SO MANY TIMES I'VE PRAYED TO GOD TO CHANGE MY LIFE...

QUESTION

So many times I've prayed to God to change my life. I do good for a while then bam, I look up and find myself back doing the very things I prayed hard for God to bring me out of. I feel so bad for flip flopping but obviously not bad enough to stop me from sinning against God.

How do I make a permanent change and fully commit myself to God?

ANSWER

Let's break it down into parts and address it that way.

Q...So many times I've prayed to God to change my life.

A...Keep praying, never stop praying. Praying makes us stronger, it is through the act of prayer that we open the door for God to come in and provide an answer to that which we ask of him. Instead of identifying the problem to Christ, maybe try changing the way in which you pray and start asking for a permeant solution. Making known our sins to Christ is good don't get me wrong, but at some point our prayers need to be not about confessing as God knows all, but more about Lord through your Holy Spirit guide me to a righteous solution for the transgressions I have confessed to you. Do you see the difference? Confession tells God there is a problem, but what good is knowing the problem and not having a resolve. The asking of a resolution is what brings about the change. God show me how is a powerful statement of submission to the Throne of the Almighty.

So, the next time you pray yes confess your transgressions, but don't stop there. Go a step further and ask for God to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into a holy resolution, and then take your prayer a step further and ask for clarity to see the help that God provides and the will to do as he instructs.

Q...I do good for a while then bam, I look up and find myself back doing the very things I prayed hard for God to bring me out of.

A...This is not an uncommon issue. For most Christians, yes even born again Christians such as myself this is an ongoing issue to be addressed. I remember the day I prayed to give myself fully to Christ, I had no idea just what that prayer entailed. I was not prepared for the uphill battle between my flesh and spirit, seriously. I flipped flopped, fell back into temptation, bumped my head and so much more all while growing in Christ. What I learned in the midst of my trails and tribulations of building a deeper relationship with the Kingdom of Heaven is that every time I would fall back into my old ways I would learn something new that made me stronger for the next go around with satan. Yes I said go around, you see just because we are walking with Christ doesn't make us exempt to the presence of satan, in fact it makes us even more prone to having to deal with him more frequently. Think about it. Why would satan go after those who are partaking in his way of living, he has no need. satan's focus is to kill, steal and destroy those who seek after the Kingdom of Heaven, and this brings me to my next point, if we can identify who it is and what it is we are dealing with then we can move accordingly. This is a technique I found to be most helpful when it comes to rebuking the temptation of sin. You see satan deals in the flesh and the Lord in the spirit, so if my flesh falls weak then this tells me that which is causing the desires of my flesh to turn against God must be that which is opposite of God. You see pleasure is the Devil's playground, I'm not saying not to enjoy your life, God's word tells us to eat, drink and be merry, however his word also tells us to do this in moderation and in decency. God clearly lays out the plan for living a happy life in him, we have the story of Adam and Eve, the 12 commandments, the life of Christ, the distinction between the fruits of the Holy Spirit and the devil, and much more. So if we can structure our everyday living to measure that which we do by the standards of God's word than I think resisting temptation when it approaches will be a little bit easier each and every time. I call this living in truth (living with open eyes to see the truth that is presented and making justified decisions according to the Throne of Heaven).

And yes I purposely small cased satan's name, to me this diminishes his significance and gives him a low-ranking stature in my life.

Q...I feel so bad for flip flopping

A...Proverbs 24:16...for a just man falls 7 times. This right here tells me God knows we as human beings are going to fall into sin at some point in time, it's not if but when we fall. This is not an excuse to sin but a notion of truth telling, you see sometimes falling into sin is inevitable no matter how hard we try, and we shouldn't condemn ourselves for having a weak moment (involuntary of course). Yes, we should feel bad for sinning against God, if we didn't then we wouldn't be children of the Kingdom of Heaven, only demons feel nothing for their wayward behavior towards the Almighty Jehovah. If we are indeed born of God than that condemnation we feel is exact, however we can't live in it. The condemnation is not to make us feel shame, no not all, the condemnation is to make us feel the hurt that God feels when his heart is broken by our undesirable actions toward him. So how do we stop flip flopping? For me it is a consistent choice to stay away from the very things that cause me to go against God, I like to call this intentional living. It is the desire not to hurt the God that has been so good to me and in cases where I fall into the snares of the devil, I pray for God to make me stronger in that area so that next time (and yes there will be a next time) I am tempted by satan I am strong and wise enough in the Spirit and knowledge of God to resist. Be advised this is continual growth, what's the saying new level new devils, well it is indeed just that and we as Christians must be diligent in our living, never let your guard down in thinking you are strong enough to maneuver through this life without the presence and authority of the Lord Jehovah.

What really helps me to make better choices in the moment of decision making (righteousness vs. sinning) is praying to God and asking to feel what he feels as God the Father. Asking God to fill me with his emotions when he looks down upon me from his throne and to give me a better understanding of his heart. When God answered this prayer for me it, it gave me a better perspective and made my choosing a little easier because now I don't want to do anything that purposely hurts God. Now I am not saying I live a perfect life, no not by far, however the majority of the sins I use to do I don't do anymore. Making life all about God makes it so much easier to live a life pleasing to God and a happier living experience for me.

Q...But obviously not bad enough to stop me from sinning against God.

A...I don't think this is the case, remember we war not against the flesh and blood but against principalities, so in this case I don't think your sinning against God is willingly I think it's more of your flesh is weak and the battle your fighting is not being fought in the spirit. Once you learn how to fight the spirits of temptation according to the word of God you will begin to feel your desire to do the things that go against the Kingdom of Heaven dwindle and your desire to partake in the acts of sin lessen and lessen. Now I'm not saying that you won't sin, I'm saying the possibility of you rebuking the temptations of the devil will become stronger and stronger as you change your technique of fighting the principalities of the spirit realm from that of the flesh to that of the Spirit of God.

Remember I previously stated we must obtain an understanding of who and what is motivating us to do what goes against God. Keeping this thought in the fore front of our minds as we live daily is a helpful tool. You do feel bad, that was your statement right before this one, it's just your flesh falls weak to the pleasure of sin that satan has assigned to you, but the good news is now that your eyes have been open and your weakness has been exposed you can now go to God in truth of spirit and seek his help.

Q...How do I make a permanent change and fully commit myself to God?

A...To answer this I am going to refer to Romans 6:4...Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. To answer your question by the truth of this verse, to fully commit yourself to God, begins with the first step of being baptized (washed and renewed by the water), then repentance of your sins (asking for forgiveness and then permanently turning away from the sin you seek forgiveness for) and finally accepting Jesus the Christ as your Lord Savior (self explanatory) that the old you may be buried unto death with him on the cross, and by the divine resurrection through the glory of God you are anointed with the newness of life God has chosen you to live all the days of your life.

Once God has given you an understanding of the truth of sinful living leave it alone and move forward into the greater in him. Choose to live life by the wisdom of God. Live with intention, purpose and the desire to not only to please our Lord Jehovah but to do his will, and in doing this the gradual steps you take towards a divine way of living will ultimately lead you to the goal of righteous change permanently.

***Read the Bible, internalize it and then apply it. Change comes from knowing the truth and knowing the truth comes from seeking Godly wisdom and knowledge and Godliness comes from studying the word of God and living it daily.***