Repentance

[karlee]

I am really confused about repentance. I believe that when I repent for a sin that I commit that I should never. One should at least not want to commit that sin again..I have no problem repenting for some sins. However, some sins I have major problem repenting because I feel that by repenting for them would be just mocking God. Example:I have an eating disorder. I will binge and then purge. Which is eat large amounts of food and then force myself to vomit it all up.I usually do this 2 to 3 times a week. I went 5 days without doing this. Then on a Friday night, which was the night I had my addiction's class at church, I did it..I felt like such a failure and just felt horrible. My couselor asked me if I had REPENTED for this and I told her no. Why REPENT for such a sin that you know in your heart that you will do it again.You don't know when, but you just know that you. When you repent you should completely turn away from that sin and never do it again. Right? How can I repent for something I know I will just do over and over again. My escophcus(spelling) is bleeding and my family doctor says that is about to rupture. However, that does not seem to stop me from binging and purging.
I do not even know why I do. It is over with before I realize even what I am doing...It has if I have no control at all. It seems the same with the drugs, alcohol, and self-harmer. Tonight, I went to take a bath. I wasn't planning on cutting myself. However, I needed to shave my legs. Then one thing led to another. Then I ened up getting my razor and cut my right bottom leg all up.
Yes, I need to ask God's forgiveness and repent. However, I am only going to repeat my actions when the sun comes up tomorrow...Am I making sense in what I am trying to say? I am a very new Christian. I was raised in a religious cult. SO, the Christian religion is all still new and strange to me...I am feeling
so very alone. Perhaps I am just a crazy person and no one will understand what I am saying and how I feel..

[invisible7]

Originally Posted by karlee

I am really confused about repentance. I believe that when I repent for a sin that I commit that I should never. One should at least not want to commit that sin again..I have no problem repenting for some sins. However, some sins I have major problem repenting because I feel that by repenting for them would be just mocking God. Example:I have an eating disorder. I will binge and then purge. Which is eat large amounts of food and then force myself to vomit it all up.I usually do this 2 to 3 times a week. I went 5 days without doing this. Then on a Friday night, which was the night I had my addiction's class at church, I did it..I felt like such a failure and just felt horrible. My couselor asked me if I had REPENTED for this and I told her no. Why REPENT for such a sin that you know in your heart that you will do it again.You don't know when, but you just know that you. When you repent you should completely turn away from that sin and never do it again. Right? How can I repent for something I know I will just do over and over again. My escophcus(spelling) is bleeding and my family doctor says that is about to rupture. However, that does not seem to stop me from binging and purging.
I do not even know why I do. It is over with before I realize even what I am doing...It has if I have no control at all. It seems the same with the drugs, alcohol, and self-harmer. Tonight, I went to take a bath. I wasn't planning on cutting myself. However, I needed to shave my legs. Then one thing led to another. Then I ened up getting my razor and cut my right bottom leg all up.
Yes, I need to ask God's forgiveness and repent. However, I am only going to repeat my actions when the sun comes up tomorrow...Am I making sense in what I am trying to say? I am a very new Christian. I was raised in a religious cult. SO, the Christian religion is all still new and strange to me...I am feeling
so very alone. Perhaps I am just a crazy person and no one will understand what I am saying and how I feel..

As a new christian, I wouldn't be so concerned about repenting as I would be about having a relationship with Jesus who will make your burden lighter "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30). Every one sins, even christians, and we will never be sin free no matter how we try. Get to know Jesus who is about love and grace and compassion.

[cmc]

karlee,
That's good advice from invisible7. One other thing that will 'always' help you is to read the bible. The apostle Paul describes the struggle with our will and how we fail to act as we know we should. Please pay extra attention to verses 15-25. I will pray for you to become closer to the Lord and receive His unconditional love and grace in a greater measure than you have before. He is close to us, especially when we are suffering.
Romans 7
Struggling With Sin
7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."[b] 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

[Morning Glory]

Psalm 51
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

[IO Storm]

Karlee, the exact same verse Invisible 7 shared with you came to mind as I read your post, before I read hers!


Come to me, all ye who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28–30).

I had a wise sponsor once who was guiding me when I

was tormented by obsessive thought and behaviors.

She asked that I stop whatever I was doing at that

moment, just stop. And say "God, help me."

Then, when the danger had passed, and it did, to call

her. I hope you do have a support person to call in crisis

situations. For now, please remember that whenyou call upon

His name, He is faithful to be right there to help you in time

of need. Even when there is no one around.

He is faithful.

Love,

:

Sherry

[rayofsunshine]

Karlee ... I found some information on Billy Grahams website that I think may be helpful for you. Sending prayers for you (((HUGS))) With God's help, you can overcome anything.

