u/BubbleSt4bs

I would like a little encouragement from anyone because.. I'm either in a season of spiritual dryness where I'm not sensitive to the Holy Spirit, experiencing true love, joy, and peace daily, and a dimmed or lack of desire to actually read the Word and fellowship with God... or I'm completely dead: Not seeking, nothing.. Because I know that I've strayed further and further away from God for a long time and I haven't been faithful or kept faith.. I'm just going through the motions and letting trials, sins, and mistakes rock me. By God's Grace, He'd wake me up and then I'd go about the day but there's no purpose no.. joy.. and it's been like this for a while. Yes I do hate sin.. I don't want to coddle with it, especially these lustful thoughts and intrusive ones.. I really hate lust..

Each day, I try to pray but I'm repeating the same words and I'm compulsing. Emotional highs are deceptive.. A big thing that I'm not doing actively is walking by faith, not by sight. Like when I actually try or want to sit down and read the Word or pray.. I'm getting nothing out of it. And I'm being real, I haven't been consuming the Word; I'm just scanning it..

(If y'all may, would y'all pray for me that I'm able to endure though this spiritual dryness and actually reconnect with Godly community who'll hold me accountable? Because I don't want to be lethargic and apathetic towards God and the Holy Spirit. I don't want to keep relying on my own willpower to overcome these intrusive thoughts.. I really want to experience true love joy and peace.. I do want to experience God love and let Him change me instead of me trying to change myself.)

This is a lot to pray about but I'll shorten it and target the mains:

1. May y'all pray for me that I'm able to stop condemning myself over everything I think, say, or commit? I struggle with intrusive thoughts and I judge myself for having a thought that said smthn bad about them or even God. It's a cycle: Sin, feel bad/ guilty, condemn myself, more condemnation and anxiety, I run from God, repent, then repeat.
2. I struggled with Scrupulosity, and now I'm falling back into compulsions about the fear of Blaspheming the Holy Spirit. I don't want to, I have no intent to. I know one time I said something I shouldn't about God, it felt like it just slipped out and I was crying. I was literally saying to my family that I love them and thank you for being my family. (I was acting as if it was my last day on earth. But by God's Grace, He still woke me up this morning.
3. Ever since God has blessed me with a job, I feel as if it's now hard to actually spend time in His Word and rest in Him. Whenever I'm at work, I'd like to go home, but when I'm at home.. it's like something is yearning to go back to work..
4. Please pray that I can truly live in Joy and Peace that only Jesus gives. I have been so hard on myself that I've gotten used to it. If you ask one of my family members, they can agree with this.
5. May y'all pray for me that God brings me into a community to help me overcome lusting over men, as a 17 year old male myself?

I would like help understanding how I can repent from this self condemnation. And I'm reaching out because I know a male like me on here, who loves Jesus, loves talking about Him and The Word of God, and struggled with lusting over men, has been delivered from this Lust by God.

Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. Isaiah 9:6 ESV [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

He knows what's best for us. He knows the plans for us. For welfare, not to harm us. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV. He's our Wonderful Counselor because He's our Great High Priest who sympathizes with us. Hebrews 4:15 ESV [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. He knows what it's like to have gone through temptation, but He didn't sin. HE KNOWS what it's like to be angry, –because He was the Word made flesh that dwelt among us–, but He didn't revile in return when reviled or threaten when He suffered. But if we go to Him and ask for help, ask the Holy Spirit for Help and Guidance, He will help you. HE'S OUR ADVOCATE, 1 John 2:1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR ADVOCATE, OUR HELPER, OUR COMFORTER. He commands us to come to Him and He will give you rest. You're not in shackles anymore because if the Son sets you free, you will be free Indeed because Christ has set us free. John 8:36 & Galatians 5:1. I know I struggle with lust and self condemnation but when I go to the Word to understand how I can stop living in this self condemning lifestyle, I gotta understand that there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 I'm in Christ, and there's no condemnation for me, so why would and should I condemn myself? I still condemn myself for sinning continuously over lust, but I have to stand on Romans 8:1.

If Jesus tells you to do something in the Word, do it because Deuteronomy 28 talks a LOT about disobedience than obedience. He even tells us that "If you love me you will keep my commandments.", in John 14:15 ESV. JESUS EVEN TELLS THE ENEMY WHEN OUT IN THE WILDERNESS THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. Matthew 4:4 ESV

God's commandments aren't burdensome, 1 John 5:3, but are perfect, reviving the soul, making the wise simple, right, pure, enlightening the eyes, true, and righteous all together. Psalm 19:7-10, Psalm 119:105, and Proverbs 6:23. The most important commandment is loving the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and the Prophets" Thats why 1 Corinthians 13:13 states that So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE. Love God with ALL of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love His creation. That's it, Love Him with all of you and love His creation.

Some verses from the Word of God that we should start applying and living by are Ephesians 4:29, 31-32 ESV [29] Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. [31] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. [32] Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV, Matthew 7:12 ESV for sure, Colossians 3:23 ESV, DONT FORGET THIS 2 Timothy 2:24 ESV [24] And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, Micah 6:8 ESV, Colossians 3:12-17.

If people are lovingly correcting you for what you did, say anger or hatred, and you're like, why should I forgive them or why should I love them? God's Word tells that WE MUST, M.U.S.T Forgive them as He FORGAVE US. God's commandment especially to not murder in Exodus 20:13 for sure is key for this because if you're hating your brother, you're a murderer. No murder has eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15 ESV) Even Leviticus 19:17-18 ESV cuts at this deeply, [17] “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. [18] You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

If you're ever stuck trying to understand how to overcome a certain sin, first Pray, and Ask God to guide you. HAVE FAITH THAT HE WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU. HE'S FAITHFUL ALL THE TIME. Then read the Word. Check to understand what you're going through and what you can do, Scripturally to repent of that sin.

