How to avoid sin

Comments

• Amoussa01

  May 2013

  Mike,
  
  I am in your same position. I understand what you are going through very well. I was once told a story by a very knowledgeable priest regarding a Greek priest that served in a monastery. This Greek priest was addicted to alcohol and would drink everyday. All the other monks were very angry and felt that he gave the monastery a bad name and tried to convince the abbot to get rid of him. However, the abbot respectfully declined their request and when asked why, he told them the history behind this priest. He told them that when he was young, he was an alcoholic and often drank several bottles on a daily basis. He said that, since the time he wanted to accept Christ, he was able to minimize his drinking to just two cups a day and as his relationship with Christ grew, he was able to cut off a significant amount.
  
  The point of the story is that, we are sinners and we ourselves cannot overcome sin. The only remedy is Christ and trying to establish a daily relationship with him. We cannot get rid of our problems by trying to get rid of sins but we can try harder to involve Christ into our lives--which will eventually lead us to a more spiritual life (and less sin). I, personally, have been struggling a lot with sin during this week, but I realize now that both of us need to sit with ourselves quietly and speak with God and ask for His forgiveness and compassion. We need to retreat and "come to ourselves" as the prodigal son did when he decided that he could not live in poverty anymore. This is one of the joys of resurrection--the fact that we can arise from our spiritual death and run to our Savior who waits for us, falls on our necks, kisses us, and allows us to partake of the communion!
  
  Let us encourage each other to repent of our ways and involve God more in our lives through reading His word, talking to Him as a friend, spending quiet time, and partaking of His holy mysteries. I am need it as badly as anyone else, so I ask you to pray for me so that I can reunite with my heavenly Father once again in order for Him to change my sinful life and count me as a worthy member in His heavenly kingdom.
  
  your struggling brother
  Tony
• mikeforjesus

  May 2013

  Thankyou for your reply I really appreciate it
  I will pray that we can both find peace in our Lord
  
• mikeforjesus

  May 2013

  I am very confused why I am not allowed to watch any tv series that has an occasional sex scene while others claim they can look away
  
  I was comfortable watching clean stuff
  But now I am getting back to being worried my way is not perfect
  I am comfortable watching clean stuff even for long but I am worried some time if years down the tracks I will think I am hindering my growth in something if knowledge and want to watch these shows
  
  I can not follow this way
  
  When I am married will I be able to see these shows?
  
  Can God purify my heart to see these shows.
  
  I am not saying I will not be content with a spouse that I will feel I need another person God forbid but that I can not communicate with some people attracted to these shows and I guess will feel like less of a listener and more of the controller of talking about clean shows. Because the unclean shows have clean stuff in them too but I can not watch them because I stumble most of the time
  
  I should probably though only watch clean shows and not blame other people I have to learn not to be sensitive towards everyone accepting me provided there will be people who I can talk to. Life is short to please everyone
  
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  besides I am not too sure how practical the above life is. I have to atleast have some knowledge of the world.
• sodr2

  June 2013

  If you're feeling weak, communion is your strength. If you're feeling tempted, the Psalms is your defense.
  
  I usually read a chapter per day. Not so sure about fixing an amount of time for reading (let alone praying).
• mikeforjesus

  June 2013

  Okay Thanks