessive/intrusive thoughts. Sometimes they might be the result of an illness and other times they might be the result of the evil one trying his best to persuade us to give up. No matter how difficult or how impossible there's always a chance things could change. It might not be noticable at first, but with time, effort and dedication anything thing is possible. I thought this thread perhaps could be a place of encouragement where you can share whatever is on your heart or something that you've found can be uplifting for someone in need.
I'd like to start of this thread with a video that I found interesting. God bless you all and keep fighting the good fight.
 
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Z3AL

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I just started looking into this website more, and it looks like it has a lot of good resources for religious OCD! Here's one: Seven Shifts For Beating Religious Scrupulosity – ACCFS

Thank you for creating a thread for encouraging posts! I love that idea!

Those are some interesting resources, I'll have a look through them. Thanks for sharing them.
No problem. Got the idea when looking for something similar here but I couldn't find anything. I guess you could say: "Find a need, fill that need" Right?
 
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Z3AL

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It's never too late as long as we have the breath of life...
Job 14: 7-15
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
 
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Z3AL

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Job 33 14-30
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
 
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thanks for your encouragement. I deal with intrusive thoughts, i am diagnosed mentally ill, and there is always hope just keep chipping away spiritually at your relationship with Jesus and the tools you ask for spiritually, adorn yourself in the armor of God and ask Jesus to be with you always and people who do this will do well
 
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Z3AL

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thanks for your encouragement. I deal with intrusive thoughts, i am diagnosed mentally ill, and there is always hope just keep chipping away spiritually at your relationship with Jesus and the tools you ask for spiritually, adorn yourself in the armor of God and ask Jesus to be with you always and people who do this will do well
I understand where you're coming from as I'm also afflicted with intrusive thoughts among other things. How long have you had this affliction If I may ask? Has it gotten any better over time? You're so right about that, Jesus is the only way. It's so easy to forget what's most important when going the thoughts come. Thanks for the encouragement. Those are some great points your bring up, concerning the armor. A thought just poppep up, I don't know if it's sound but here it is anyway; the enemy goes around like a roaring lion trying his best to find that chink in the armor and maybe it's allowed by God that we go through that fiery trial to strengthen us but also let us know where we need some work if that makes sense? So that in the end it'll all work out for good. Atleast that's what I hope. Be blessed.
 
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SeventhFisherofMen

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I understand where you're coming from as I'm also afflicted with intrusive thoughts among other things. How long have you had this affliction If I may ask? Has it gotten any better over time? You're so right about that, Jesus is the only way. It's so easy to forget what's most important when going the thoughts come. Thanks for the encouragement. Those are some great points your bring up, concerning the armor. A thought just poppep up, I don't know if it's sound but here it is anyway; the enemy goes around like a roaring lion trying his best to find that chink in the armor and maybe it's allowed by God that we go through that fiery trial to strengthen us but also let us know where we need some work if that makes sense? So that in the end it'll all work out for good. Atleast that's what I hope. Be blessed.
I've had thoughts on and off for 10 years but there are times that it is better and times where it's tough i am taking my thoughts captive before Jesus, i usually will use visual coping mechanisms to help spiritually overcome my thoughts or i just ignore them it depends on what type of thought but they have gotten better or maybe i've gotten better at dealing with them. Yes your thought is right the enemy tries to find those weak spots but also Jesus is Strong where we are weak and usually The Holy Spirit will show me where i need to build up before the enemy does. i hope that helps
 
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Mari17

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A helpful resource that I have come across, for religious OCD: Scrupulosity.com: Faith-based Solutions for Religious OCD - Scrupulosity.com

Also, a good online support community called "Christianity and Anxiety Disorders" (a closed Facebook group, so the friends on your public page can't see that you're a part of it): Christianity and Anxiety Disorders - Let's Talk | Facebook

And some thoughts that I wrote as a comment on a different post, regarding intrusive thoughts:
"My advice might differ from some that you've already gotten. I have OCD, and have had intrusive thoughts. I do not believe that they are inherently evil or from some evil source. I also do not necessarily think that "attacking" them is the way to get rid of them. That may be the case for some kinds of intrusive thoughts, but when you have OCD, your brain functions a bit differently from that of someone without OCD. Our brains are highly creative and are good at making associations and sending thoughts that we don't want - and even making us think that we might actually want them. EVERYONE'S brains come up with weird, crazy, disturbing, and even "bad" thoughts - it's just that most people kind of automatically filter those thoughts out. But people with OCD are predisposed to anxiety, and it's almost like our brains are searching for something to be anxious about. We also tend to be extremely analytical and able to pick up on very small nuances. So if we have a disturbing thought, instead of easily and casually dismissing it, sometimes we "latch onto" the thought and try to figure out what it means about us; we start to get fearful, to hyper-analyze our thoughts and feelings, and to try to figure out what to do to "neutralize" the terrible thoughts and feelings we are having, which we worry mean terrible things about us."
 
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