/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

perhaps you could attempt to occupy your time with non-sinful acts?

the way you are putting yourself out here. is that you somehow have so much free time to be doing these things.

im also the same age as you, and this is literally the first post ive ever made this year because of my studies. last final was yesterday.

Anyways, there is not really anything that is stopping you from walking your own way. you already have faith in christ, just get into a hobby or get a job or something. There will be a point in your life where you will look back 10 years from then and wonder why you didnt use your time now to develop a skill or to develop your character. Stop giving yourself free time.

>>573635

Anon I am feeling the same way right now.

>But it only takes a day or two and I get depressed and start feeling that I need those dreams and desires and things that make a pleasurable life to make me feel free.

It is because you have not tasted true love, true happiness, true freedom in Christ. It is impossible to taste of the glory of God and still want to look back afterward. Even if the temptation arises, and is sometimes indulged into because of weakness or curiosity, everything becomes absolutely bland and wasteful in comparison to that little drop of light that we received, and our heart cannot help but seek more of this light.

Do you pray often? Do you go to Church every Sunday? How often do you read the Scriptures? Do you receive Holy Communion every time it is available?

You are given freedom, the freedom to lay down all of life's worries in front of Christ, and be made free of them. Focus on God, forget about that which you cannot bring with you after death and that which will condemn you at the resurrection.

>>573678

I pray every day. I've been going to Church every Sunday recently. I try to read the Scriptures every day. I take Communion always when it's offered.

How do I focus on God though? See that's the problem, I feel like the temptations are all around me. How do I focus on God and not the world when I'm living in the world?

>>573675

God help us both…

>>573635

Me too, brother.

An inordinate amount of my free time and even non-free time (when I'm slacking) are spent entertaining myself. It feels wrong. I've dumped the most obviously sinful stuff (overly violent or occult video games, bad music, etc.), but I'm still troubled. I can't tell if enjoying and dedicating time to worldly things itself is sinful, or if it's just the sheer amount of time and thought that I pour into these things that is sinful. In either case, I feel that my conscience is pressuring me to permanently give up all but the most simple forms of pleasure or else I will be damned. I am afraid that I would be terribly bored if I were to listen to it. But should I listen to it? Is it just being scrupulous? How else do I curb my appetites?

I recently finished abstaining from games for something like 3 weeks to focus on my final exams, but it hasn't helped–I still want to play my games (and to a lesser extent, relax with other frivolities) more than anything else when I get home at the end of the day and continually think of that reward I set before myself. I wasted several hours doing so just yesterday after I finished my last test. On top of that, while I was abstaining, I just replaced gaming with other habits like browsing the internet or listening to music. Advice?

One of the worst kinds of slavery is slavery to self. That's because it is completely and fundamentally contrary to your created purpose: to love God and love others. It sounds like this fact is starting to become very real to you.

I was kind of in a similar place a few years back, except I was much more complacent with my self-centeredness. I wasn't even seeking to change as you are. Instead, I had the truth thrust upon me when I read a book that turned out to be more challenging and impactful than I had bargained for.

At the core, what you're feeling is purposelessness. But it's not that you don't have a purpose, it's only that you don't know what it is yet. Plus, you are tempted—as we all are—to believe that you must give up happiness to follow God. In reality, a great deal of joy is found in living and working according to the mission that God has for you.

I am genuinely much happier now, pursuing what God wants me to pursue, than I ever was when I just focused on having as much fun as possible. And it's not that I wasn't having a lot of fun before. But the joy of how I live now is so much richer and more fulfilling. And there's so much more peace in knowing that my life up to this point was not completely wasted. That, if I died tomorrow, I have made an impact and done something worthwhile with the life and breath that God has entrusted to me. That's more than I could say just two years ago.

I recommend spending a lot of time in prayer. Make time to spend with God. You can't build a relationship without time investment. Also, From time to time, take an hour or two alone and pray individually for everyone you can think of. Start thinking more outside yourself. Pray for guidance and direction daily.

Another thing that helped me back when I was first starting down this path, was something I read in that book I mentioned earlier (The Tin Soldiers by Andrew Schwab, if you're curious). This will sound kinda hokey, but it really helped me get on track. Take a sheet of paper and make four columns.

In the first column, make a list of all your good characteristics and skills. Even if they seem small, irrelevant, or stupid. A few examples from my sheet from two years ago are diligence, loyalty, yelling, patience with people, digital art, first aid, and "hydration master".

In the second column, list your loves and interests. Again, don't filter them. Some of my examples: God, guns/explosions/fire, my church's youth group, baneposting, theology/philosophy, and self-improvement.

In the third, list things you think are stupid. A few of mine: Defeatism, worrying, addiction, PT Cruisers, dishonesty, and porn.

Finally, list any goals or dreams you have right now. Anything you'd like to accomplish or do in life, whether it's realistic or not. No filters. Some of mine were "end the masculinity crisis", "counter the porn epidemic in the church", "build a really weird car", "have and raise awesome kids", and "be the best/worst grandpa ever".

Once you've done all this you'll be able to find connections between some of your traits, talents, passions, interests, and desires. It'll start becoming clearer what God has designed you for. It might seem like an impossibly large calling, or it may seem insignificant and small (at first, anyway). It might be something that has been nagging at the back of your mind for a long time now, but that you doubted or chose to ignore.

Whether you realize your purpose right away or not, keep praying, learning, and growing. Work on removing vices that could entangle you or weigh you down. Develop your talents and skills so they'll be ready when it comes time to use them. Spend time on your relationship with God and with other believers. Help people as you're able to.

I'll pray for you, brother. And I hope you find what you're looking for soon.

I know the feeling, I went my own way, for a long time and it changed me a lot, I am haunted my sinful thoughts now and wish I could go back to being innocent. It makes walking the journey of faith that much more difficult, knowing such earthly pleasures constantly calling me.