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Rejoice and be glad you are tempted!??
I was reading in James this week; I like James. Here is a guy who could have just walked around spouting off that he was the half brother of Jesus..."Ya, that's right Jesus is my bro" could have been James claim to fame. James could have been boastful but instead he taught people to put God's word into practice, to walk the walk, to show our faith and not to judge others, he was a humble man. You don't get far in James before I have to laugh. James 1:2 says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds". Ya, pure Joy, are you kidding me? I don't know about you, but finding "Pure Joy" in sexual addiction is not what comes to mind about my journey...but here is James telling me to "Consider it pure joy...when you face trials". James, have you ever felt deep, deep shame? In the darkest moments of this addiction, when I was doing things I could have never believed would be a part of my life...in that darkness was pure hell, no joy. Go a little further and there is more good news James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." So now I am to consider it pure joy and if i suffer under trial, then even better! So have any of you been feeling the joy of addiction? How? When I first came into recovery I was not sure I even liked God, I wondered where He was, I did not like his people and, had I met James who would have told me how great things really were, I might have had to clock him (maybe I should use the word rebuke him, you always have to be careful of family in a fight). Seriously, what does this mean...I think I have found it and I am interested in hearing from the rest of you about this? Why should we consider it pure joy to be run through the fire? As I have been writing this blog; as I have lead small groups; as I have begun to find a great church and help them...all because of my story and the trials I have faced, I have begun to see the joy James spoke about. As I have begun to come out of my shame and have shared the pain of my past...as I have begun to see hope in the eyes of others because of the miracles God has performed in my life...as I have seen marriages saved; I am finding the pure joy which James speaks about. I am using the trials of my past to help others understand that with God, all things are possible. With God you can find the peace and the joy in life. On these blogs I hear about women who are forgiving their husbands, I hear as you great men of God share your own triumphs and trials and it brings me pure joy. What has sharing your story with others done for you? In John 8:32 it says "...the truth will set you free", do you feel that way as you share your story? As you bring light into the darkness in your life and in the lives of others do you feel set free? One last thing I like about James is found in 2:12-13. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment with mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! Think about the last words of this scripture, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"...many of you have not felt mercy from your spouse or your friends or maybe at work. Many I am sure have not found mercy in the church. But it is true, mercy triumphs over judgment. I would also say that mercy adds years to your life. Judgment and anger take so much energy, it slowly kills you...just let it go. So find it pure joy when you are being challenged...it just means satan finds you very important and does not want to see you recover. Find that small group through AA.org, SA.org, SexAA.org, SLAAflw.org, CelebrateRecovery.com or through a church and share your trials...you will find others, you are not alone in this and yes you will find the joy. Where have you found joy in your trials? Please share it here. Thanks for being here; you are all Great men of God, Steve G
Dave C wrote on June 18th 08 at 04:49PM
Hi, I also don't see the joy factor in sexual addiction - it is a dark, condemning, dead place to be in life. The only thing that can possibly bring joy in me in that addiction is Jesus Christ. I am His because He made me His. I never came to Jesus on my own merits in the first place, and as hard as it is for me to accept, it is not my own merits that keep me in Him. If one can say for sure that they truly belong to Christ, then that mercy is poured out on them - after all, He is our Abba - Daddy! So, I guess the in the trial would be just knowing that I am His. I like that alot. :-)
Steve G wrote on June 18th 08 at 05:38PM
@Dave C...
Thanks for your input and you are spot on...knowing that I am His brings me great joy also!
Keep up the fight!
Steve G
Thanks for your input and you are spot on...knowing that I am His brings me great joy also!
Keep up the fight!
Steve G
Jake R wrote on June 19th 08 at 12:37AM
I do see the joy that can come from being tested and tempted, but I am definitely not experiencing it. I am a sex addict who was caught recently, by my wife, talking on the phone with a girl I met on the internet about sex. My wife has also found out, on multiple occasions, that I was viewing porn on the internet. My wife has kicked me out of my house but she has been pretty merciful in letting me come by for a few hours every day to see our daughter. Right now, I am just HOPING and PRAYING that my wife can forgive me and let me come back home. Because of that, I am finding it tough to enjoy my tests and temptations. I am just excited about what God has done in me and my life already. I am even more excited about the victory awaits. Maybe when this is all over, I'll be able to bathe in the joy of overcoming the temptation.
