Why do I feel so bad about EVERYTHING I do?

[Seonta]

Its almost like God wants me to give up all earthly stuff. I feel guilty when and because I watch T.V, read books, write, go on the computer. And its not even bad stuff, because nothing (or almost nothing) I read or watch has magic, voilence, profanity, ect in it. I feel like I always feel like I should be reading the bible, so I'll go and read like a page (you know what a page in the bible is like) and the pressure doesn't ease up at all. And I do that on and off all day. I mean, I want to read the bible and I know I should and everything but I can't be reading it all day! And the tension at night from so much stress is unbearable. I even feel kind of guilty at doing this! And I'm always afraid I'll render my consieunce useless if I ignore it.
Wow I never thought about how weird this is.

 

[Dondi]

That's great! You have a hunger for God's Word! I believe God is nurturing your soul and tilling the fertile ground in you heart in preparation for something. Something good. Something that will enable you to be used of God in a mighty way.

God encouraged Joshua:

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." - Joshua 1:8

Deut. 6:4-9 exhorts:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."

And Psalm 119 is all about God's Word:

"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." vs 2.

"With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." vs 10-11.

"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." vs 97.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." vs 105.

I greatly encourage you to continue in His Word, but don't neglect the needful things of your everyday life. Don't shut yourself to much from your world, your friends, or your family.

Yes, some things that even seem neutral or not bad could interfere with our spiritual life if we allow those things to crowd in our lives too much. I think it is a healthy regard to guard your heart, mind, and soul from things that can cause you to waste time in unfruitful activities. We are probably all guilty of that. It's a fine line to walk the narrow path and it is easy to veer off into a direction that draws our heart away from God. We must learn to be temperate in all things.

But I thank God that someone as young as you desires the things of God.

 

[Kelly]

I think that God is pushing you to find or discover something in the Word. Perhaps an answer to a question that's been plaguing you?

 

[Acorend]

I am with the OP on this one. I've been feeling the same way. I'm finding that the more I just think about the Word I get more....agitated. I'm not talking 'bad' agitated really just...passion..burning desire for more and more of God. Then I start feeling guilty about things I've done or that I haven't come to "true" repentance. I worry about my salvation...which is why I came here

Anyway I'm going through exactly the same things that you describe...exactly.

I thought I was alone in this. Awesome how God works.

 

[fifi]

I think is awsome that you are reading your bible daily because there are alot of so called christians out there that do not study the word of God. I also feel that God is trying to pull you way from the world even though you said that you dont watch anything bad and things like that it seems that God is working in you to be sold out all the time it may be times where he is calling you to pray are fast are study and mabe he is just preparing your heart for when that times does come.

 

[Dondi]

Seonta & Acorend,

Both of you are forming convictions. I believe that as you immerse yourself in God's Word, God's Holy Spirit is operating in your heart to bring to you things to your mind that He wants you to deal with. God is purging both of you - "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." - I Peter 1:7-9. But the purging process might not always be pleasant. God is dealing with things in you life that may not be in accordance to His will. Are you willing to give up those things? But know that whatever things you give up, God has something much, much better in it's place.


Acorend, what do you mean that you worry about your salvation? Surely you seek God for confirmation that God is saving you. If you have truly trusted Christ as your Savior, then God is bound by the Promises of His Word to save you. "For whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" - Romans 10:13 Have you done this yet? If so, then as you seek God, He will bring changes to your life and mold you into the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It appears you already are seeking God. And you can know that God loves you as you obey His commandments. Just keep loving God, my friends.

 

[Seonta]

Wow, thanks everyone. That was encouraging. And those bible verses were a big help. I didn't know what the heck was going on. Its nice to know that I'm not alone in this Acorend. I think now that I should start reading the bible for long periods of time instead of being all anxious to finish and do something else, ect.

