STUCK!

[saved]

I find it hard to pray to God because I am stuck in the middle of sin. It's like I want to pray and ask for his forgiveness but I know I will only do it again and again.
I almost feel like He wont hear me because I am stuck in sin.  

What do I do?

Is it okay to pray when you are in the middle of sin and know you wont leave it no time soon. I know that may sound really bad, but that's just me being honest.

[bishopbiscuits]

You are only as 'stuck' as you choose to be.
.....Habits are hardest to break when they hook into your desires or lifestyle.
.....I recall the story of a woman that I used to work with. She used to smoke cigarettes. However when she became pregnant, she chose to let them go. Whatever role smoking had in her life, it lost its place when up against the health of her unborn child.
.....I read your previous post, and whether it's that situation or another, here are some suggestions:

1. Spend quality still time with God.
.......If you have too many distractions, or just don't make time for Jesus, then Satan has a headstart on choosing your spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical paths for you. If we don't prioritize well, it makes it hard to take a stand for God against the enemy's attacks.

2. Be real with God.
.......By being real, I mean becoming transparent. Not just sharing your honest feelings, but letting God also show you deeper revelation and awareness about yourself. He knows every care and concern of your heart. He wants you to have the best, and will do all things in season. Is your situation just a symptom of a larger need? God wants to meet that need.

3. Choose wisely.
......Choose to learn and refresh yourself about God's promises. He is not a man that He should lie, and He makes provision by His Word, His Son, and His Holy Spirit for ALL that we SHOULD ever need. Plus, because He loves us , He wants to give us things that please us,too. The more our desires line up with His desire for us, the more abundantly He can add to our lives.
....Like Joshua said," Choose ye this day who ye will serve. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord." Choose patience over panic, clear vision over rose colored glasses, and wisdom over the "whatever" attitude.

.....As far as your question goes, He ministered to me when I was in the midst of indecision. But there was little peace until I realized finally that compromise with  righteousness was not worth it. This point took me years of guilt and anguish and tears to come to.
....Please don't waste precious time in what may be senseless struggling.  Trust God  even the more to help you in a time and area of weakness.
....Seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and let God add all good things to you His way and in His time.

[David Dupree]

Romans 6
1   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2   God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
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Gal. 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.  

   Saved, when you get to the point that you love God more than you love "the fall" then you will cease justifying your weakness and seek to overcome it.  However, as long as the enemy can keep you overtaken in a fault, he knows that he can continue to distract you from your destiny in God and keep you far short of your Divine purpose.  True repentance is being godly sorrowful for your sin.  True conversion involves turning away from sin.  Repentance +faith = Conversion

   Let me provide you with a couple tidbits from Co-Pastor Susie Owen's Bible class.
" The Holy Spirit will settle the strife in the believer's heart if you let Him; the Holy Spirit will bring Word knowledge to you and it will constrain you to modify your ways."
"Repentance involves a frank acknowledgement of sin, sorrow for it and a determination to forsake it."

   As believers we aren't sinless.  We just sin less!  

Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Ezekiel 18
31   Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32   For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.


  

[Omnia]

Saved,
Why not just pray for the strength to overcome your sins, and your human nature that allows you to wallow in that which you know is sin?  If the Word of God, His grace and mercy don't convict you, then nothing we can type on this screen will, either.

Fortunately for us, God is not like man.  Man would have condemned us to eternal d**nation after the first sin; yet we have a Redeemer that knows the hardships we endure living in this world.  Why don't you believe He will forgive your sins, and give you a strength to overcome them?

[missy]

This Sunday my Bishop (Ralph L Dennis - Kingdom Worship Center) admonished the people to ask God for the gift of celebacy.  Oftentimes single believers ask God to take away their sexual desires, feelings, emotions, etc.  However, I don't think believers REALLY want God to do that.  If a single believer desires to be married, he/she would want to be able to please his/her spouse sexually.  Thus, instead of asking God to take away those desires, one should ask God for the gift of celebacy.  

So, I encourage you to seek God and ask him for the gift of celebacy.  Also, when you seek him, have a determination to commit yourself wholly to the Lord.  The Bible declares that God will keep that which we commit unto Him against that day (2 Timothy 1:12).  

In addition, seek God three-dimensionally through prayer, worship and the Word.   During these time, allow God to speak to your spirit.  Allow Him to be intimate with you.  Release your desires and emotions to God through prayer and worship. Seek God through the Word for strength to resist temptation.  The Bible states, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).  So, it's common for the temptations of the flesh to come.  However, God has given us a way to escape.

Lastly, consider fasting.  Some things come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:29).  Jesus gave this response to the disciples when they were unable to cast out an evil spirit.  Sometimes we have to fast AND pray for our healing and deliverance.

Be encouraged and strengthened in the Lord.

[Jesaira]

Too add to what Missy said...I was in that service as well.  What a message!  

It is also very important that as singles we learn to change our strategy.  If we become wise strageist, then we won't find ourselves in situations were we "feel" stuck.  Also, I think we must have a made up mind to be all that God has required.  Accountability helps...the truth of the matter is this - God made us sexual beings yet He requires that we wait until the appointed time - marriage.  We must learn to be "real" about our weaknesses and tell someone who will hold us accountable.  We can't surround ourselves with individuals that have the same problem.  We must implement a new strategy.   Wisdom is the principle thing...and wisdom is very practical and attainable.  As singles, we must raise our standard.  Sexual temptation is real!  To flirt with the enemy of our soul is foolish and God would not have us to be foolish.  As Missy stated: prayer, worship and the word of God are essential tools in winning the battle over our flesh.  

I am a witness that God is a keeper.  I am 30 years old and I am still a virgin but not only a virgin, I am a CHASTE virgin. Praise be to GOD!!!

A few years back, God challenged me to purify my mind and thoughts.  He revealed to me that I was only a virgin in deed...but that wasn't enough because God judges the heart and my heart was dirty.  I constantly think about sex and I even watched pornography at times (it fulfilled the thoughts and images in my mind). As a teenager, I didn't engage in sexual activity because I was afraid of getting pregnant - that was enough to keep me then but as I grew, things had to change.  I found as a virgin, that I really wasn't in touch with the intensity of my sexuality which caused me to have a false sense of "security".  Since, God showed me that I am no different from the one is promiscious and that humbled me.  I was very critical and judgmental towards many people.  But God has delivered my mind and has given me compassion for those who struggle in this area.   God is faithful, and I admonish you to get "stuck" on Christ as the SUMPREME lover of your soul.  Learn to embrace his love, be creative - channel your sexual desires in other areas, such as getting involved with the church, community, business ventures.  Ask God for strength to hold out until the appointed time because there is an appointed time.  God is faithful to deliver!

Be blessed.

Jesaira