Steve G wrote on June 19th 08 at 09:44AM
@Jake R,
You are at the start of a long journey with many trials to come. I would encourage you to buy a small note book and began journaling your experiences, your prayers, your pain, your highs and lows and the scripture you are led to read.
I was with a man in my group last night who is recently busted by his wife. I see it all the time, the pain of wanting something back so bad that we are willing to change anything and everything in our lives to get it. I often wonder where this desire was in the dark hell of addiction.
The problem is, we are men and when we fix things we get it done NOW. Flat tires, the shower leaks, the torn screen...we are the conquerors! We live in a FedEx, email, own it today, pay tomorrow, instant breakfast society and I wanted my recovery the same way. Not only was I instantly cured but then I needed my wife to be instantly cured. For me it was typical addict behavior…instant gratification and now I wanted it in recovery.
We are men. We can argue about something in the morning, wanting to kill each other, and in the afternoon play golf and have dinner. What’s past is past for men. God did not make women the same way...not right, not wrong, just different...praise be to God for this caring nature they have and the way that they live from their hearts.
The Bible tells us to confess our sins one to another which you have done here. God forgives you Jake, I forgive you, others on this site forgive you...have you forgiven you?
The reason I ask is, your wife may take weeks, months or even years to forgive you and there is nothing you can do about that. She may attack you in her anger with statements like "you did this to me", "it is your fault I am so hurt". She may grab your cell phone and read through the numbers and when she does not recognize a number she may ask if this is another one of your girlfriends. She may get out what I call the "Shame Stick" and beat you with it and there is nothing you can do about it, she has to go through her fire, she has to learn to trust and God must have time to work in her life.
If you have not forgiven yourself then after one of these shame stick beatings, you might take that shame stick and beat yourself; this is a dangerous place to be. You must know in your heart that you have changed your life, that even though you are not far up this road, your life today is better than yesterday...but your wife may not be willing to celebrate this change with you.
I have had men come back to group after a few weeks of being a "changed man" and tell me they are ready to give up. "Gosh it has been three weeks and she has not changed. Look at all I am doing and she just does not care! I think divorce would be better!" Ya, lets go get another wife and give that a try, now there is some instruction right from satan.
I had to learn to be humble, I had to learn to stop beating myself up, I had to learn to accept that I could not change my wife, I could only change me. I had to learn to live the Serenity Prayer everyday in my life.
A wife does not want to "hear" about change in fact, telling her about how you have changed will likely have the opposite affect. What she will likely hear is "look at how much better I am doing than you”. She is dealing with a deep hurt and deep shame. My wife felt that she was “worthless” and my affairs helped to confirm her own beliefs. My wife did not want to go to counseling because that would mean she had a problem and her self esteem would not let her admit any wrong…it is a tough road.
I am not sure how much of this will ring true for you…these I do not feel are my words, I feel they were given to me from God and so I will just ask you to listen to what speaks to you in this and ignore the rest…maybe it was meant for someone else.
Forgive yourself….Change YOU to become the dad for your daughter and the husband to your wife with no expectation of change on your wife’s side of the fence…Read your Bible everyday for the rest of your life, no matter what….and pray…both praises for the good things God has given you today and for your marriage….and Never, Never give up…God’s time not yours…
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit” (Romans 8:1)
You are forgiven, You are a Great man of God…He did not come to save the strong…He came for you and me.
God bless you.
Steve G
You are at the start of a long journey with many trials to come. I would encourage you to buy a small note book and began journaling your experiences, your prayers, your pain, your highs and lows and the scripture you are led to read.
I was with a man in my group last night who is recently busted by his wife. I see it all the time, the pain of wanting something back so bad that we are willing to change anything and everything in our lives to get it. I often wonder where this desire was in the dark hell of addiction.