 

[SteelDisciple]

Its almost like God wants me to give up all earthly stuff. I feel guilty when and because I watch T.V, read books, write, go on the computer. And its not even bad stuff, because nothing (or almost nothing) I read or watch has magic, voilence, profanity, ect in it. I feel like I always feel like I should be reading the bible, so I'll go and read like a page (you know what a page in the bible is like) and the pressure doesn't ease up at all. And I do that on and off all day. I mean, I want to read the bible and I know I should and everything but I can't be reading it all day! And the tension at night from so much stress is unbearable. I even feel kind of guilty at doing this! And I'm always afraid I'll render my consieunce useless if I ignore it.
Wow I never thought about how weird this is.

Here's how I look at it. Solomon was one of the wisest men of the Bible (obviously so since God thought it would be a good idea to have more than ONE book written by him in the Bible) And yet Solomon was known for lavish parties. He was wise, but he knew fun wasn't a sin.

You will find Christians, sometimes the holier-than-thou types, but other types too...who think any kind of fun is a sin and they take the "let every breathe you have praise the Lord" far too deep. Take a look at The Songs of Solomon...it was an entire book devoted to the love of a woman.

The point i'm making is..you can still have good, wholesome fun and still live a Godly life. Solomon did.

 

[Jessica Lauren]

I'm actually the same way right now. I'll get this burning feeling in my heart and glance at my Bible. I then grab my Bible and have to read it. I do this multiple times a day. I never considered that maybe God was trying to help me with something in my life or show me something by this.

 

[Izzy23]

I'm with you all on this one. I feel the same way. I don't feel comfortable anymore unless I'm talking to God, praying or reading my scriptures. Even when I'm doing regular things, I feel like I need to be at least praying.

Peace
Izzy

 

[11MAN]

Its almost like God wants me to give up all earthly stuff. I feel guilty when and because I watch T.V, read books, write, go on the computer. And its not even bad stuff, because nothing (or almost nothing) I read or watch has magic, voilence, profanity, ect in it. I feel like I always feel like I should be reading the bible, so I'll go and read like a page (you know what a page in the bible is like) and the pressure doesn't ease up at all. And I do that on and off all day. I mean, I want to read the bible and I know I should and everything but I can't be reading it all day! And the tension at night from so much stress is unbearable. I even feel kind of guilty at doing this! And I'm always afraid I'll render my consieunce useless if I ignore it.
Wow I never thought about how weird this is.

Hi,
I read your message and I wish to encourage you to not grow weary at God's calling on your life. The vanity and deception of the world is not of God. This is of the world. I encourage you to read all of 1 John. He calls the church NOT to LOVE THE WORLD or THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. We know when these things convict us that they are wrong, that we are being drawn by God's Holy Spirit to purify ourselves from the filth of the world and the vain pleasures of life. The Psalms say, "He that sows in tears shall reap in joy". Ecclesiastes and many of the prophets speak of the vanity of enjoying the things in this life and setting our desires on them, rather than focusing on denying ourselves. What may make you feel strange even in church, with many preachers and passtors preaching (Kingdom now- Prosperity) is actually pure conviction from God of His desire to weep and interceed for a world that is facing a most certain cataclysmic future of grief, sorrow and judgment. Rejoice, God has opened your eyes to the truth. and as it is written "No eye has seen nor ear heard nor has it entered nito the heart of man, the things God has in store for those who love Him."
I pray that God keeps you and strengthens you. Jesus wont take a luke warm believer into his body, he spits them out (Revelation 3- letter to the Laodiceans.) We must give ALL of our heart, mind soul and strength to him.

God bless you
J

 

[Nadiine]

Its almost like God wants me to give up all earthly stuff. I feel guilty when and because I watch T.V, read books, write, go on the computer. And its not even bad stuff, because nothing (or almost nothing) I read or watch has magic, voilence, profanity, ect in it. I feel like I always feel like I should be reading the bible, so I'll go and read like a page (you know what a page in the bible is like) and the pressure doesn't ease up at all. And I do that on and off all day. I mean, I want to read the bible and I know I should and everything but I can't be reading it all day! And the tension at night from so much stress is unbearable. I even feel kind of guilty at doing this! And I'm always afraid I'll render my consieunce useless if I ignore it.
Wow I never thought about how weird this is.

