Christianity Oasis Forum

[smalltowngirl743]

I'm on Step 5 now, which only leaves me 9 more to go. I think this program is benefiting me, but it is a lot to take in.

Step 5 consists of identifying my problems. I was supposed to spend some serious private time in prayer for this lesson, but that didn't work out. I knelt down in front of a chair to pray, but all that would come to me was confusing thoughts...and then I promptly fell asleep bent over the chair for two hours. When I awoke, I was too disoriented, and ended up going to bed.

Anyways, my posts have been so long, that I think that I will simply list my problems here...that would be identifying them, wouldn't it? So, here are my main problems, keeping in mind that I am selfish all the while...

-- very prideful at times
-- complacent in my Christian walk
-- smoking habit
-- overeater
-- God is not number 1 in my life
-- liar (at times)
-- occasional sexual thoughts
-- depression, health problems
-- unmotivated
-- judgmental sometimes

I'm sure that I have a lot more problems than this, but I can't think of them all at the moment. This is another step that I will have to come back to and review often.

Have a great day everyone and God bless

[mlg]

There ya go sis, step 5 is a great one. It allows you to identify the problem areas, and then begin to address them with God's help one by one.

You said that you knelt down to pray but got sidetracked and then fell asleep. How about finding you a spot, turn on some Christian music clear your mind of all thoughts but God and then just begin talking to Him and let Him lead you into the prayers. He is so faithful to help us, as the Holy Spirit will intercede for you.

Keep doing the steps sis, your almost halfway through them.

luv ya

[Dora]

smalltowngirl you sound so discouraged.

His burden is easy and his yoke is light.

Sounds like you needed some rest. Now that you are well rested give it another go.

It doesn't have to be 30 minutes, start with just a few.

I use to keep a note pad and write down things that jump into my mind. Then I don't have to figure them out but can come to them later. I remember when my kids where little when I would get done with my hour of quiet time, I'd have my to do list all written out. It also helps so you can look at what is bumbling around up there in the mind. Good thoughts that just need a little follow through, or bad thoughts that need to be pulled? Business? Just things to keep you busy? To keep your mind off the REAL problem? If so we need to take a good look at what it is your mind is trying to avoid by keeping busy with other thoughts.

Now that you've gotten a good start on your list of things you'd like to work on, you can begin to work. I have a feeling you have been trying, many times, to improve in these areas, but keep falling. Which we all do.

Did you print out the graph to help overcome some of these issues?

I've got mine on my kitchen cupboard. I'm thinking I need to move it to the front of my monitor so I don't forget it anymore.



GB

[xxJILLxx]

ok so u idnetified some problem areas, Praise god that is the Holy Spirit bringing them to light, now we can work on addressing these areas.

like pine said dont be discouraged tending yr garden of yr mind takes work sometimes we gotta take off our gloves and actually get our hands in the dirt and pull those suckers out with force because they can be stubborn, trust me i had too

praying for u sis and keep courage sis yr doing wonderfully

Gbu

♥Jill

[Lani]

Hey Small,

Day 5 Awesome!!!

It is so great to know the Holy Spirit is working within you and while painful you are continuing to take the steps necessary to heal. Please know we are all here to help you and all the while, we are cheering you on along the way.

*Cheer*

Identifying the "problem areas" is a big step, I applaud you for taking the time to truly share them. You will often here such things referred to as "weeds" here. Take heart, everyone needs to tend to the garden of their soul every now and then...well, the more often you do so, the smaller the weeds can grow. My gardeners gloves are always handy if you need a friend. Please remember, you are NOT alone.



Please don't reflect on this "List" as negative, you have taken a major step, knowing the areas that need work is first, sharing shows you are serious in your desire to find healing, and reaching out Honors His greatest hopes for us.

See you for Day 6!!!
You remain in my prayers.

Peace and Love in Christ,
Lani

[comfy]

And we can have our attention to certain wrong things,
so we are not noticing what is more important.

Notice how the "Our Father" starts with our attention to Daddy,
not first to our sin problems

*When* I am messing up with my problems,
it helps me to be thinking not about my failure so much,
but about how God is able to *cure* me so I do better
in His love.

And it helps me to get into caring about others,
and having hope for them also to have God
making them better.
It can be positive for me to use my own problems
to make me able to feel for others,
so I understand what they are going through.
When I read your list, Small Town Girl, I'm like . . .
yeah, this and this and this all can be true about me, too.
More or less, each one.

But have we made a list that can have a way of
leaving out what may be much more a concern to God?
Maybe. How about being *forgiving*?
I can make quite the list, to show how honest I am,
but not notice how I have been unforgiving,
how I have been using people,
even judging who is important by if that one
can give me what I want.
I'm not saying this is you. It certainly has been me.

I have been seeing how ones have canceled themselves out from love,
because they have been picking and choosing who they want,
wanting only the people they think they can use for what they desire,
and essentially dumping and not caring about everyone else;
and this has them not in God's love *all-loving*, so they can
break down big-time in all sorts of problems.

But thank You, God, for pointing this out >
God has us seeing how we are wrong . . .
not to guilt-trip us, but because God has hope for us.
So then I will have this hope for others, too . . .

I have been involved in every sort of evil that you may have been told not to do, and have heard about in the news, etc. > more or less > some things only in my mind, that I have at times earlier in my life thought about or planned. And I am finding how God has been *curing* me in His love; so I know He can change any person, at all, however He pleases, easily and breezily and beautifully. *Cure*, not just modify how we manage and reform and look at ourselves.

Jesus says, "The things which are
. . . . . . . impossible with men
. . . . . . . . . are possible with God."
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Luke 18:27)

For any of us who are "men" . . . it's not just hard, but "impossible" (o:
but easy for God . . . for any of us >