Terrible backsliding (Full Version)

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RefinersMetal -> Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 12:32:13 AM)

I went through a period of terrible backsliding for about 5 years. Every once in awhile would try to get back in the Bible and would for a couple days. I was saved during this period. (had witnessed to people before and really believed)

Now there is no backsliding but the devil always attacks me with doubts and thoughts about this dark "period" (like this person remembers you smoking pot and being as pagan as they get hypocrite...etc)

Any advice or similar situations? I thank God he had mercy and restored me to the narrow path and did not take me out.



Fortydays -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 1:26:58 AM)

Happens to a bunch of us. I failed for years and that was after I was a spirted filled Christian. I finally stepped over the fence a few years ago.
You never need to look behind at your sins. They are forgiven. Its history. Just live your life for the lord and when you stumble again just pick yourself back up.



RefinersMetal -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 1:45:43 AM)

Thanks



glimmerinthedark -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 2:04:30 AM)

Hey don't worry about it. I'm in the same situation you are. I too have recovered from terrible backsliding. I am always attacked with evil thoughts and doubts. But I know that they are lies from the devil, and don't believe or give in to them.

"Just hang on, hang on, I'm never givin up no never givin in." - Michael W. Smith [:)]



conrack50 -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 8:23:18 AM)

I got tired of hanging out on the fence a few years ago.
I made the decision to really seek God and my life's been totally changed since then.
I spend more time with my Heavenly Father each morning and come away with such joy.
The years I spent backsliding are but a faint memory now.
I give thanks each day that I was given another chance.
How awesome each day is now to begin with God!



45degreeN -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 8:41:02 AM)

C.S. Lewis held the idea of humans as hybrid creatures. Not all physical and not all spiritual. Because of that nature we oscillate back and forth from fleshly to spiritual. It's not something that we can help ourselves with but still it means that there will always be periods where we seem to backslide.

Faith requires us to trust God especially in the valleys since we all will have valleys. Psalm 84 "blessed men go through valleys"

No one can live a life on the "mountain top" experience all the time we are not to blame ourselves for these valleys either since it is along the way we are going to have these valleys.

This idea of blaming ourselves for our valleys is a message from Satan.



timf -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 9:04:06 AM)

Now there is no backsliding but the devil always attacks me with doubts and thoughts about this dark "period"

Many people start their Christian walk with a wrong turn. This is described in Galatians. When we try to build on the flesh instead of the Spirit, we find ourselves with frustration, failure, and even the blindness of the Pharisees.

Paul tell us that our Christian life should be based on the same principle it was founded, faith.

Colossians 2:6
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

For most Christians faith needs to be increased. Jesus is our example by His complete dependence upon the Father. While Satan accuses Jesus without merit, his accusations against us are often most cruel because it is one of the rare times he speaks the truth. We have an example of how these accusations are overcome.

Revelation 12:10-11
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The guilt and shame in an accusation are assuaged by faith in Him who cleanses us from sin;

Ephesians 6:16
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Just as the hymn says;

2 Timothy 1:12
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

In singing the hymn or considering the verse above, one can picture raising the shield of faith. The exercise of faith strengthens it.

Satan wants us to be crippled with guilt from sin. Jesus wants us to confess our sin and cry out to Him for His help.



deermousie -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 12:50:03 PM)

When Satan reminds of you your past, remind him of his future! [:D]

We were born spiritually dead. God made us alive and called us to Himself, and we go two steps forward and one step back. In your case, in my case, and in the case of many, we stepped a lot of steps back. Spiritually we are seated in heavenly places with God (see Eph. 2) but physically we're walking around on earth and bumping into things. We are sinners; we sin, and God isn't surprised. We used to be lost and we've had a lot of practice at it. So when we blow it, we're doing what we used to do all the time before God saved us. God is our Rescuer, not our accuser (that's Satan's job). God does that because that's what He's been doing all along: rescuing us. First, from the guilt and penalty of sin, and now from our acted-on sin. Slowly we learn to do things His way, and He continues to muck the trash out of our lives. It's a life-long process. Notice that we confess and He cleans. It's not our effort.

He tells us in 1 John 1:

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

So like kids with bloody knees, we run home to Daddy for a kiss and a bandaid.
Welcome back home, sinner. There's lots of us (all of us, in fact) in your shoes. We all stand here by grace, and He wipes away our tears. Praise Him forever!



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 1:18:23 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RefinersMetal

Now there is no backsliding but the devil always attacks me with doubts and thoughts about this dark "period" (like this person remembers you smoking pot and being as pagan as they get hypocrite...etc)

Any advice or similar situations? I thank God he had mercy and restored me to the narrow path and did not take me out.


I would offer this time to the Lord. Give this period of backsliding to the Lord as an offering and ask Him to take it, turn it around and then use it and you to bring souls to Himself and glory to Him.

He is quite the Champion at taking the worse parts of our lives and turning them around for good and His glory[:)]

~All things work together for good to those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose~

Are all things good? No. But all things work together for good if we offer them to the Lord....



Focusing -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 1:47:20 PM)

Yes, I have been there too, and I understand those feelings. They are terrible. [&o]

Remember that your Father in heaven loves you, and every time you go to Him with a humble heart, confessing your sin, and seeking His forgiveness ... He hears you ... and He forgives you.

I have found this verse very helpful.


As far as the east is from the west, so far
has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12



As long as we are on this earth, we will mess up ... He expects it, He knows it's going to happen ... and even better, He never ever gives up on us. He is always there for us, any time of the day or night, with open arms and a heart of compassion.



