Living A Pure Life
Does anyone here struggle with living a pure life in terms of several different things.
Ideas would include, alcohol, gluttony, laziness, cigarettes, drug usage, pornography, premarital sex, unclean foods, cursing, not keeping the Sabbath, infidelity....just to name a few.
These are just some suggestions. And if so, do you try to combat it? Do you instead ignore it? Do you believe the only answer is to stop cold turkey any of these things? Do you pray about it? Do you try to taper off? Do you hope for some miracle instantly happening where you no longer desire your bad habit or impure activity?
Did you overcome the struggle? Are you currently struggling with something (you don't need to say what the thing is)....
What are some thoughts, ideas, suggestions for all of us struggling with or wanting to live a life that is more pure therefore allowing us to hear and feel the word of God in our lives more clearly?
Dana
Views: 43
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Vincent Woolsey on
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Thus far in my life what God has done is take me and settle each issue one at a time. In His wisdom, He knew the right approach for me to tackle these things. I still have things that He's working on in me, but so far, the one thing at a time approach seems to work. That's not to say that it's the right approach for everyone, but the key for me was to surrender to Him, and let Him lead me each step of the way. Sometimes I have fought Him on it, but through my whining and complaining, I've asked Him to keep doing what is best for me no matter what I say. Praise the Lord He hasn't quit me yet! God bless you in your search and walk with Him.
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Permalink Reply by Dana Nichole (Reynolds) Brady on -
There are a few things, things that don't seem to be that big of a deal in my life but I feel the Holy Spirit working on me. I know other people struggle as well, and just don't talk about it. I do like your idea of the one thing at a time approach...but what about for someone that isn't interested in giving any thing up? Might you pray then for the desire to have it removed before you even remove it?
Knowing that this could be helpful for other SDA's, I have decided to open the discussion. I hope that other people also choose to participate.
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In my humble opinion, committed prayer and study is the most effective approach, keeping our hearts open to His will even if we don't like it at first. I believe that God will carry us (as He carried me and still does) through teaching us His ways including the desire to follow Him in those ways. We just have to be willing to trust Him and let Him do what's best for us. The desire to change come. I had 0 desire to change at first, but I reached a point that I knew something had to happen in my life. I gave Him permission to do what was necessary, with each change in my life, my desire to change to be more like Him grows. I hope this makes sense?
God bless :)
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Permalink Reply by Quacinda Jodyne Topkok on -
James 5:16
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW) Weymouth New Testament (WNT) 16 So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God's approval are effective. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. The heartfelt supplication of a righteous man exerts a mighty influence.
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Permalink Reply by Uncle Murray j on -
no Quacinda I do not think that translation is good.. Confess your faults to one another but private sins should not be revealed in how I have seen it but to Christ only,..
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Permalink Reply by Quacinda Jodyne Topkok on
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Seems pretty clear to me.. no matter the translation or version, and even when read in context..
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Permalink Reply by Dana Nichole (Reynolds) Brady on
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I started a new group about living a clean life, not yet sure though how to add people.
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What's the name of the group?
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Permalink Reply by Dana Nichole (Reynolds) Brady on
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Permalink Reply by Account Closed on -
Good post and a huge topic. I struggle. We all do. What I thought would be hard was easy. What I thought would be easy is harder. The dicipline involved in Sabbath keeping is easy. Finding friends in the SDA Church is hard. Giving up certain foods and drink, easy. Finding a church that I really enjoy and feel comfortable in, hard. Keeping bible study with my friends, easy. Self-study, easy. Eliminating certain people, places, activities, material possessions is very helpful as it reduces temptation.
I write my prayers as conversations with Christ into a journal so I can go back and see how my views have changed, what I have overcome, what still needs work. Writing is theraputic. I write out my issues, look up the scriptures that speak to those issues, pray over them. Go back, read over them again, pray and repeat. Update failures and achievements, all in Christ's name. Not self-confidence, but Christ-confidence is key. This exercise has helped me a great deal over the years. You exercise, you build up your spiritual muscles. You neglect the muscle, it atrophies. I want so very much to be strong in The Lord.
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