Vows and OCD

I usually tend to view anything that is bondage not to have originated from God.

What if those hobbies and career aspirations are part of God's plan for your life? I think the biggest question is do you think God is holding you to those promises, or has He released you from them?

Ultimately, I do not think it's about keeping those particular promises, but rather keeping what they represent. They represent your willingness to put God ahead of other things in your life. It's up to God to decide which things should be there or not. At different times in your life, different things will and won't be there at God's leading. We use our best judgement as to what God does or does not want us to be doing, but we need to be open to His direction (and changes in His direction).

I can relate, and am currently still struggling with some of these things. However, I didn't give up the potential idols until after they became like idols to me and started pulling me away from my focus on God. Once I realize they have become idols, I have to work VERY hard to get myself away and stay away.
I also understand making promises to God that seem unrealistic now but felt necessary at the time. I know we're supposed to keep our promises, so I feel obliged to, but I understand that it can be a burden. I also don't quite remember if I made a promise, so I feel like I have to keep it even though I don't remember making the promise. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 is where my guilt-trip comes from.)

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2. I think that we just have to ask God to help us determine what is working to pull us away from Him and then decide where to go from there. We can also pray that God will help us not to fall into temptation so these things don't become idols in the first place.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. I believe that if you ask God to relieve you of the burdens of keeping these promises made long ago, He will make it easier for you to handle it. Although, I have mixed feelings about whether or not to continue giving up these things just because you made a promise a while back that you didn't want to make. However, if you feel God is really calling you to give up something or continue to give up something, you should listen to Him. On the other hand, if God is compelling you to do something again that you previously promised to give up, I think it's okay to go back to doing it because it's God telling you to do so.

allaneparker said:

I can point to lots of Scripture that goes against what I've done, the most notable being in Colossians 2 where Paul is calling out people who are abstaining from various things by saying that 'abstinence is of no value against fleshly indulgence'. Essentially, while my intentions were good, according to Paul in Colossians, abstaining from these things just doesn't work. I can certainly attest to this, these things have become more of an idol now than they ever were before. The problem I'm having is that even with this reasoning, and even with Scripture telling me I'm wrong, I still can't shake the conviction that I have to keep my word. As long as there remains the shadow of a doubt my mind won't let me be free. I don't think anything short of an audible voice from heaven will be able to get through my head.

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I understand. It's just hard to know what God wants you to do in these situations.

Praying for you everyday and night Jesus loves you and knows you have OCD he love you more than anyone I love you too
here if you ever need to talk i know how bad OCD can be

allaneparker said:

Long story short, I was struggling with OCD a while back, and engaging in some very legalistic thinking and behaviours. For example I thought that God wanted me to stay awake all night and agonize over my Bible, or else I would go to hell. A very rough time of my life, which has thankfully cleared up for the most part. However, at the time I told God that I would give up some things indefinitely (hobbies, types of food, career aspirations) that I enjoyed, simply because I enjoy them. I was afraid they might eventually become idols, but ironically enough they are far more potent idols now that I've given them up than they ever were before. Looking back with a clearer head, I am sure that I was wrong to promise to give up these things, but I feel that I'm bound to my word. I can even point to verses in Scripture that show this was a wrong promise to make, but all the logic in the world can't seem to shake my head loose from these self made laws, which are burdensome to try to keep. Thoughts?

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Hi, are you still active?

I'm going through the exact situation

allaneparker said:

Long story short, I was struggling with OCD a while back, and engaging in some very legalistic thinking and behaviours. For example I thought that God wanted me to stay awake all night and agonize over my Bible, or else I would go to hell. A very rough time of my life, which has thankfully cleared up for the most part. However, at the time I told God that I would give up some things indefinitely (hobbies, types of food, career aspirations) that I enjoyed, simply because I enjoy them. I was afraid they might eventually become idols, but ironically enough they are far more potent idols now that I've given them up than they ever were before. Looking back with a clearer head, I am sure that I was wrong to promise to give up these things, but I feel that I'm bound to my word. I can even point to verses in Scripture that show this was a wrong promise to make, but all the logic in the world can't seem to shake my head loose from these self made laws, which are burdensome to try to keep. Thoughts?