I know how you feel, I get this too at different times in my life, but usually not to this degree. It's usually just in an area or 2 in my life that God seems to be 'cleaning up' or 'pruning out'.

I thought I'd mention something else as a possibility too, it might not be God convicting you to continually read or not do any earthly things, it could also be your adversary using spiritual guilt trips as an attack.

Even heavy, chronic conviction is totally understandable -which I've also gotten, but I start to question if it's God when it's completely consuming you to a level where you can't even feel comfort being a human being & doing normal things.

I wouldn't dare say who the source is, as it's not my place in your life & I don't know all the details.
Just be on guard against works-based guilt trips; performing, doing works, etc.
Legalists fall into guilt trips/traps like this all the time thinking it's God.

God's peace to you

 

[BigNorsk]

Seonta,

It is difficult to know for sure what is going on. It doesn't sound to me so much like you are experiencing a hunger but that you are grappling with false guilt.

Many people fall into this, especially women. It kind of cycles. If they are with the children, they feel guilty because they could be working, if they are working they are feeling guilty because they could be with the kids... No matter what they do, they feel guilty that they aren't doing something else.

There's a time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 KJV
(1) To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
(2) A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
(3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
(4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
(5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
(6) A time to get, [9] and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
(7) A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
(8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
(9) What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
(10) I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
(11) He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
(12) I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
(13) And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

Don't rob yourself of enjoying life. It is a gift from God to be enjoyed.

Marv

 

[JonF]

I think you should spend some more time in the bible, but also remember Romans 8, “Therefore there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ who as set us free from the law of sin and death…”

 

[holo]

And I'm always afraid I'll render my consieunce useless if I ignore it.

Well, your conscience IS useless - that is, it's never been a good navigational tool. It's far too subject to pressure and change and habit and culture.

The fact is that THERE IS NO condemnation for you. Your conscience is telling you otherwise. It's not conviction - God doesn't make you feel bad, He does not under any circumstance ever make you feel inferior or hopeless. Imagine Peter, after the Lord had given him all this "unclean" meat to eat - do you think he just munched away, or that he felt comfortable about it after a few bites? I don't think so. I'm sure it took Peter months, maybe years, to get over his guilty conscience. I'm sure every Jewish fiber in him was screaming "unclean! Unclean!" - but he knew that God's word was above his feelings and his conscience. He knew that Christ IS our righteousness. He knew that there is in fact no condemnation for us who believe.

I don't dare advise you on how exactly you should deal with these emotions. I'm not suggesting you pay no attention to them. But I'm sure it would be wise of you to not let them make your decisions. Go with what you believe, what you're convinced of. Right and wrong is certainly not determined by your conscience.

 

[Nadiine]

Well, your conscience IS useless - that is, it's never been a good navigational tool. It's far too subject to pressure and change and habit and culture.

The fact is that THERE IS NO condemnation for you. Your conscience is telling you otherwise. It's not conviction - God doesn't make you feel bad, He does not under any circumstance ever make you feel inferior or hopeless. Imagine Peter, after the Lord had given him all this "unclean" meat to eat - do you think he just munched away, or that he felt comfortable about it after a few bites? I don't think so. I'm sure it took Peter months, maybe years, to get over his guilty conscience. I'm sure every Jewish fiber in him was screaming "unclean! Unclean!" - but he knew that God's word was above his feelings and his conscience. He knew that Christ IS our righteousness. He knew that there is in fact no condemnation for us who believe.

I don't dare advise you on how exactly you should deal with these emotions. I'm not suggesting you pay no attention to them. But I'm sure it would be wise of you to not let them make your decisions. Go with what you believe, what you're convinced of. Right and wrong is certainly not determined by your conscience.

Well, I see what yo'ure trying to say here, but I do disagree that our "consciences are USELESS".
God gives everyone the inner knowledge of right from wrong innately. (Rom. 1, Rom 2:14-16, Jer. 31).
Conscience is a very GOOD guide alerting us to right & wrongs - no one has ever claimed it's a PERFECT guide or the ONLY guide.
Of course I agree that the BIBLE - God's Words to us- always usurps our feelings & beliefs that might be contrary to truth.

