Fighting worldly desires

[Dansiph]

I am having some desires to revert or regress to a more worldly existence. I've had it before and I fight it.

It won't win but out of curiousity what are some good strategies for fighting this?

Could this be burnout from focusing on spiritual matters so much?

I mean this as only a semi-personal question. While these are actual thoughts I am having I hope other people can relate and discuss.

 

[HTacianas]

I am having some desires to revert or regress to a more worldly existence. I've had it before and I fight it.

It won't win but out of curiousity what are some good strategies for fighting this?

Could this be burnout from focusing on spiritual matters so much?

I mean this as only a semi-personal question. While these are actual thoughts I am having I hope other people can relate and discuss.

It might help if you give us some examples. If you want to be the next Katy Perry there might be a problem. But if you dream of owning a house one day you're probably okay.

Both of those are worldly desires.

 

[SpiritSong]

Stay away from the persons or things that are drawing you away from Christ. Don't be with them, don't communicate to them, or receive communication from them. Read your Bible more, and pray more....

 

[Dansiph]

It might help if you give us some examples. If you want to be the next Katy Perry there might be a problem. But if you dream of owning a house one day you're probably okay.

Both of those are worldly desires.

I played a fair share of videogames before becoming a Christian... So an example would be watching or playing the new Call of Duty Black Ops 4 online. Btw I still play some games but I'm more selective in what I play, when and for how long.

It's hard to put into words what I mean by worldly desires but I definitely do not want to be the next Katy Perry lol.

The thing that prompted me to think this was I watched a streamer on twitch who seemed very laid back. It just triggered a series of thoughts which lead to me posting on here

 

[Dansiph]

Stay away from the persons or things that are drawing you away from Christ. Don't be with them, don't communicate to them, or receive communication from them. Read your Bible more, and pray more....

Thanks. If you read my previous post I have closed twitch. I don't usually share most prayers but I prayed to be more sincere in my prayer. I can pray about praying can't I? I also prayed for God to keep me in the fight to the end.

 

[HTacianas]

I played a fair share of videogames before becoming a Christian... So an example would be watching or playing the new Call of Duty Black Ops 4 online. Btw I still play some games but I'm more selective in what I play, when and for how long.

It's hard to put into words what I mean by worldly desires but I definitely do not want to be the next Katy Perry lol.

The thing that prompted me to think this was I watched a streamer on twitch who seemed very laid back. It just triggered a series of thoughts which lead to me posting on here

I had to read this twice to find out what the problem is. If I understand you, you think playing a video game is wrong. But as long as you don't get an unhealthy addiction to it like some people do you'll be fine.

Just don't listen to Rock and Roll music.

 

[aiki]

I am having some desires to revert or regress to a more worldly existence. I've had it before and I fight it.

It won't win but out of curiousity what are some good strategies for fighting this?

Could this be burnout from focusing on spiritual matters so much?

I mean this as only a semi-personal question. While these are actual thoughts I am having I hope other people can relate and discuss.

We are all tempted at times to wander from God. The World, our flesh, and the devil all daily contend against the work of God within each of His children. The single best way to counter the constant influence of the World, the flesh, and the devil is to enjoy God fully. When you are every day experiencing, rich, joyful, contented fellowship with God, everything else pales in comparison. Certainly, the thin, destructive shadows of pleasure the three enemies of your soul hold out to you will more clearly appear as the threats to your fellowship with God that they are when you are walking in abundant peace and love with your Maker.

Our living is shaped by what we love. If you love God, your life will be shaped by that love. If you love yourself, God will be crowded out of your life, or pushed to the margins of it, and the World, the flesh, and the devil - all of whom seem to serve your Self - will soon crowd in. But the end of such a life is futility, emptiness and death.

 

[Dansiph]

We are all tempted at times to wander from God. The World, our flesh, and the devil all daily contend against the work of God within each of His children. The single best way to counter the constant influence of the World, the flesh, and the devil is to enjoy God fully. When you are every day experiencing, rich, joyful, contented fellowship with God, everything else pales in comparison. Certainly, the thin, destructive shadows of pleasure the three enemies of your soul hold out to you will more clearly appear as the threats to your fellowship with God that they are when you are walking in abundant peace and love with your Maker.

Our living is shaped by what we love. If you love God, your life will be shaped by that love. If you love yourself, God will be crowded out of your life, or pushed to the margins of it, and the World, the flesh, and the devil - all of whom seem to serve your Self - will soon crowd in. But the end of such a life is futility, emptiness and death.

I will pray to love God as I should. It's an area I struggle with but never really realised. Thanks also. It's a bit wimpy but I just wanted to hear it's something other people are tempted by

 

[LoveGodsWord]

I am having some desires to revert or regress to a more worldly existence. I've had it before and I fight it.