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God understands OCD!

This passage came to my mind,

I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me.

Bible Gateway passage: Philippians 3 - New International Reader's Version

It's interesting you describe it as legalistic. I was listening to someone else that connected their OCD behavior to legalism. That makes sense because in a way you are trying to "earn" your salvation rather than believing it comes through Jesus' sacrifice. One might find it useful to remind themselves they are saved by Jesus and not works when their OCD pushes them to compulsions.

I'm feeling the same. I felt like i should say i'm gonna leave video games, cause i was constantly wondering maybe it's wordly and sin and so on,but i was not playing much, almost at all.I said i want to spend more time with God, what i meant. After that i started thinking about ok, but i didnt meant forever, then started figuring out can i or what, how long but these reasonings just drained me and keeps.Im not sure what to do. I asked for forgiveness.Would i be sinning if i played in the future just in case? Should i decide to leave games forever? If He wants me to do it, i would. Just want to,, solve'' this already. Honestly it would be better if someone agreed on that it's the right thing to do

Zoli12452 said:

I'm feeling the same. I felt like i should say i'm gonna leave video games, cause i was constantly wondering maybe it's wordly and sin and so on,but i was not playing much, almost at all.I said i want to spend more time with God, what i meant. After that i started thinking about ok, but i didnt meant forever, then started figuring out can i or what, how long but these reasonings just drained me and keeps.Im not sure what to do. I asked for forgiveness.Would i be sinning if i played in the future just in case? Should i decide to leave games forever? If He wants me to do it, i would. Just want to,, solve'' this already. Honestly it would be better if someone agreed on that it's the right thing to do

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Thinking about this and the OP, sometimes people get hung up on the still, small voice idea,
and spend lots of time wondering if God said something.

My suggestion, if you're looking for suggestions , is to ask God that if he has something to tell you to please say it nice and loud.

Then go enjoy your video games until you hear different for sure.

Peace be with you!

Zoli12452 said:

I'm feeling the same. I felt like i should say i'm gonna leave video games, cause i was constantly wondering maybe it's wordly and sin and so on,but i was not playing much, almost at all.I said i want to spend more time with God, what i meant. After that i started thinking about ok, but i didnt meant forever, then started figuring out can i or what, how long but these reasonings just drained me and keeps.Im not sure what to do. I asked for forgiveness.Would i be sinning if i played in the future just in case? Should i decide to leave games forever? If He wants me to do it, i would. Just want to,, solve'' this already. Honestly it would be better if someone agreed on that it's the right thing to do

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Why do you feel that it would be a sin to play video games in the future?

Mari17 said:

Why do you feel that it would be a sin to play video games in the future?

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Not overcomplicating..
So the thing that i'm unsure about this is that i didnt clarify it, i didnt say forever, nor did i say a specific time, and did not specify what games. Since the Bible says one should fulfill his promises as he said with his mouth, i said like this, so i dont know if it mean that no games at all, also maybe not even thinking about them ?I asked for forgiveness, cause i didnt mean like that, but since then i said it a lot of times out of doubt and kept wondering if it still has to be kept that way or not. I just want to get back in relationship with God, i just want to repent, and know what to do to not sin

Zoli12452 said:

Not overcomplicating..
So the thing that i'm unsure about this is that i didnt clarify it, i didnt say forever, nor did i say a specific time, and did not specify what games. Since the Bible says one should fulfill his promises as he said with his mouth, i said like this, so i dont know if it mean that no games at all, also maybe not even thinking about them ?I asked for forgiveness, cause i didnt mean like that, but since then i said it a lot of times out of doubt and kept wondering if it still has to be kept that way or not. I just want to get back in relationship with God, i just want to repent, and know what to do to not sin

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What do you feel like you said?

Guys read Matthew 18:21 there IS forgiveness dont worry !!