1 Tim. speaks of the conscience being 'seared with a hot iron'... you CAN shut your conscience off and dull it by continually rebelling against what is right.

I believe God's Spirit works in & thru our conscience and heart to convict us of our thoughts & actions. There is a healthy 'guilty conscience' when we know we're doing wrong.
We may not be CONDEMNED by God for it, but we sure can be convicted by Him for it/corrected.

James 4:17 He who KNOWS to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

 

[holo]

Thanks for balancing it out a little. I do think though, that our consiences are unreliable at best, more often than not. I haven't got it all figured out yet, but judging by the OP, this person is suffering more under her conscience than being guided by it.

How do you make your choices? I'd like to hear tips and tactics. I mean, I'm sceptical about going by conscience and other emotions (I've been suffering from low self-esteem, anxiety, drunkenness and useless philosopies), I'd rather not put my trust in my own wits, and neither in my ability to interpret scripture... in any case I'll have to depend on the Lord. Perhaps we're just supposed to walk, then, to try, take a few chances and guesses, and learn from that. And in the meantime, of course, we may feel as free as the righteous children of God that we are

 

[Nadiine]

Thanks for balancing it out a little. I do think though, that our consiences are unreliable at best, more often than not. I haven't got it all figured out yet, but judging by the OP, this person is suffering more under her conscience than being guided by it.

How do you make your choices? I'd like to hear tips and tactics. I mean, I'm sceptical about going by conscience and other emotions (I've been suffering from low self-esteem, anxiety, drunkenness and useless philosopies), I'd rather not put my trust in my own wits, and neither in my ability to interpret scripture... in any case I'll have to depend on the Lord. Perhaps we're just supposed to walk, then, to try, take a few chances and guesses, and learn from that. And in the meantime, of course, we may feel as free as the righteous children of God that we are

I agree w/ your top paragraph - it actually doesn't sound to me like it's "God" leading him - it sounds more like an attack against him with WORKS-based religious things.
DO THIS more or you can't feel any peace... that's religious works without peace.
That's what leads me to believe it's not even God.

As far as choices.. i think my conscience (via Holy Spirit conviction) is a big part of my guide because I know what the Bible teaches me is sinful.
When I violate those things, (even before doing the act), I FEEL guilty. My heart & mind/conscience are IN TUNE w/ the Bible's teachings so I know right & wrong.

I also suffered w/ drinking (not being drunk... but having to have some alcohol to loosen up) & the others you listed. Useless philosophies never affect me becuz I'm heavily grounded in scripture which is the highest & purest wisdom from GOD.
Oprah just doesn't do a thing for me lol.

But there's ALOT we can know and interpret that's clearly written in scripture for us. How can you not interpret "do not commit adultery" wrong? ya know?
TONS of it is very obvious & clear for any to comprehend.
And, this is why God appointed us Teachers & Shepherds over us (1 Cor 12:27-30) - we learn from them. But IF one has the Holy Spirit in them, they will grow over time in knowledge of scripture understanding.

 

[jeolmstead]

Jesus said: "My yoke is easy and my burden is Light"....Whose heavy burden is weighing on you now? Conscience can only be a guide if it's trained by the Word of God.
God is not beating you up! We are saved by grace and we are kept in his hand by grace!

I do not believe you are under convection. It sounds more like condemnation to me.

 

[FLA2760]

Its almost like God wants me to give up all earthly stuff. I feel guilty when and because I watch T.V, read books, write, go on the computer. And its not even bad stuff, because nothing (or almost nothing) I read or watch has magic, voilence, profanity, ect in it. I feel like I always feel like I should be reading the bible, so I'll go and read like a page (you know what a page in the bible is like) and the pressure doesn't ease up at all. And I do that on and off all day. I mean, I want to read the bible and I know I should and everything but I can't be reading it all day! And the tension at night from so much stress is unbearable. I even feel kind of guilty at doing this! And I'm always afraid I'll render my consieunce useless if I ignore it.
Wow I never thought about how weird this is.

Hi
The key word is balance. There is therefore no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1a)