Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for consistency...
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Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for consist... - 7/14/2008 11:37:14 AM
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SomeFineDay
Posts: 90
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline
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Could use some advice on this. I feel like I swing from extreme to extreme on this. I will be going so well in my walk, but when the going gets tough I fall away. I feel like I kinda panic and balk at real change. It's a hump I can't get over. As a consequence I swing from hot to cold, and I feel like I am always repenting instead of growing. I am looking for more consistency. I know all real change comes through the help of the Holy Spirit, but its me that panics and runs away. Thanks for any advice.
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/14/2008 12:35:42 PM
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LCannon
Posts: 1245
Joined: 2/22/2007
From: Lebanon, OR
Status: offline
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One 'reality' is this: start small.
Try this:
1. The Paul's book of Ephesians has six chapters, perfect for a six day commitment.
2. Set a time(morn, noon, evening, whenever...)but be consistent in what you choose!
3. Read, aloud, a chapter a day(you can read the whole book in about 15 minutes)with the emphasis of Obedience.
4. Rest a day(Sunday? Obedience, worship, service...)
5. Renew your commitment for another six days the next week. Read Ephesians, aloud, a chapter a day(again) only concentrate on Unity.
6. Since you've read and completed Ephesiansin two weeks with success(ever the optimist!)you're ready to start memorization.
Consistency is a hallmark of a settled and maturing soul.
_____________________________
"I pray that You dispose of my health, my sickness,
my life and my death for Your Glory."(Blaise Pascal)
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/14/2008 1:09:13 PM
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deermousie
Posts: 1851
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: online
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Aw, bless you, SomeFineDay. We all struggle with this. Underpin your day with reading Scripture (like LCannon so rightly said) and find the principles there. Then grab those principles (you'll learn them one at a time) and cling to them like a life preserver.
Example: I read Psalm 15 in the Bible:
1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts
When I was out of work I had agreed to babysit someone's kids on a Thursday, and on the Monday before got an offer of a job for 2 weeks that would mean I couldn't babysit on Wednesday. So I turned the job down - I had made a promise and refused to break it (although I desperately needed a job. You can imagine the anguish I felt, but I was going to keep my word like Ps. 15 said). They called on Tuesday, I turned it down. And on Wednesday, and I refused. Wednesday night, the mom of the kids called and apologized and said she didn't need me after all. I was fine with that because I figured God was going to do something and it would be good. Sure enough, the next morning (!) I got a call from a place that had turned me down for work, and they asked if I could come in that afternoon (!) for a test. I high-scored the test and got an interview half an hour later, with an offer to start work the next day. That was the stepping stone that three weeks later lead to a good paying job (they kicked me upstairs) that I had for 7 years and paid for my college degree. If I had broken my promise I wouldn't have been able to take the test that got the good job.
I'm sure lots of folks on this list have stories like this. Grab God's Word and cling to it like it's the truth - because it is. Your faith will protect your from your floppy drives.  God bless you for caring! I am praying for you today!
_____________________________
Want to know where a certain word or phrase in the Bible is found? www.biblegateway.com Yay!
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/14/2008 5:28:39 PM
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OneJohn410
Posts: 1142
Joined: 6/1/2008
Status: online
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SomeFineDay
Could use some advice on this. I feel like I swing from extreme to extreme on this. I will be going so well in my walk, but when the going gets tough I fall away. I feel like I kinda panic and balk at real change. It's a hump I can't get over. As a consequence I swing from hot to cold, and I feel like I am always repenting instead of growing. I am looking for more consistency. I know all real change comes through the help of the Holy Spirit, but its me that panics and runs away. Thanks for any advice.
If you had more consistency, do you think you'd be a better Christian, or would that make you want to experience some change from day to day all the more? You could choose to get off the swing and find another ride on this mental playground... the teeter-totter, the big metal animal with the giant spring under it, the jungle gym dome, or one of my favorites- the whirling carousel ride. If you are always repenting, then either your swing takes you into some new challenge you fall away from, or else you are just apologizing time after time for the same thing and are just counting yourself as repenting over it. That could be an addiction or something- where your conscience gives you a guilt trip over and over.