CherishedbyGod -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 3:37:42 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing

Remember that your Father in heaven loves you, and every time you go to Him with a humble heart, confessing your sin, and seeking His forgiveness ... He hears you ... and He forgives you.

I have found this verse very helpful.


As far as the east is from the west, so far
has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12



As long as we are on this earth, we will mess up ... He expects it, He knows it's going to happen ... and even better, He never ever gives up on us. He is always there for us, any time of the day or night, with open arms and a heart of compassion.


Beautiful...........



SavedByGraceMD -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 5:15:43 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Fortydays

Happens to a bunch of us. I failed for years and that was after I was a spirted filled Christian. I finally stepped over the fence a few years ago.
You never need to look behind at your sins. They are forgiven. Its history. Just live your life for the lord and when you stumble again just pick yourself back up.


Very true, but you won't need to pick yourself back up, the Lord will be there with his hand out, waiting for you to take hold of it.



SavedByGraceMD -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 5:18:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: conrack50

I got tired of hanging out on the fence a few years ago.
I made the decision to really seek God and my life's been totally changed since then.
I spend more time with my Heavenly Father each morning and come away with such joy.
The years I spent backsliding are but a faint memory now.
I give thanks each day that I was given another chance.
How awesome each day is now to begin with God!


Amen to that. I think it is safe to say we have all struggled at times. But the love and grace of the Lord is never failing.



JordanW -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/24/2008 6:15:07 PM)

I backslided a few years ago too, and most recently for the past couple of months. You can definitely see a change in your relationship with God when you backslide. Backsliding really makes you realize how much you love and need God. I know for a fact that life with God is a lot easier, though it can be tough at times, at least you always know that he is with you, right by your side.



T.I.L. -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/25/2008 9:44:34 AM)

When I start having thoughts of guilt over having been a backslider, I have to stop myself and remember that it is Satan trying to make me backslide again. And that constant thoughts of guilt, in a way, are questioning if God can really forgive me. So I just have to stop it all!

This is part of a devotional by C.H. Spurgeon from "Morning and Evening."

"A backslider, if there is a spark of life left in him, will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the same grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No one can be renewed without a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's energy that is as real and true as at the first renewal because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are just as present now as they ever were."



THEREDCAPE -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/25/2008 9:53:06 AM)

If God has forgiven our sins, including backsliding, who are we not to forgive ourselves?

We need to turn from sin (repent) walk away from it in the opposite direction (holiness) and move forward with the Lord.



Focusing -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/25/2008 9:58:23 AM)

T.I.L.,

I love your signature!

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)


An excellent verse! [:)]



T.I.L. -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/25/2008 10:31:24 AM)

Thanks Focusing!

That verse definitely helps me to keep my tongue in cases where I might get frustated with others.

Sometimes I need to remember that using 'reckless words' on myself -such as 'why did you stray for so long' are just as bad as if I would use them on others. And to always turn to the Word of the most Wise for the ultimate healing!



kreepycrowley -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/26/2008 8:22:32 AM)

I am currently going through what I think may be backsliding. I recently started online college classes and work full time. I feel like I'm giving you excuses already! My husband says he's a christian but he never goes to church and lives like he's never been in one. We have 4 older childrent (ages 16 & up) and we have a 6 yr old. I always feel so good once I get home from church but getting there...it's tough sometimes. I want to sleep in on Sundays too but I also want my daughter to have a better, earlier relationship with Jesus, so I find that most of the time lately, I am only going for my daughter but like I said, I always feel better when I get home. I feel comforted myself and I feel good about what I done for my daughter. I think I'm backsliding because of those feelings and also because of my study of the word. I try to stick with the reading schedule that my church gave me but I never can keep up! I watch Joyce Meyer just about everyday and I believe she is helping me but I know that I need to actually be in the word myself. I need help in studying the word. My sunday school class just started a study of revelation but it is very "non structured" and we go off on rabbit trails most of the time. Not that there's anything wrong with that because the rabbit trails help too. I need some suggestions on how to study the bible so that I will be interested and take it more (much more) seriously. Thank you and God bless![sm=wave.gif]



SavedByGraceMD -> RE: Terrible backsliding (4/27/2008 9:44:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kreepycrowley

I am currently going through what I think may be backsliding. I recently started online college classes and work full time. I feel like I'm giving you excuses already! My husband says he's a christian but he never goes to church and lives like he's never been in one. We have 4 older childrent (ages 16 & up) and we have a 6 yr old. I always feel so good once I get home from church but getting there...it's tough sometimes. I want to sleep in on Sundays too but I also want my daughter to have a better, earlier relationship with Jesus, so I find that most of the time lately, I am only going for my daughter but like I said, I always feel better when I get home. I feel comforted myself and I feel good about what I done for my daughter. I think I'm backsliding because of those feelings and also because of my study of the word. I try to stick with the reading schedule that my church gave me but I never can keep up! I watch Joyce Meyer just about everyday and I believe she is helping me but I know that I need to actually be in the word myself. I need help in studying the word. My sunday school class just started a study of revelation but it is very "non structured" and we go off on rabbit trails most of the time. Not that there's anything wrong with that because the rabbit trails help too. I need some suggestions on how to study the bible so that I will be interested and take it more (much more) seriously. Thank you and God bless![sm=wave.gif]


Kreepycrowley

It seems like you may be too busy. My pastor said in one of his messages, that we need to be active in our walks, but to also make sure we get our rest. We need to be strong mentally, spiritually and physically. If we overdue our schedules and wear ourselves out, we leave ourselves open to a spiritual attack, which could explain(other than just being worn out) your feelings about going to church. Try taking it easy for a little while and see if you can refresh yourself with the Lords help. Good luck and God bless you.



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