Repetition of sin...even after reconciliation

[RascalJones]

So, I went to reconciliation about a month ago. And, I find myself STILL falling to the same temptations as before. Even though I tell myself that I’m not going to. That I know I shouldn’t do that. Even WHILE I’m giving in to the temptations, I know that I’ll have to go to confession. I feel like someone may see my confessions are not genuine, even though I go because I know I need to, and at the time I have all the right reasons in my head and heart. But, sometimes I feel like maybe I’m taking it for granted. I’d like to believe that I’m not. I’d like to believe that I have the desire to change my way of living. I’m just struggling with it.

 

[Strategery]

I call this Satan’s “double hook”. First, present the temptation. Then, once I’ve bitten the apple, the accusations come.

For me this has happened when I was a slave to a particular sin.

In my case, I asked my confessor for spiritual warfare help. In particular, we prayed together and called out certain evil spirits - examples could be sloth, gluttony, lust, pride, etc – bound them in the name of Jesus and threw them to Christ’s feet.

That is a prayer you can repeat any time when the temptations come. And they will continue to come.

The evil one LOVES to rob us of our joy. I can’t speak to your situation specifically, but I know for a fact this is how he works with me. In my case, deliverance prayer has proven to be very effective.

ALSO - if you haven’t done this already, in prayer put the question to God. Ask him to give you the strength to fight the temptation. Ask him to show you what the root cause of the repetitive sin is, and to help you remove that “plank”.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Ever hear the expression “besetting sin”?

Welcome to the human condition.

 

[MarieVeronica]

So, I went to reconciliation about a month ago. And, I find myself STILL falling to the same temptations as before.

Hi Rascal. Hang in there, ok? This happens to most of us.

The key here is PERSEVERENCE. Do not give up. Keep going to Confession (even if you have to confess the same sins, over and over; voice of experience, here!), receive Holy Communion as often as possible… and the graces in your soul will keep growing and growing, until you will begin to see progress.

Do not become discouraged. Because that is what the devil wants us to do. :banghead: So we will give up, and stop trying.

But Jesus, wants us to persevere; I think this is what Our dear Lord meant, when He said:

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Hope this helps. God bless.

 

[sbriton]

Sigh…boy do I know how you feel!!! I’ve been struggling this way for almost 23 years, with one particular sin. Everyone’s advice here is good; do not give up trying. Find a spiritual director or a good priest you can trust and make them your confessor so they know your history with the sin. I have, throughout the years, fallen into the sin of despair over this. Don’t let that happen!!! That’s a prime opportunity for Satan to convince you you’re worthless and will never, ever overcome the sin. Don’t believe it!!! Keep going to confession, keep trying whatever your confessor tells you to try and above all pray, pray, pray, especially the Rosary. Every day.

Some of us are blessed to have an easier time than others overcoming deep seated sinful habits. Only God knows why. But I try to stay joyful in knowing as long as I keep trying, don’t fall into despair, and continue to recommit myself to amending my life God will bless me as well with success. In His good time.

My prayers are with you!!!

Simon

 

[Eucharisted]

Trust in God. His Mercy is greater than every sin in the world, and on the cross, He conqured evil.

 

[porthos11]

So, I went to reconciliation about a month ago. And, I find myself STILL falling to the same temptations as before. Even though I tell myself that I’m not going to. That I know I shouldn’t do that. Even WHILE I’m giving in to the temptations, I know that I’ll have to go to confession. I feel like someone may see my confessions are not genuine, even though I go because I know I need to, and at the time I have all the right reasons in my head and heart. But, sometimes I feel like maybe I’m taking it for granted. I’d like to believe that I’m not. I’d like to believe that I have the desire to change my way of living. I’m just struggling with it.

You have all the right reasons in your head and heart. That’s enough to dispose you to confess worthily.

You’re not taking it for granted when you firmly resolve not to do it again. You need not promise not to do it again. Then and there, if you tell yourself, I will not do this again and try your darndest to do so with God’s grace, even though you know you most probably will, it’s okay.

The problem is if you go ahead and commit the sin, while thinking, “after all, I can go to Confession anyway”, but it doesn’t seem like you have this kind of dangerous disposition.

We all have habitual sin, and frequent Confession is part of the struggle to lick it.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Good comments in this thread.

Yep, we all have that one sin, fault or failing that continues and continues and one confesses and confesses…and if we get that one dealt with thanks to Grace, there is always another one in waiting and the struggle begins all over again. Yep, as another poster said, welcome to the human condition.

Trying to discourage us is a great weapon of Satan, and if the thing sees that one is really struggling and trying, then the more it will try to discourage. Saints are sinners who don’t give up!

Another weapon of Satan is to present fears that are only imaginary and may never happen…ignore these too and continue to confess the same old same old as most of us do and dont worry about the sincerity of your Confessions being doubted. This should never happen, incidentally - not unless Father has firm evidence that such is the case…or perhaps he is just having a lousy day. Priests are human too and get into bad moods on a lousy day. Most priests, in fact all priests, are confronted in the Confessional when hearing the confession of a person regularly with the same sins from the same person in every Confession…they are used to it. Not only that, priests go to Confession too and will be doing the same things as the rest of us simply because they are one of ‘the rest of us’…and confessing the same old same old.

Welcome to the family of mankind and the children of God.

Pride does not like to have to admit to the same failing repetitively and it is not easy to do, not even in the Confessional and perhpas harder there than anywhere and so such confessions in being a blow to pride, build humility - that most beautiful of virtues so essential to holiness and all the virtues.

God bless you richly…Barb