Faking it tell you make it

Hola, Yah bless!

2 Corinthians 4:16
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

 

Absolutely, I feel the same way. But we must remind ourselves that we are human beings and that our nature is sinful; however, we are made perfect through CHRIST. He is our perfection. His blood is what cleanses us. We are not perfect, if we were then we would not need a savior. So when those thoughts pop into your head acknowledge them by saying, : I know I am not perfect, but in my weakness God is my strength. Remind yourself that you are on a journey to following Christ. That journey of taking up your cross and following him even in the spiritual sense is not easy. Remember that Satan even had the NERVE to try and tempt Jesus. Also note, that when those voices become "accusatory" that they are not from God and must be rebuked in Jesus Name. Because Satan is the Accuser of the Brethen!

 

It's either God talking to you or an evil spirit. If you don't believe it's true, then it must be a spirit that uses your own voice in your head to communicate....makes sense when you think about it.

All I can say is that I have given my life to God, I mean....selling everything and being ready to do His good will....and in by doing so, I think about and talk about God all day long. I talk about His plans that He needs me to do. I think about helping others that cannot help themselves. These things said, Satan doesn't have anything to do with me. I'm not weak and Satan knows it. I've felt Holy Terror, and I've also felt God's Power which trumps Holy Terror. I fear nothing after that experience, so no....I don't walk around feeling like a bad person or that I'm fake. That's who I used to be. Man, I've even attempted kidnapping of an adult....a really bad man....but I walk today without shame because I have made every effort to turn my mind around. And with my mind turned around, my behavior follows. And when my behavior is in proper order, my confidence becomes restored and possessing a "clear consious" is something that Paul speaks much about in his letter.

Anyone who consistently obeys will overcome any thoughts of unworthiness. Satan doesn't want truly confident people. Satan wants us afraid, because from the point of fear, all forms of chaos are born. Cut out and remove fear....you're pretty much a perfect person.

Peace. I believe in you. You're honesty qualifies you for many great things.

 

Yes. A lot of folks on here suffer with this; me, too. It makes praying hard.

These thoughts are not from you, mn. Rebuke them in the Name of Christ, and keep climbing. They may or may not leave you; mine don't. But if you choose to keep fighting, you're choosing right!

On a Catholic note, Saint Padre Pio is a good Saint to ask for prayers with this! He, too, struggled, I think, with dryness, loneliness, and darkness. And doubt. So did Teresa of Calcutta. The book "Come Be My Light", containing her private letters, is very beautiful. The Saints, too, struggled with darkness, doubt, and dryness. Keep going, my friend! God is with you!

 

I think there is an extent to which we are all struggling with this; whether it's sinful thoughts, invasive thoughts, angry thoughts, all of us wrestle with this. It's not uncommon. Satan often works on our heads, trying to introduce doubt, despair, and trick us into rejecting God. Christ is with you, don't forget that. He who is in you is stronger than he who is in the world. That is True.

 

You bet brother. It's just the Sin Nature. It's isn't YOU! Seriously, it really isn't. In Romans chapter 7 Paul tells us exactly that, that it is the Sin Nature that is doing it, not him.

When I figured that out, man, it changed my whole world! That's how Paul was able to overcome his former life of torturing, imprisoning and even killing Christians. It was the Sin Nature. If you begin to look at yourself in this way, and look at others in that same way, you'll find that it's easy to forgive yourself and others.

I believe in you....

 

Hello & welcome, @mnfanboy4life .

Instead of striving to obey Him, God wants to write His laws on our hearts. More like "grace it 'til you make it...!"

Grace, properly applied, is like having spiritual "training wheels" until we see Jesus.

With that in mind, have you heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?

 

This can be a bit confusing. Scripture is clear that we need the obedience of Abraham. And when you write grace, do you intend to translate that as "power"? (love it).

Can you tell us how the Four Spiritual Laws has changed your life?

 

I'm convinced that it happens to Every True Christian / Catholic.

 

It is a very common tactic of the enemy to keep us discouraged.

Don't listen to him.

 

Yes, I can!

 

Hello and welcome to CF!

That's a very common tactic of the enemy (and can also be self-condemnation ... but in this particular case it's SO common from the enemy I'd look there first).

It's also true that the closer we get to God, the more we see how short we fall by comparison. In truth, none of us are good. Our job is simply to struggle against sinful inclinations and temptations, by the grace of God overcoming them and becoming more like Christ. God in turn gives more grace, and so we grow in Him. But if we ever begin to truly think we ARE Holy and righteous, that's the time for a little reality check, lest we fall into the dangerous delusion of pride.

As for that little niggling voice though, best to put it aside and replace it with the truth of God.

Many of the elders in our tradition have said something akin to "you can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you don't have to let them build a nest in your hair" -- meaning those thoughts come to everyone but they should be ignored. If we engage in dialogue with the enemy, his cleverness can overcome us.

God be with you.

 

I like how you added "Catholics" to your post. That's very cool of you to do.

And I, too, agree for what that's worth. Like the case with Job, God is always in control. God allows Satan to work on each of us so that we might be purified through testing. I finally realize, now, at this stage of my life, that most of life, if not all of it, is the result of God's loving testing.

 

Hello and welcome

 

Keep fighting the good fight it is a sign of being born again.

I have seen many that fall away later don't be one of those. They left Him because they were not of Him. We need to finish the good race. True it is a battle down here between Good and Evil.
Perseverance of the Saints.
M-Bob