Lack of Discipline, finding balance

[butterflycharm]

I have been struggling with many things in my life at this current time and I feel very overwhelmed. Some of these situations are of my own making and some of them are things that come up in life. It comes down to being tempted by sin… even down to the smallest of things.

I know I need to read in my bible, spend time with God, pray more often, go to Church more etc… I lack self discipline. In the past when I have tried to make changes in my life (and didn’t see it through) I felt so ashamed of myself for not being able to follow through. Now when I even think of making these changes, I get anxiety and an overwhelmed feeling; I fail before I start.

I get exhausted just thinking of what I “need / want” to change in my life.
How do I find balance?

 

[Peripatetic]

What you are experiencing is exhausting and overwhelming, but very normal. The shame and discouragement is meant to prevent you from starting because we believe we can't do it and don't even know where to start. That's the worldly lie that the devil wants us to believe. With God, though, it's a much more reasonable plan with a pace that can be successful. It just takes patience. We won't change all of our habits overnight, but God wants progress in your heart most of all. The fact that you are here posting this shows that is happening already. So take it one step at a time and take comfort in the fact that God understands exactly what you want and what holds you back.

 

[asiyreh]

You don't really. Think about it like a journey. Sure there's moments of rest, sometimes The Holy spirit will sit you down and tell you to rest in his love.

Most of the time it's a journey and a struggle.

He never said it would be easy just that it would be worth it.

It's 1 step, don't look at the mountain. The mountain looks impossible, but close your human eyes trust Christ, and take 1 step...

Faith can... move the mountain...

 

[butterflycharm]

Thank you for your replies. This helped me!

 

[parsley]

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

That means it's not all on you to make it happen. The Holy Spirit guides, heals, empowers, and works within us to bring about needed change. God wants us to lean on Him for help. That is part of the miracle of life with Him -- all the amazing things He can do when we let Him and invite Him to.

Behavior changes are seldom immediate -- but God knows our hearts and intents. He is not surprised when a human has a hard time resisting old patterns. We are always succumbing to temptations.

Just yesterday, I was noticing how easily I was getting dragged into negative talk about people -- allowing someone to pull me into it when I know, know, know that's what's going to happen if I bring up certain subjects. My vulnerability doesn't go away-- I just need to make clearer choices when I know what's right.

Look forward.

 

[butterflycharm]

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

That means it's not all on you to make it happen. The Holy Spirit guides, heals, empowers, and works within us to bring about needed change. God wants us to lean on Him for help. That is part of the miracle of life with Him -- all the amazing things He can do when we let Him and invite Him to.

Behavior changes are seldom immediate -- but God knows our hearts and intents. He is not surprised when a human has a hard time resisting old patterns. We are always succumbing to temptations.

Just yesterday, I was noticing how easily I was getting dragged into negative talk about people -- allowing someone to pull me into it when I know, know, know that's what's going to happen if I bring up certain subjects. My vulnerability doesn't go away-- I just need to make clearer choices when I know what's right.

Look forward.

I have noticed how easy it is to get dragged into negative talk also. I have been trying very hard to not to make any comments when someone says something negative about another person. I ask myself, would I want this comment quoted on the front page of the newspaper with my picture. If the answer is no, its probably not worth saying. Like Joyce Meyer, I often pray to keep my big mouth shut!

Thanks for the repy.

 

[parsley]

Like Joyce Meyer, I often pray to keep my big mouth shut!

Ha, yes, most of us don't focus enough on that.

I ask myself, would I want this comment quoted on the front page of the newspaper with my picture.

That's a great idea. Especially these days, when our words and actions really do go public without us knowing.

 

[emilyfaith]

I encourage you to go through the devotional "Masterlife" by Avery T. Willis, Jr. It teaches exactly what you are wanting to know: how to be spiritually disciplined. Also, it contains the basics of what it means to be a Christian, which is very refreshing for new Christians as well as long time Christians.
I just got done with the first book last Saturday and it's great.

 

[Emmy]

Dear butterflycharm. In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus gives us some very good advice: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as you love thyself." Then Jesus states this great fact: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our Love,
God wants us to treat others, ( friends and not friends) treat them as we love to be treated: kindly and with friendly words always. The Bible tells us to
" Repent," to exchange our selfishness to loving and caring.
Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with His Love, also. Jesus told us to: "ask and ye shall receive," then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. ( Matthew 7: 7-8) God will see our efforts and God will bless us, we will keep on asking God and thanking God, then sharing all Love and Joy with all around us. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Loving and Caring.
A Christian`s great weapon is Love, Love will overcome all enmity and Love will change all for the better. People around us will treat us the same as we treat people. You do`nt need Discipline to be loving, all you need is Love with NO tags attached . Jesus will keep helping and guiding us, JESUS IS THE WAY. Ask, thank, and share, that is not much to remember butterflycharm.
Love will also change you into the child our Heavenly Father wants you to be.
I say this with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[Harry3142]

Butterflycharm-

Christianity is not an organization; it's an organism, with Christ as its head and we as the various members of its body. Because of this, legalistic reasoning doesn't work nearly so well as motivational reasoning does. Two passages which point this out are:

Romans 7:14-25, in which St. Paul himself recognized that even he had problems when he concentrated on having his conduct conform to legalistic reasoning. And

Galatians 5:16-26, in which the motivations which we are to see as the remnants of the sinful nature (acts of the sinful nature) are contrasted with the motivations which are to be embraced as our new nature (the fruit of the Spirit).

 

[parsley]

I notice that right before I do something I'll regret, I get a twinge of conviction, which I can use for strength.

But also I entertain a twinge of envy or justification -- quick thoughts like "everyone else seems to get away with this." Not even big evil things or long-term jealousies... just things that are out of character for me, that end up throwing off other things.

I don't eat fast food often, but picture it in my mind as something other people treat themselves with. When people say "let's just stop at McDonald's," I get a little excited because I don't go there myself. (Don't laugh at me!)

I change my standards because someone else "made me do it." I can blame them if something goes wrong.

We're surrounded with people who criticize fast food, criticize chain stores, criticize non-organic, criticize non-vegan... and it's like we can't open our mouths without someone snapping back at us with how wrong they think we are.

That doesn't make us wrong.

In Christianity, there are people who say you should read through the Bible every year, memorize a verse every day, stop wearing makeup, remove your tattoos, bring your Bible to church... but are any of these people praying for your life to improve?

Find a group of people who are truly focused on what God wants in their lives -- not just doing Christianity right. Find people who believe that God listens to them, answers their prayers, and so they are willing to invest time and energy in talking with Him.