The problem is, we are men and when we fix things we get it done NOW. Flat tires, the shower leaks, the torn screen...we are the conquerors! We live in a FedEx, email, own it today, pay tomorrow, instant breakfast society and I wanted my recovery the same way. Not only was I instantly cured but then I needed my wife to be instantly cured. For me it was typical addict behavior…instant gratification and now I wanted it in recovery.
We are men. We can argue about something in the morning, wanting to kill each other, and in the afternoon play golf and have dinner. What’s past is past for men. God did not make women the same way...not right, not wrong, just different...praise be to God for this caring nature they have and the way that they live from their hearts.
The Bible tells us to confess our sins one to another which you have done here. God forgives you Jake, I forgive you, others on this site forgive you...have you forgiven you?
The reason I ask is, your wife may take weeks, months or even years to forgive you and there is nothing you can do about that. She may attack you in her anger with statements like "you did this to me", "it is your fault I am so hurt". She may grab your cell phone and read through the numbers and when she does not recognize a number she may ask if this is another one of your girlfriends. She may get out what I call the "Shame Stick" and beat you with it and there is nothing you can do about it, she has to go through her fire, she has to learn to trust and God must have time to work in her life.
If you have not forgiven yourself then after one of these shame stick beatings, you might take that shame stick and beat yourself; this is a dangerous place to be. You must know in your heart that you have changed your life, that even though you are not far up this road, your life today is better than yesterday...but your wife may not be willing to celebrate this change with you.
I have had men come back to group after a few weeks of being a "changed man" and tell me they are ready to give up. "Gosh it has been three weeks and she has not changed. Look at all I am doing and she just does not care! I think divorce would be better!" Ya, lets go get another wife and give that a try, now there is some instruction right from satan.
I had to learn to be humble, I had to learn to stop beating myself up, I had to learn to accept that I could not change my wife, I could only change me. I had to learn to live the Serenity Prayer everyday in my life.
A wife does not want to "hear" about change in fact, telling her about how you have changed will likely have the opposite affect. What she will likely hear is "look at how much better I am doing than you”. She is dealing with a deep hurt and deep shame. My wife felt that she was “worthless” and my affairs helped to confirm her own beliefs. My wife did not want to go to counseling because that would mean she had a problem and her self esteem would not let her admit any wrong…it is a tough road.
I am not sure how much of this will ring true for you…these I do not feel are my words, I feel they were given to me from God and so I will just ask you to listen to what speaks to you in this and ignore the rest…maybe it was meant for someone else.
Forgive yourself….Change YOU to become the dad for your daughter and the husband to your wife with no expectation of change on your wife’s side of the fence…Read your Bible everyday for the rest of your life, no matter what….and pray…both praises for the good things God has given you today and for your marriage….and Never, Never give up…God’s time not yours…
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit” (Romans 8:1)
You are forgiven, You are a Great man of God…He did not come to save the strong…He came for you and me.
God bless you.
Steve G
Jake R wrote on June 19th 08 at 10:54PM
Thanks Steve. Everything you said rang true. Big time. I have already felt like giving up. I feel so homeless and hopeless. I feel lonely when I am with a bunch of people. I am over 200 miles away from my side of our family, and I don't want to go because I can't stand to spend a day away from my daughter. Its been tough, and it might get tougher, but God's Grace and Mercy are PERFECT. I'll do what it takes.
Steve G wrote on June 20th 08 at 12:00AM
@ Jake,
Know that you are a new person in Christ...Forgiven and new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (II Corinthians 5:17)
Do not live in the dead past but press on and use this day to make a better past.
“This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13)
You know where to go when you feel all hope is lost.
“Find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:5).
Know that you are loved and never alone...
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown” Isaiah 43:2
God bless you my friend...Ann and I are praying for you.
Steve G
Know that you are a new person in Christ...Forgiven and new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (II Corinthians 5:17)
Do not live in the dead past but press on and use this day to make a better past.
“This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13)
You know where to go when you feel all hope is lost.
“Find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him” (Psalm 62:5).