Here's the info:
Addiction, in any form, can cause inner tensions and frustration which you may feel powerless to overcome. God longs to set you free through Jesus Christ our Lord; see Romans 6:11-14. The Bible says, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36, NKJV). Make certain that you have made your commitment to Christ now by asking God to forgive and cleanse you of your sins and give you life eternal. After you have done this, believe that God has forgiven you and made you His child; read John 1:12, Romans 10:13, and 2 Corinthians 5:17.

None of us is strong enough to overcome temptation in our own strength, but God will give us the strength; see Philippians 4:13. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (NKJV). Note that it is God who provides the way of escape. Read 1 John 3:8. Talk to the Lord many times a day, asking for His help. Read your Bible and fill your mind with thoughts from His Word. The Word of God will have a purifying effect on your life; see Psalm 119:11.

The old sinful lifestyle must now be replaced with the new life in Christ. This requires the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to replace the old habits with new. Avoid companionship with those that influence you to indulge in sinful activities. Make a list of those activities and habits you want changed. Set some positive goals for your life, and with God's strength go after them. Take the initiative and seek the counsel of a gospel-teaching pastor or other dedicated Christian worker.

[best]

Originally Posted by rayofsunshine

None of us is strong enough to overcome temptation in our own strength, but God will give us the strength...

This was my thought as I read your post Karlee.

Some things I can repent (turn away from) on my own. Some things have a hold on me beyond my own strength.
When I had both the will and desire to change and asked of the Lord, I was so amazed at what He did. I felt instant healing as I asked from my heart... Lord I can't do this...I Need You.

Ask and it will be given.
With faith (trust) in God's word that He will do what He says and an added piece of proof being me telling you He did it for me... Ask and know that the Lord is ever faithful and will provide our every need.

Lord I have the desire to stop... Please give me the will and the strength.
and in asking He will do so.

[IO Storm]

Best said best as Best does:

Lord I can't do this...I Need You.

Ask and it will be given.

Ask and know that the Lord is ever faithful and will provide our every need.

[sugarssweetpea]

Karlee,
You are definately not alone in your feelings. I struggle with overeating. I cannot seem to stop. BUT, when I actually pray through the temptation and rely on the Lord Jesus Christ to get me through it, I will not eat the junk. It is when I choose to not pray & allow my flesh to take over, that I will give in to the temptation. It's like sometimes I tell myself when I am tempted in the junk food, no, I am not going to pray, b/c I know that if I do, I will not be able to eat that food b/c I know that God will deliver me. EVERY TIME.

To ask for forgiveness means to say you are sorry & turn from that sin. To not commit the same sin again. BUT because we are human & we will sin again, the odds of us committing the same sin are pretty good. I think that God knows our hearts and our willingness to want to change the bad things that we do. I think He will honor us every time we come to Him with it if we sincerely want to stop. He will help us. We just have to be honest with ourselves and Him.

Much prayers to you.

[SaTiT]

the definition of repent from the bible.
1, to feel regret
2, to change one's mind

I (repent) feel regrets of my sins (mistakes)...so I might not want to make the same sin (mistakes) again.
I regreted, I didn't win the lottery, maybe I'll buy another ticket next week.

I (repent) changed my mind about a lot things that didn't work.
I changed my mind about drinking, becuase drinking no longer works.
I changed my mind about hurting myself, becuase hurting myself dosen't work.


I repented from drinking becuase it was a sin

I change my mind about drinking alochol because that was big mistake in my life.

[IO Storm]

I would like to add to the theme Satit presented;

the acknowlegement of sin (mistake, error, what does not

work). The turning away from these. And a turning toward

salvation, and a new life, a new attitude and a new way of

doing things. Repentance: Turning away from; change of attitude;

and turning toward to.

Here is one of my favorite lessons on living the new

life that, to me, shows the addict, still bound and suffering

the symptoms of inner anguish....alcoholism and other

addictions, self harm, placing themselves in dangerous

sexual situations, etc.

(Been there, done that, thank You for sparing me, Lord).

Then the acknowledgement of powerlessness, the plea

for help, the sweet release. Now, here is where I stumbled

for so many many years. I kept relapsing for all my past

sins! How could I complete the repentance process, the

turning toward salvation...when I kept looking back.

There must be a turning away from the old, accept what

Christ did on Calvary that dark day as the price paid in full.

Accept that wondrous debt relief without regret.

Ah, people, you don't have to hurt yourself. My Lord had

39 stripes on His back, after being beaten,and a crown of

thorns on His head, . He carried a cross on his back and fell

beneath it, nails in His hands and feet a spear in His side

so you wouldn't have to feel so worthless you'd let someone

beat you up or drink yourself to death.

He loved us all that much.


Hebrews 6:1

Therefore leaving the the principles of the doctrine of

Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the

foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith

toward God.

Love,

:

Sherry