lead off the straight and narrow path

[ilovechocolate]

Does this ever happen to anyone?

I can be a great Christian for weeks at a time .. i read my Bible, pray, I'm nice to others and I can feel the holy spirit within me.. but then, I don't know, something happens and I get lead off that "straight and narrow path" and start do ignore my Bible and im lazy and forget to pray..

I hate it! I want to be a good Christian all the time. does this happen to anyone else? how do you stay on the path?!

 

[hlaltimus]

"Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me." Psalms 119:133 When you set up the Bible as your standard of conduct, that Bible has then already decided for you what you will desire, think, say or do. This God ordained system of Christian living requires consistent faith, sacrifice and love for God and His word, but it makes things a lot more simple when one has a set of compete instructions. As long as I follow that set of instructions it will get the credit for my success in the event of my compliance and it's accuracy. If those instructions are inaccurate then God is to be blamed, but this is an utter impossibility. You can't loose.

 

[ephraimanesti]

Does this ever happen to anyone?

I can be a great Christian for weeks at a time .. i read my Bible, pray, I'm nice to others and I can feel the holy spirit within me.. but then, I don't know, something happens and I get lead off that "straight and narrow path" and start do ignore my Bible and im lazy and forget to pray..

I hate it! I want to be a good Christian all the time. does this happen to anyone else? how do you stay on the path?!

MY DEAR SISTER IN CHRIST,

Getting tired of my lectures, aren't you ?
Yes, what you describe above happens to most of us from time to time, and it bothers most of us a lot--just like it does you. As in your two postings above, the answer once again is to DEVELOP A LOVING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LORD GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
By way of example, and running the risk of sounding perhaps sacrilegious, think of your relationship with our Lord in the same way you would think about your relationship with the best and most wonderful and most adorable boyfriend any young lady was ever lucky enough to have. i mean FANTASIZE THAT YOU ARE SERIOUSLY SPRUNG on this young man. Now, in all honesty, if you had this kind of relationship with this kind of boyfriend--would you not be focused on him 24/7 just waiting for the phone to ring, just waiting to meet him in the hall at school, just waiting for your next chance to be with him, just waiting to talk and giggle about him to your friends? Would you get lazy and ignore him; would you turn your back on him and wander away with something else on your mind; would you forget to call him as you promised? I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soooooooooooooo . . . . . what i am suggesting to you here is the same thing i suggested to you in your other two Posts--because, in truth, you are asking the same question in three different ways--BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER--Get to know our Lord as you would seek to get to know the hypothetical boyfriend mentioned above. Read about Him, talk to Him, taste and see how really good our Lord is. As you develop and grow in this relationship with Him, you will find yourself more and more focused on our Lord and His Wonderous Love, and becoming less and less likely to wander off "the straight and narrow path" as you put it, and get involved with things which may not be pleasing to the One Who Loved YOU enought to give His Life for YOU and the Cross.
Our Lord is born in the flesh 2 days from now--MAY HE BE BORN IN YOUR HEART AS WELL!

ALL BLESSINGS, PEACE, AND JOY FROM JESUS TO YOU--MAY HIS LOVE KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!
ephraimanesti

P.S. i might suggest you read through the "Chronicles of Narnia" series if you haven't already. Aslan (Jesus) is a pretty loveable individual alright, alright, that Love transfers easily to the real Lion of Judah! Enjoy!

 

[Just Me Garry]

Does this ever happen to anyone?

I can be a great Christian for weeks at a time .. i read my Bible, pray, I'm nice to others and I can feel the holy spirit within me.. but then, I don't know, something happens and I get lead off that "straight and narrow path" and start do ignore my Bible and im lazy and forget to pray..

I hate it! I want to be a good Christian all the time. does this happen to anyone else? how do you stay on the path?!

It has happend to most if not all of us. You are going to be alright. Maybe the Lord just wants you focus on what you have learned and absorb it than go on. Growing and maturing in the Lord is a lifetime ordeal--we never will attain that perfect status on this earth. All we can do is strive to please the Lord.

Here is a scripture I really love:

Mic 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
KJV

 

[HoosierCanuck]

I have the same problem only probably worse. I am a Christian on Sunday for a couple of hours then life gets in the way. I can't seem to get into reading the Bible...lack of ability to concentrate. Praying is the same way. I love to pray...I love to know that I may in some small way be helping someone by offering up their cares to God...support, if you will. However, throughout the week I have a heck of a time getting it done. It makes me so mad. I feel helpless to the power of the world/Satan so much. Sometimes I wonder if I just need to have a 40days/40nights alone like Jesus. I wonder sometimes if even that would be enough to get me focused on what is right. Good luck to you sister, you're not alone in your struggles. I wish I could offer advice.