It won't win but out of curiousity what are some good strategies for fighting this?

Could this be burnout from focusing on spiritual matters so much?

I mean this as only a semi-personal question. While these are actual thoughts I am having I hope other people can relate and discuss.

Hello Brother Aspzan, here are some interesting scriptures that I pray will be a help to you.

Temptation begins with the mind *ROMANS 7:25. When the temptation comes to our throughts and feelings we are to cast them out (cast the evil thought/temptation out of our minds) *2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 and BELIEVE God's WORD *JOHN 7:17; JOHN 3:16-21. Temptation commonly comes to us (but not always) when we are watching or beholding something in our minds that we should not which leads us to break any of God's 10 Commandments *EXODUS 20:1-17; 1 JOHN 3:4.

Temptation is not sin until we make it our own and God will give you POWER through faith in his WORD to resist it. *1 CORINTHIANS 10:13. God's WORD is God's POWER to save us from SIN as we BELIEVE it *JOHN 17:17. We are to hide God's WORD in our heart (thoughts and feelings) so when temptation come we use it as did JESUS with his temptations in the wilderness. If you do not have God's WORD you have no POWER to resist temptation from the heart. You may not sin outwardly but will sin inwardly *MATTHEW 5:17-28 by what you think about because sin starts in the mind (thoughts and feelings) and is why the scriptures teach;

JOHN 17:17 [17], Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

PSALMS 119:11 Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

PHILIPPIANS 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

By what we behold and focus our minds and thoughts on wheather good or evil, God's WORD tells us that when temptation come to us that as we BELIEVE God's WORD it has the POWER to change us but ONLY when we seek JESUS and see our utter inability to save ourselves from our sins * MATTHEW 12:34; ROMANS 3:9-10; ROMANS 7; MATTHEW 9:12-13.

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.

It is God's SPIRIT that changes us to walk in God's WORD and not in the flesh (sinful nature) *GALATIANS 5:16. Without God's WORD all we can do is sin because we are all sinners in need of a Saviour *ROMANS 7. The GOOD NEWS however (GOSPEL) is that we have a Savior that has the POWER to save us from our sins *JOHN 8:31-36.

ROMANS 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

It is the GOSPEL of CHRIST that is GOD'S POWER to save us from our sins as we BELIEVE and FOLLOW God's WORD but what is the GOSPEL of CHRIST? Many do not know it. We are talking about it now.

................

WHAT IS THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL? (from another study on the MARK OF THE BEAST HERE)

REVELATION 14:6, And I saw another angel fly in midheaven, having the EVERLASTING GOSPEL [εὐαγγέλιον meaning good news] to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people,

NOTE: The GREEK Word used here G2098 εὐαγγέλιον means simply good news; So the first angels message is preaching the everlasting GOOD NEWS to all people of the earth.

WHAT DOES THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL REPRESENT?

1 PETER 1:25, But THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER [EVERLASTING WORD OF GOD]. And this is the word which by the GOSPEL [GOOD NEWS] is preached unto you.

LUKE 21:33, Heaven and earth shall pass away: BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY [EVERLASTING WORD OF GOD].

ISAIAH 40:8, The grass withers, the flower fades, But THE WORD OF OUR GOD STANDS FOREVER [GOD’S WORD IS EVERLASTING].

JOHN 17:17, SANCTIFY THEM THROUGH THE TRUTH, YOUR WORD IS TRUTH [GOD’S WORD IS TRUTH AND WE ARE SAVED BY IT – Good news indeed].

MATTHEW 4:4 Man does not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD [LIFE FROM THE WORD OF GOD]

JOHN 1:1-4; 14
[1], In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD.

[2], The same was in the beginning with God.

[3], All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

[4], In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

[14], And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

NOTE: JESUS is the living WORD OF GOD.

[12], But as many as received him [THE WORD OF GOD], to them gave he power to become the children of God, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME [MATTHEW 1:21, And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.]

NOTE: v12 and MATTHEW 1:21. JOHN 1:12 As many as received him [THE WORD OF GOD] to them he gave POWER to become the children of GOD. His name is JESUS [THE WORD OF GOD] because he [THE WORD OF GOD] will save all who receive him [BELIEVE AND FOLLOW THE WORD OF GOD]

1 PETER 1:22-23,

[22], Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto sincere love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:

[23], BEING BORN AGAIN, NOT OF CORRUPTIBLE SEED BUT OF INCORUPTIBLE, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which lives and ABIDES FOREVER [EVERLASTING].

LUKE 8:11, NOW THIS IS THE PARABLE; THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD.

1 JOHN 3:9, Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; FOR HIS SEED REMAINS IN HIM: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

1 JOHN 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, EVEN OUR FAITH [in the WORD OF GOD; the SEED must remain in us through FAITH].

