I feel like I'm legalistic. To be honest its scaring me! I almost feel as if I can't help it either. I pray and take note of how long I pray and feel accomplished if I pray for a long time and not so much if I don't. I tend to count the number of days I go without sinning and honestly the more days between known sins, the more confident I feel in prayer and vice versa. I just feel fake. I really do. This is perhaps why I am so powerless over my flesh. Can you pray for my deliverance? Thank you. Also any advice would be helpful!
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Am I legalistic? Please help!
- Thread starter guest66503
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I know I need to but I seem unable to do so. When I sin I put myself in spiritual timeout until I feel Ive paid enough to pray again. Thats why I asked. I am quick to condemn myself for mistakes I make even though I know Romans 8:1
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- Jul 12, 2003
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Some of your foolishness is just human. Clock-watching while you're praying. It can be turned to good use, when you sort out where you are going wrong.
One striking example of where you are in error is that you think it appropriate to stop praying after you've sinned, as a form of penance.
That is the very time you should pray more. We Catholics often make the prayer of contrition:
"Oh my god, I am sorry for having sinned against you, because I have offended your infinite goodness. And with the help of your grace, I resolve never to sin again."
Of course, we will, but it is important to resolve not to at that point in time, strange as that sounds. When you do sin again, though sorry for your sin, be grateful that you are reminded of how much we all rely on God and his love all the time.
When you are obsessive about having committed venial sins, it's called, 'scrupulosity'. St Philip Neri once told a penitent given to scrupulosity to run twice round the block as a penance. It probably cleared his mind!
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rdclmn72
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It can be a matter of how long you have been a believer.
It also depends on your age, if you are married, etc,...
Some of these are symptomatic of growing pains, which is not a bad thing, it only means that soon enough you will see a breakthrough that will also let you see things differently with time.
It also depends on your age, if you are married, etc,...
Some of these are symptomatic of growing pains, which is not a bad thing, it only means that soon enough you will see a breakthrough that will also let you see things differently with time.
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