Know that you are loved and never alone...
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown” Isaiah 43:2
God bless you my friend...Ann and I are praying for you.
Steve G
Paul W wrote on June 20th 08 at 12:50PM
I was hesitant to post especially with giving my email and all, but I feel it is worth it. I need to bring things to the light, because Christ is the Light and Satan is not. I have been an addict for over 20 years, but I have found recovery and I embrace it daily in the name of Christ my Savior. I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me(Phil 4:13...my persoanl favorite) I am approaching my 2 year sobriety date and I feel challenged on a daily basis, but I must wake up each morning making that committment to my wife, my family, my self, and most importantly my God.
Recovery has taught me a lot about life. My wife was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and goes in for surgery on Tuesday June 24. It was with the grace of God that we started to reach out. We did not isolate. Our recovery program taught us that, because that is what we need to do. I pray that everything will go well, but the bottom line is that I know we will be taken care of...hopefully mor later
Recovery has taught me a lot about life. My wife was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and goes in for surgery on Tuesday June 24. It was with the grace of God that we started to reach out. We did not isolate. Our recovery program taught us that, because that is what we need to do. I pray that everything will go well, but the bottom line is that I know we will be taken care of...hopefully mor later
Kevin wrote on June 23rd 08 at 01:39AM
hi, i'm reading this before bed and i'm pretty tired but i had to say this. I attended a christian school for middle and high school and my senior year we were required to memorize james for bible class. I could still quote most of chapters 1 and 2, but the rest are a little hazy. But this seems like such a Godsend to see this blog. I'm new to this site, just signed up and have been struggling with recovery for over a year, and am glad to say that God has helped me come a long way. Anyways you don't memorize something without at some point actually wondering what it's all about. 1:12 is my favorite verse of the whole book and one of my favorite in scripture. I think that you need to read all of chapter 1 in order to fully understand any individual verse.
Anonymous wrote on June 23rd 08 at 08:15AM
Dear Steve,
I am very ashamed to be ever posting here. I am too embarassed to tell you my name or true email, neither of which I was able to do when I downloaded a free version of the program x3watch (which I couldn't possibly buy given my situation). I am a university student at a uni, most likely far away from where you are, and I
never thought I would be writing something like this. Also, I am not very religious, and while I wouldn't call myself a conservative atheist, many of your messages regarding the Bible (which I have briefly read) fail to strike home with me, so please regard me as someone without such firm footholds in belief.
In any case I wouldn't say I'm 'addicted' or overly destroyed by this practice, only that it is annoying and a waste of time. While I would call myself an intelligent, whole person, foremost when I was young & in primary school / early years of high school, my later years of high school seem to have wasted away, and I hope that my beginning years at university also do not do so. In short, I would like to be safely rid of such a shameful practice which is also time-wasting (not largely in itself, but more so since I waste time worrying about it, or sometimes reading about why it is so detrimental). I would also be grateful if you could suggest other ways in which I could be a more fulfilled person: currently I spend too much time at home, and have relatively little interaction with friends, and my interests tend to be somewhat intellectual in nature.
I am very ashamed to be ever posting here. I am too embarassed to tell you my name or true email, neither of which I was able to do when I downloaded a free version of the program x3watch (which I couldn't possibly buy given my situation). I am a university student at a uni, most likely far away from where you are, and I
never thought I would be writing something like this. Also, I am not very religious, and while I wouldn't call myself a conservative atheist, many of your messages regarding the Bible (which I have briefly read) fail to strike home with me, so please regard me as someone without such firm footholds in belief.
In any case I wouldn't say I'm 'addicted' or overly destroyed by this practice, only that it is annoying and a waste of time. While I would call myself an intelligent, whole person, foremost when I was young & in primary school / early years of high school, my later years of high school seem to have wasted away, and I hope that my beginning years at university also do not do so. In short, I would like to be safely rid of such a shameful practice which is also time-wasting (not largely in itself, but more so since I waste time worrying about it, or sometimes reading about why it is so detrimental). I would also be grateful if you could suggest other ways in which I could be a more fulfilled person: currently I spend too much time at home, and have relatively little interaction with friends, and my interests tend to be somewhat intellectual in nature.