Daily encouragement to get into the Word and get off your screens. Spending time in God's Word is an amazing thing to do. There's no excuses. Absolutely none. I'm not tryna be condemning but don't be surprised when you're not getting the things you want in your relationship with God when you haven't been putting in the effort. That's why it tells us to DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. He'll meet you where you're at, you have to draw near to Him first. He's always pursuing you daily, the Breath, Blood, Taste, Height, etc that He has provided you is His Grace and His Gift. We shouldn't take that for granted and do what we want but rather praise His Name. James 4:8 ESV [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. And Galatians 6:7 ESV [7] Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

And also, consider taking a day or long time away from video games and screens and just Sit with God. By His Grace, Pray FIRST thing: Thank Him, Praise Him, Glorify Him, anything to praise His Name. Then get into the Word and build up.

We shouldn't be wasting the days God gifts us, not obeying His commandments, (now He came to fulfill the Law), on our phones scrolling, watching reels, being lazy, not doing things we're supposed to, etc. But rather do what He says, live a life that's set apart from this world. To be Holy as He is Holy.

Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV [15] Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Let's be real, our phones are idols. Our screens are Idols and were told to flee idolatry in 1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV [14] Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I struggle with this as well, I know I grab my phone and scroll or am just on it but why reach for/ do something that can't fulfill us the way Jesus can? Now yes, our phones can be used for good things like spreading the Gospel, Reconciliation, and Lifting your brothers and sisters in Christ up with your words.. But, it has become an addiction: It'd be fun/ interesting to scroll rather than pray, making sure all notifications are checked, gossip, and other bad things.

The enemy is distracting us with social media: The more we're on it, we're gonna start comparing ourselves to others → the more we compare, the less content we are in what God has done and given for us → then we might become greedy, envious, angry, or prideful. Mark 4:19 ESV [19] but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

We can't serve two masters.. Matthew 6:24 ESV [24] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. ITS ALL GONNA PERISH: Ya' car is gonna perish, money is gonna perish, fame, social status, how much girls or boys you got sleeping up in ya' crib. Sure you need it to travel places, especially emergency. But why idolize smthn that's materialistic that's gonna perish? It doesn't matter if you got the new Benz, Corvette, Chevrolet, whatever. It doesn't matter how much money you got. Rather with the money you have, help the poor, needy, blind, lame, sick, I'll, infants, babies who are dying, Homeless people that we tend to scoff or laugh off, Christians who are dying for their Faith. WHAT TRULY MATTERS IS IF YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.

Now, I'm not here to get an Amen, then let y'all resume whatever y'all were doing but rather, get y'all to think and question: Have I been living a life that is pleasing to God? That I'm walking in His statutes daily? That I'm deciding to leave the things of this world cuz it's gonna perish and it ain't gonna give me satisfaction.. Because Jesus gave us Peace, HIS PEACE. HE LEFT US HIS PEACE. Not as the world gives. John 14:27 ESV [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. I need to do this too, because it's now time to really understand, do I wanna change my worldly pallet and live in daily repentance or blend in with the world? Cuz We're the salt of the earth and the light that was told to shine before others. Matthew 5:14, 16 ESV [14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

I would like to ask, How do y'all have self control to play games but seek God more day by day? I believe that God took me out of games because it was taking up too much of our time. I would play games and barely touch or read the Bible. But now I'm off the games.. yes I've went back but I rage quit.. and now I'm getting like images of certain game characters.

And it's like if I were to play games again.. how could I truly set it down after a certain period of time and seek God? I do want to do something fun online with others, but I've matured in my walk with God that I've been showed areas of my life that I need to improve on.

Like I'm getting a job, and I believe that God put the thought of money and candy on my mind, When I asked Him to please show me if there is any idols that I'd walk into. (Do y'all have any suggestions for that?) I don't want so blast it all out in one go, I do want to glorify and Honor God by serving others with the money God provides to me..

(If y'all got lost anywhere in point.. ask me and I'll clarify deeper..) Something in me wants to play games but something else is pulling me away.

I confess that I live in a performative and fearful lifestyle: Trying to prove my worth, wanting to be fully assured, being anxious about anything literally at random, and etc. And no matter how much I want to move from this past identity and live in the identity Christ gave me, I'm ungrateful. I'm not choosing to be thankful of where God has me at. Even if I ask God to remove situations, get things, or to be close to God, I find it hard to slow down. Especially on Sabbath's.

Now for my identity crisis, it's paired to the what I said up top but I haven't been operating from the Identity, God already calls me: An heir, a child of God, loved, called to be a saint, sanctified and perfected, a new creation. I'd like to know How I can live from the Identity that God calls me..

Jesus loves y'all, Be blessed.

So I have a question: Y'all know Matthew 5:17 right? Matthew 5:17 ESV

[17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

I'm not wanting to be disobedient.. but since Jesus came to fulfill the law.. and, Mark 2:27-28 ESV

[27] And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. [28] So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Do I still have to keep the Sabbath? I would like to get a job, If the Lord wills, one day... And I know that at His perfect timing, He will provide me the Job he wants me to work in. I'm not trying to be disobedient.. but I would like to know..