PSALMS 119:11, YOUR WORD HAVE A HID IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU [in the WORD OF GOD; the SEED must remain in us through FAITH].

And this is the victory that overcomes the world, EVEN OUR FAITH in God’s WORD that is IN US.

JOHN 15:4-5,
[4] ABIDE IN ME AND I IN YOU [THE WORD OF GOD]. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. [5] I am the vine, you are the branches: He that stays in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for WITHOUT ME [THE WORD OF GOD] YOU CAN DO NOTHING. [6], If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [7], IF YOU ABIDE IN ME [THE LIVING WORD OF GOD] AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. [8], Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples. [9], As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love. [10], IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

NOTE: We cannot bear the fruit of obedience unless God’s WORD abides in us as we BELIEVE and follow him who calls us in love to love.

..............

CONCLUSION: WHAT IS THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL OF REVELATION 14:6?

The EVERLASTING Gospel is JESUS <Jesus means Savior; John 1:29> and JESUS is THE WORD OF GOD (John 1:1-14; 17:17; 14:6). THE WORD OF GOD is the GOSPEL BECAUSE BY FAITH IT IS OUR SAVIOR and this the IS GOOD NEWS to those who BELIEVE. (John 1:1-14; John 1:29; John 17:17; 14:6; Matthew 4:4) ALL OF GOD’S WORD IS THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL. It is the EVERLASTING GOSPEL because JESUS AND HIS WORD is EVERLASTING.

ALL THE WORD OF GOD IS THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL [GOOD NEWS]. It is God's POWER to save us from our sins as we BELIEVE and FOLLOW it.

God bless

 

[LoricaLady]

You cannot be doing "too many spiritual things." We can, however, be doing too many religious things, like reading the Bible and praying and praising but in a mechanical, rather than heart felt, way. Our Heavenly Father tells us that those who keep their minds stayed on Him will be kept in perfect peace.

It seems about the video games that it may be your conscience that is convicting you. Inside you is known what is not right and what is too much. So, I would say go with that and pray to find better forms of entertainment.

 

[Brendan3248]

I am having some desires to revert or regress to a more worldly existence. I've had it before and I fight it.

It won't win but out of curiousity what are some good strategies for fighting this?

Could this be burnout from focusing on spiritual matters so much?

I mean this as only a semi-personal question. While these are actual thoughts I am having I hope other people can relate and discuss.

I to have been struggling with thoughts like these. Just a few hours ago I almost fell back into an old bad habit of mine. How can I stop it from happening again. I know that the Lord is with me, but I sometimes feel that I am not strong enough and that something will happen that will draw me back to my sinful ways, and I don't know what to do.

 

[aiki]

I to have been struggling with thoughts like these. Just a few hours ago I almost fell back into an old bad habit of mine. How can I stop it from happening again. I know that the Lord is with me, but I sometimes feel that I am not strong enough and that something will happen that will draw me back to my sinful ways, and I don't know what to do.

Well, if you were strong enough to do things the way God has commanded you to, you wouldn't have just fallen into an old sinful habit, right? But, as you just demonstrated, you aren't strong enough. And, you never will be. God, you see, doesn't intend that you should make yourself godly. You can only produce more of you. The only One who can make you godly is God. He does so, though, when you humble yourself before Him (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6) and admit you can't ever, on your own, be what He wants you to be, submit yourself to His Spirit's transforming will and way (James 4:7), and surrender yourself as a vessel for His use moment-by-moment through every day (Romans 12:1). This is the way to victory over all sin.

Understand, though, that coming fully under God's power and authority in how you live means your "old man," your Self, must die. In fact, it is already "dead," that is, crucified with Christ some 2000 years, and thus rendered powerless to cause you to sin. This is terribly important to understand because it is from Self that all of your sin rises. When Self is counted dead, as the apostle Paul says that it ought to be (Romans 6:11), then you can begin to stand in the freedom from sin that is your spiritual birthright in Christ.

Romans 6:6-11
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God.
11 Likewise reckon yourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 5:24
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Colossians 3:1-3
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

You may not feel you are dead to sin, and your experience may not reveal that you are dead to sin, but the Bible says, if you are God's child, you ARE dead to sin. What will you choose to believe? Remember, the "just shall live by faith," and the Christian is to walk "by faith, not by sight." Such living requires that we trust ourselves to what God says is true, not what our feelings or experience might indicate is true. And when we do, when we "walk by faith, not by sight" and reckon ourselves dead unto sin, it is then that we begin to experience the truth of what God has said about us as His children.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

I to have been struggling with thoughts like these. Just a few hours ago I almost fell back into an old bad habit of mine. How can I stop it from happening again. I know that the Lord is with me, but I sometimes feel that I am not strong enough and that something will happen that will draw me back to my sinful ways, and I don't know what to do.

Try reading post # 9 linked above