Be careful what you ask the Lord for

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Jump4Joy

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I know if you pray for patience God will put you in circumstances where you will have to confront that weakness. So I decided not to pray. I’m well aware of my weaknesses and dislike them. I wish I could be ignorant and pretend they don’t exist. Seems like the closer to God, the harsher the consequences.
How can I stop thinking sexual sins are less important because they seem less harmful?
I recently went to confession but I didn’t say everything because I was embarrassed.
Sometimes I decide I just won’t receive communion anymore.
It’s scary I don’t want to face all my imperfections or fears. Or I spend time wishing I were someone else entirely with a different conscience, different weakness, etc.
I don’t like praying because I feel like my complaints or requests are petty, vain and childish. Why would God care or answer my prayer if they are starving children in Africa?
The spiritual aspect of religion is difficult. I understand religion and I can do that, I’ve rejected the spirituality aspect because it’s difficult to believe and I’m fearful of disappointment.
 
I told you in another post I don’t really believe in hell. Consequences for actions yes. I have difficulty believing in hell. Who wants a hard life and to suffer?
 
Jump4Joy said:
Why would God care or answer my prayer if they are starving children in Africa?
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Why would a doctor treat you for the flu when there are cancer patients to be helped?

Because you deserve to be well, regardless of your ailment.
 
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Good morning. You are aware of your weakness, you acknowledge those, and you realize your limitations and want to live differently. That is glorious when so many people walk without the same awareness. You also stated sometimes you dont go to communion which also says a lot about your understanding of the eucharist, again another glorious sense of awareness. You are more spiritually connected than you think. Temptations to give in to disordered desires will always be around. Stay in prayer, we need that to remain grounded in truth. The more knowledge and awareness you grow into, the more it binds your conscience. Seems you need affirmation and at first GOD will give you that but then He will give you space for your faith in Him to increase. Dont lose your hope. You are doing really well from what I can gather, better than you may think. Peace be with you
 
I feel like those without awareness are lucky. God won’t judge them as harshly.
 
Jump4Joy said:
I know if you pray for patience God will put you in circumstances where you will have to confront that weakness.
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God will not put you in circumstances where you will have to confront that weakness unless you are ready to be put in those circumstances. God will strengthen your patience in the way that He knows will work. The answer to your prayers may not always be the most convenient for you, but it doesn’t mean that God will always do one particular thing.
Jump4Joy said:
I don’t like praying because I feel like my complaints or requests are petty, vain and childish. Why would God care or answer my prayer if they are starving children in Africa?
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God is working in their lives, too, but that does not mean that He should not work in yours.
Jump4Joy said:
I told you in another post I don’t really believe in hell. Consequences for actions yes. I have difficulty believing in hell.
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Hell is not a consequence, but a choice. If you completely reject God and His saving mercy, you are choosing to separate yourself from Him, and therefore in Hell you will be eternally separated from God.
Jump4Joy said:
Who wants a hard life and to suffer?
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Suffering is beautiful and desirable in its own way. You will come to better understand this as you grow in your faith.
 
Aw, my dear forum-mate, it sounds like you’re tired and need to get away from it all.
The Christian walk, just like anything else worth having, is hard work and sometimes you get real weary of it all.
I’ll keep you in my prayers. :pray:t2::pray:t2::pray:t2:🙂
And have you considered going on a retreat? A quiet place to walk with the Lord with little pressure.
Hugs
 
You are now in the perfect place to step forward and trust God. Indeed, His love is unwavering and His mercies are inexhaustible.
 
Living life inside one’s “comfort zone” will ultimately be really boring.
 
If you care enough to write about your weakness and your sin here, it shows that you care enough to address them or even to overcome them.

The age long wisdom of not giving up is still good here. Don’t give up because the Lord does not give up on you.

Overcoming sin does not come in a day but more of a process and a journey. It is called repentance. Make it simple. Repentance is the answer to your problem. It has to start there; it is a decision. Once you make that decision, then you are on a journey already.

That journey is call growth or growing in the Lord. When we decide to repent we will start growing in the Lord.

The Lord is the best teacher. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. If you follow him, contrary to what many said, it would be an effective and graceful way of doing it - to achieve holiness instead of sin.

Start there. Say, “Today I want to follow you Lord. I know that I am weak and I cannot do it on my own but you are strong Lord, so therefore please give me the strength to follow you.”

You have to look at this positively and stand by the promises of God who promised to give us love, peace and joy; who wants to give us life in abundant.

God bless.
 
I want to have a day where I don’t obsess over sin. It would be nice. How unworthy we are.
 
I’d call suffering redemptive not beautiful. I don’t care how rewarding suffer is there are many life experiences such having cancer, death of a spouse or child, facing discrimination based on my race or sex, dying tragically I never want to experience.
 
Thinking of you and offering a prayer for you. Please dont lose hope. Someone suggested a silent retreat, look into that. Peace be with you my friend
 
Shame and feeling shamed are emotions relating to self. They are not useful or helpful. They are narcissistic. They are not of God.

First thing to do is realise that. Discipline yourself to stop becoming absorbed in shame and embarrassment. It’s a feeling already preventing you participating in the Sacraments.

Guilt is a good emotion because we feel bad about what our actions do to others.

Are you going to let evil and the secular world win?

And that is straight from a homily given by a Priest.
 
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It is true, that God seems harsh sometimes. He doesn’t molly-coddle anyone. Sometimes I wish He would. He has never been very gentle with me for instance. I had been assaulted by a man I didn’t even know. I had trouble throughout my life and felt bad that I could never get ahead (whatever that’s supposed to mean.)

Maybe He was in the Marines once. (LOL)
 
There are still consequences. Even if you don’t know something, it will probably turn around and bite you some day.
 
I think that asking for the virtue of patience would be a very good idea.
 
+JMJ+

If you can learn how to love God, not only will you stop obsessing with sin, but you will be even more careful to avoid sin, and be even more patient.
 
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