 

[Etienne]

Totally have this going on too. I think everyone at some point in their Christian walk does. You can't expect to be on top of the mountain forever, until you are in Heaven. I just try to pray more and focus on God more during those times of straying.

 

[BlueJ]

That happens to me too. That's why we need to grow strong in faith and pray for endurence. Sometimes christians get mixed with the world which maks us weak. I'ts like this. We have to avoid such things that is not of God, because those things weaken our spiritual walk with God. I've learn that the best thing to do is to pray for wisdom. In that way you'll know which direction to take to avoid confusion. Confusion leds us blindness. Imagin walking with God blindfold. You'll get lost and distracted.

 

[holo]

The terms "good christian" and "bad christian" make me nauseus.

There's no such thing. God doesn't relate to His christians, but to His children. It's not like God likes you better when you get your act together in one way or another.

But as long as you see yourself as a christian instead of God's daughter, you'll struggle like this. I've lost so much of my life because of it. I hope you'll get out of it really soon. Compare God with you father. If your father's a jerk, compare Him with the best possible father you can imagine. Your being your father's daughter has nothing whatsoever to do with what you read, how often you speak, what you watch, or anything else that you do. You're a daughter because you're born by your mother. There's nothing in the universe that can EVER change that in ANY way. God doesn't expect you to live up to anything - you never could - but rather He longs to see you rest and enjoy your identity and birthright as His own child.

 

[Etienne]

The terms "good christian" and "bad christian" make me nauseus.

There's no such thing. God doesn't relate to His christians, but to His children. It's not like God likes you better when you get your act together in one way or another.

But as long as you see yourself as a christian instead of God's daughter, you'll struggle like this. I've lost so much of my life because of it. I hope you'll get out of it really soon. Compare God with you father. If your father's a jerk, compare Him with the best possible father you can imagine. Your being your father's daughter has nothing whatsoever to do with what you read, how often you speak, what you watch, or anything else that you do. You're a daughter because you're born by your mother. There's nothing in the universe that can EVER change that in ANY way. God doesn't expect you to live up to anything - you never could - but rather He longs to see you rest and enjoy your identity and birthright as His own child.

Man. That was awesome. Thanks.

 

[millerrod]

Gods way- the path is Love it is defined in 1 Cor13:4-7 there are 12 manners-fruits- caracteristics of Love. seal these 12 in your mind and heart and hands and put them on a card in your pocket. every thing you do every decission you make, every time you open your mouth, every thing you do try not to go against these 12 manners of Love. if you will do this you will be dead center on the path. God is Love

 

[HoosierCanuck]

I hate the word "love". I guess that's part of my problem. God is love and I 'love' God but I hate the word 'love' because in a human to human sense, I can't comprehend it. My parents love me because it's their job as parents but other than that 'love' is a forbidden fruit in my life. I think sometimes this is what keeps me from being the kind of person God wants me to be because I get all freaked out when I start reading or hearing about 'love'. eeeeeeeeew!

Sorry...a little off topic I reckon.

 

[millerrod]

the bible states God is Love and to know God we must learn Love, Christ is our example of Love.

 

[HoosierCanuck]

True. I just don't feel I am capable. :-(

 

[millerrod]

God asks no more than but to try

 

[holo]

God asks no more than but to try

I don't agree. When I try, it's implicated that it has to do with MY power and MY abilities. Luckily, my own power doesn't come into play, because it's by HIS power.

His power is even made perfect in our weakness.

So no, don't try.

Or, as the brilliant band Adam Again put it, "try not to try."

 

[millerrod]

to know God is to know Love to know Love we must study Love is not study trying

 

[surfs]

Jesus summorized all our resposibilities into--Love God,Love others,Love yourself but the third one is often the hardest one for many people to follow.If we can not accept who we are,it is hard to love others as they are, or to love a God who made us in a way we do not like.Yet we are loved by God so much He sent His son to die on our behalf for our sins.If we are of such value to God and are now joint heirs with Christ can we not accept ourselves,take the risk of rejection in loving others and receive the love God is ready to pour into our lives?God gives us the ability to love as we allow Him freedom to move in our lives--We are to let go and let God.Capable to love--yes with His help---in Christ--Terry