Chad R wrote on June 23rd 08 at 10:23PM
Porn has always been a issue that comes around every time I decide to get the internet again. The internet disappears because I struggle with it but realize just how valuable the tool is as well. Yes, we all as men stumble and that is forgivable. Many things are, but my issue here is me having that conversation with God just before I go and expose myself, yet again, to that intoxicating sin. To be honest, I keep going back because I like it, what I see is my fleshly desire, and I don't want to like it but I know myself, and I know that I like it. So my question is how far does God's grace go. I know it a sense it is boundless, but when the children of God willingly disobeyed him, even back into the old testament, the results were pretty ridiculous. My shame comes into the fact that I obviously do not fear God the way I should. I know that those clear moments I have where I do see just how powerful, and omniscient God is, those temptations really have no power. Am I looking how grace works the wrong way? Am I really being true to my Christian faith and who I am/should be in Christ?
Steve G wrote on June 23rd 08 at 11:55PM
Paul
Thank you so much for sharing the great things recovery has brought to your life.
My wife and I will be praying for your wife as she begins her battle. It is awesome to know that beside her is a great husband, not perfect but forgiven...how comforting it must be for her to know you are there.
You are a Great man of God, Paul.
Steve G
Thank you so much for sharing the great things recovery has brought to your life.
My wife and I will be praying for your wife as she begins her battle. It is awesome to know that beside her is a great husband, not perfect but forgiven...how comforting it must be for her to know you are there.
You are a Great man of God, Paul.
Steve G
Steve G wrote on June 24th 08 at 12:00AM
Kevin,
Thanks for being here and sharing the meaning James has had in your life. I actually had written 1:12 down as a verse to include so when you spoke of it I knew there was something there.
What I get from 1:12 is Persevere!! No matter what don't quit. No matter how many times you are tempted or knocked down...GET UP!
Thanks brother for being here,
Steve G
Thanks for being here and sharing the meaning James has had in your life. I actually had written 1:12 down as a verse to include so when you spoke of it I knew there was something there.
What I get from 1:12 is Persevere!! No matter what don't quit. No matter how many times you are tempted or knocked down...GET UP!
Thanks brother for being here,
Steve G
Steve G wrote on June 24th 08 at 12:18AM
Anonymous,
Thanks for sharing here on this site. The shame you speak of is very real, but not here and not ever on this site will you find condemnation, only compassion.
The church has been its own worst enemy, you see we tend to shoot our fallen, but not at xxxchurch. Here we embrace those who seek help which is exactly what Jesus did when he was on earth.
I had always wanted to learn to play the guitar and so in my sobriety, with the extra time I had, I took lessons and I learned to play the guitar!
What is it you have always wanted to do? Maybe it is another language, maybe it is an in depth study of a subject which fascinates you, maybe it is volunteering at a non-profit organization...I do not know, but I do know most of us desire to learn or achieve more in life and giving up the waste of time and destructiveness of pornography will provide you with the time to do new things. Through the experience of giving up something which only serves to destroy and replacing it with something constructive will in itself change how you see yourself and change your outlook on life.
I also might suggest something which puts you in to a group setting where you can meet people. Pornography is an isolating addiction. The shame surrounding it has the ability to cause even a very outgoing person to withdraw...the "If you really knew me you would not like me" syndrome.
God loves you and I appreciate you sharing here on the site. Please come back often.
Steve G
Thanks for sharing here on this site. The shame you speak of is very real, but not here and not ever on this site will you find condemnation, only compassion.
The church has been its own worst enemy, you see we tend to shoot our fallen, but not at xxxchurch. Here we embrace those who seek help which is exactly what Jesus did when he was on earth.
I had always wanted to learn to play the guitar and so in my sobriety, with the extra time I had, I took lessons and I learned to play the guitar!