Thinking about swinging... the Bible lets us know that those who God loves He reproves, that faith increase and knowledge increase and Jane or Joe Christian find a stronger walk in their witness. There's mention of the vinedresser, and I think of my mini-rose bushes. Once the roses are gone, until I'm through being lazy, there's a green stalk with the old bud base(s) just sitting there. However, if I trim back the branches closer to the main vine of the plant, the plant seems greatful and here come more roses. So if you are feeling guilty and repent of something, then you've got to move aside and let God snip that from your life, and listen to Him to learn what can replace it. To be always consistently good would be angelic, and probably no one would want anything to do with you- especially having all that orange light gear shining down on your head (Touched by an Angel- a good TV show). To be consistently picking yourself up off the floor- no one wants to be there either. Maybe the most difficult place would be allowing God to frequently give you a 'branch cut', and seeking out His ways for your life to bring glory to Him. That's where I try to be, when I'm not trying to do a 360 on the swing.
OneJohn410
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/15/2008 3:09:55 AM
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jmjphe
Posts: 78
Joined: 4/29/2008
Status: offline
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I'd like to throw some advice out here seeing as how I've probably experienced what your going through.
You must get your mind right friend.
Meditate, just foucs on breath coming in and out take it slow and simple.
Heres the big one and this sucker works...stay away from people and situations which frame your thinking. I dont mean stay away from chruch service or christian borthers/sisters. I mean stay out of consistent interaction and situations that dont mix with your fundamentals. I met people I've been aquainted with that tend to give off a vibe of bitterness or rebellion for example...stay away from that. I remember a pastor said this once at church "Garbage in garbage out"
What your experiencing if probably a combination of factors over a period of time. Social circles, bad habits etc. Examine various factors and routines in your daily life and ask yourself "does this interfere with my serenity and relatioship to God". Heck I've even had to disaccosiate with old friends for example, because I slowly lost common ground and it was time to peacfully and compassionalty move on because my thoughts were being framed by thier lifestyles.
If your not sure what thing are distracting or disruptive, consult scripture, ask here, talk with fellow believers, consult the pastor or leaders of your chruch.
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/15/2008 4:11:30 PM
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SomeFineDay
Posts: 90
Joined: 5/2/2008
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Thank you for the replies. I guess if God has not given up on me, then I should not give up on me either. I do have to say that my swings are getting shorter and shorter. I do swing away from God but then I notice, feel, understand the pain of going that direction and I turn back away from going that direction. I did not realize that until I posted my question.
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/15/2008 5:04:20 PM
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SavedByGraceMD
Posts: 897
Joined: 2/13/2008
From: the poconos
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SomeFineDay
Thank you for the replies. I guess if God has not given up on me, then I should not give up on me either. I do have to say that my swings are getting shorter and shorter. I do swing away from God but then I notice, feel, understand the pain of going that direction and I turn back away from going that direction. I did not realize that until I posted my question.
This is a good point, and I would say that you would have more to worry about if the swings were getting longer and longer. But God never gives up on us, even though we may give up on Him. He is always there, open arms at the ready to receive us back.
_____________________________
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not for I am with you,
Do not be dismayed for I am your God,
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/16/2008 3:02:33 AM
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BibleL7
Posts: 493
Joined: 2/1/2008
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Pray, pray and pray some more. Get into the Word. Sing His praises all to focus on Him and not self. When you feel like you are slipping sing His praises and pray. Helps.
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/16/2008 12:05:51 PM
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iamjc-s
Posts: 361
Joined: 8/1/2007
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better to be hot or cold than lukewarm
Rev. 3:15-16 (NIV)
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/16/2008 12:10:07 PM
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iamjc-s
Posts: 361
Joined: 8/1/2007
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God answers prayer, even prayer for faith.
Mr 9:24 (Webster's Bible Translation)
And immediately the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.
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RE: Tend to go from extreme to extreme, looking for con... - 7/18/2008 8:14:52 PM
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SomeFineDay
Posts: 90
Joined: 5/2/2008
Status: offline
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I have been really trying these past days, and thank your for all the replies. I think that perhaps it is discipline that I need to not go in the direction that I know will lead me to the cold direction.
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