What is it you have always wanted to do? Maybe it is another language, maybe it is an in depth study of a subject which fascinates you, maybe it is volunteering at a non-profit organization...I do not know, but I do know most of us desire to learn or achieve more in life and giving up the waste of time and destructiveness of pornography will provide you with the time to do new things. Through the experience of giving up something which only serves to destroy and replacing it with something constructive will in itself change how you see yourself and change your outlook on life.
I also might suggest something which puts you in to a group setting where you can meet people. Pornography is an isolating addiction. The shame surrounding it has the ability to cause even a very outgoing person to withdraw...the "If you really knew me you would not like me" syndrome.
God loves you and I appreciate you sharing here on the site. Please come back often.
Steve G
Steve G wrote on June 24th 08 at 12:40AM
Chad R,
How far does God's grace go?
That is a question which troubles many who spend immense amounts of time studying the Bible. I do not personally find it that difficult to understand which is why I appreciate your question so very much.
I believe the problem is with the change we have seen in the church over the years, the preaching of a God of judgment and the judgment many people have found inside of these very places which proclaim to teach the word of God.
This is the truth found in the Bible; God does not lie and the Bible is the word of God. With these as my foundation I simply read John 3:16:
•“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. There it is. The verse does not go on to say “Except for the following”, it then reiterates that God sent His Son to save the world not to condemn it.
I have given this a lot of thought through my addiction. I have thought “Well, if I still go to Heaven then why try to change?” (Addicts are very creative).
But I also believe that the shame I feel (good shame) is the Holy Spirit in me which gives me the overwhelming desire to change my life and to live my life for God.
Not perfect, just forgiven….Perfectly, imperfect.
If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, if you believe God sent His Son to die for your sins…Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanks brother,
Steve G
How far does God's grace go?
That is a question which troubles many who spend immense amounts of time studying the Bible. I do not personally find it that difficult to understand which is why I appreciate your question so very much.
I believe the problem is with the change we have seen in the church over the years, the preaching of a God of judgment and the judgment many people have found inside of these very places which proclaim to teach the word of God.
This is the truth found in the Bible; God does not lie and the Bible is the word of God. With these as my foundation I simply read John 3:16:
•“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. There it is. The verse does not go on to say “Except for the following”, it then reiterates that God sent His Son to save the world not to condemn it.
I have given this a lot of thought through my addiction. I have thought “Well, if I still go to Heaven then why try to change?” (Addicts are very creative).
But I also believe that the shame I feel (good shame) is the Holy Spirit in me which gives me the overwhelming desire to change my life and to live my life for God.
Not perfect, just forgiven….Perfectly, imperfect.
If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, if you believe God sent His Son to die for your sins…Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thanks brother,
Steve G
Austin wrote on June 24th 08 at 11:35PM
Hey Steve! Good post, very encouraging. I am really down with shame and kind of scared. In my past, I struggled with immoral conversations with girls online like through facebook, myspace, and sites like that. But I have gotten victory, praise God, and I don't have any of those sites anymore and I have blocks on my computer so I cannot access those sites so I dont fall into that sin anymore. But lately I have just been real scarred that my past is "coming back to get me." I am so afraid that somehow someway those past convo's on those sites are going to get me into legal trouble. Like someone is going to press charges against me for talking with those girls the way I did. I am so happy and I am growing so much now that I am recovery, but the Devil is scaring me to death with this thought of me being in legal trouble. I know this might sound stupid and I could be overreacting, my the Devil is getting a foothold in my life with this fear. Please give me advice if you have some!
Steve G wrote on June 25th 08 at 01:16AM
Austin,
You are doing all the right things, like the computer blocking software, now you just need to forgive yourself and stop living in the shame of the past. You need to press forward and forget the past...you cannot change the past by worrying about it...Look at what God tells us about the past:
“This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).
You need to be determined to forget what lies behind? I know many people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. They wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But one definition of the word forget means to disregard intentionally, or to overlook.
You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new.
It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your history, it’s time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to press forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you!
Thanks for being here my friend.
Steve G
You are doing all the right things, like the computer blocking software, now you just need to forgive yourself and stop living in the shame of the past. You need to press forward and forget the past...you cannot change the past by worrying about it...Look at what God tells us about the past:
“This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).
You need to be determined to forget what lies behind? I know many people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. They wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But one definition of the word forget means to disregard intentionally, or to overlook.
You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new.
It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your history, it’s time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to press forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you!
Thanks for being here my friend.
Steve G
RJ wrote on June 25th 08 at 09:22AM
Hi Paul W,
I am Health Minister down here in Aussie Land. With your wife struggling with Colon Cancer - It is important that you get good info to help with the problem. Don't just put her health in the hands of the medicos without doing your own research and learning about all the available health Alternatives: check out www.drday.com and but "Cancer doesn't scare me anymore" Also check out www.hacres.com.
Colon cancer is often diet related. Checkout the Old Testament Gen1:29 and read levitcus chapter 11. Your wife should immediately change her way of life and diet here is a good acronym to go with NEW START:
N - Nutrition - juicing, detox, Gen1:29 diet is the best
E - Exercise - walk everyday for an hour
W - Water Drink a few litres of pure water without the junk and especially without Fluoride
S - Sunshine - God made it - trust me it is very important - Get at least an hour of it every day
T - Temperance - Avoid any junk that stresses you out. Read God's word. Listen to Godly stuff and Godly music.
A - Get fresh air - Stale air causes cancer cells to grow more rapidly
R - Rest - Go to bed before 9pm. - hours of sleep before 9pm are much more important.
T - Trust God.
As I said - go to www.drday.com
and get some DVD's from there... Do lots of your own research - learn all you can about colon cancer.
Give that Colon a break - Fast if you can - Water and Fasting are very healing. Also you can fast of juices.
God Bless You.
I am Health Minister down here in Aussie Land. With your wife struggling with Colon Cancer - It is important that you get good info to help with the problem. Don't just put her health in the hands of the medicos without doing your own research and learning about all the available health Alternatives: check out www.drday.com and but "Cancer doesn't scare me anymore" Also check out www.hacres.com.
Colon cancer is often diet related. Checkout the Old Testament Gen1:29 and read levitcus chapter 11. Your wife should immediately change her way of life and diet here is a good acronym to go with NEW START:
N - Nutrition - juicing, detox, Gen1:29 diet is the best
E - Exercise - walk everyday for an hour
W - Water Drink a few litres of pure water without the junk and especially without Fluoride
S - Sunshine - God made it - trust me it is very important - Get at least an hour of it every day
T - Temperance - Avoid any junk that stresses you out. Read God's word. Listen to Godly stuff and Godly music.
A - Get fresh air - Stale air causes cancer cells to grow more rapidly
R - Rest - Go to bed before 9pm. - hours of sleep before 9pm are much more important.
T - Trust God.
As I said - go to www.drday.com
and get some DVD's from there... Do lots of your own research - learn all you can about colon cancer.
Give that Colon a break - Fast if you can - Water and Fasting are very healing. Also you can fast of juices.
God Bless You.
Steve G wrote on June 25th 08 at 05:11PM
RJ,
Thanks you so much for sharing this information here, I sincerely appreciate it and I will be sure that Paul gets it.
This sounds like good information for any of us!
God bless you...they are obviously in good hands down in Aussie Land.
Steve G
Thanks you so much for sharing this information here, I sincerely appreciate it and I will be sure that Paul gets it.
This sounds like good information for any of us!
God bless you...they are obviously in good hands down in Aussie Land.
Steve G
Chad R wrote on July 7th 08 at 07:39PM
Thanks for that. It has a lot of truth, and it is also another thing I struggle with. I've read John 3:16...of course. Then again, Ive read all through Matthew as well. and a lot of what Christ said means there is more than just John 3:16. When it says "if you ever cause a little one to stumble, it is better to have a mil-stone tied around your neck and thrown to the bottom of the sea." or In Rev.21:8 how it clearly says people who commit to things like sexual indulgences and fornication are going to hell. I understand there is forgiveness but doesn't that only come if I choose to receive it? I somehow don't believe that the whole hope of a Christian should lay solely on John 3:16
