Bible Discussion Thread

I have been saved and baptised and I believe the Word of God. But I feel that I couldn't do the things the Bible says to do. I feel infirour and meek about saving people, or praying without ceasing. I also have a mental illness so I don't know what voices are real and what isn't sometimes and leaves me with a sick feeling in my gut when I think negative about a certain image in my head, or a voice that tells me I'm going to hell. I just clam up and do nothing other than fight that thought. Can someone pray for me and tell me what is a good thing I should do about this?

Dear Nick34

I sure wish that you were not having such troubles. Mental illness is so difficult to cope with and it is hard for others to understand that it isn't a matter of getting up enough will-power to rise above it. I am glad you are being treated so that your brain and mind can be helped to act more normally.

As to doing everything the Bible tells us to do, no one can do that but Jesus. The "Law" of the Bible shows us that we are sinful and fail to obey God every day in some way. The Holy Spirit uses it to convict us of our sin and drive us to God seeking forgiveness and grant us repentance. We will struggle with the sinful nature we always possess in this life and we do strive to live a life of obedience, but none of us can keep the WHOLE Law al the time. That is why we need a Savior. The Law points us to our need for salvation and the New Testament gospel points us to Jesus, who alone brings us forgiveness and reconciliation with God even in our sinful state. This is because we are not reconciled to God on account of our own righteousness, but on account of Jesus' perfect righteousness that is given to us when we come to Him in faith in Him.

Nick I would love to pray for you.

Dear Heavenly Father, today we come to You in faith, by the blood of Jesus and by His word that You will answer the prayers of those who are in Jesus. We lift up Nick before you and ask that you speak a word of healing over him and restoration of his mind to soundness. We ask that You take back what the enemy has robbed Nick of over the years and bless Nick with saneness and a removal of the damaging thought processes that lead him into wrong thinking. We ask that You stop the voices from coming into his mind with only the Holy Spirit's voice remaining. We ask that You will reassure Nick of Your great love for him and that You save completely those who come to You in faith in Jesus, our Lord. Father, we all need You and with Nick we ask that You help us to follow what You ask.

Hi Nick34.

I hope all is well.

Nick34 I thought it would be necessary to note something concerning your statement "not being able to do the things the Bible says to do.

What ever that may be, just understand that you are not alone.

This wretchedness you have within you when you feel you are not doing as you should is the Holyspirit.

The Holyspirit brings conviction upon a believer and that is a good thing!

Only God children wants to please him. He prunes us.

Even though we may never be perfect in our service and walk in this lifetime but we try everyday.

We will have this conviction all our lives because we want to please him and the Spirit causes us to love the things he loves. Because we have his spirit in us.

Listen to Paul in Philippians 3:12-14

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

And now listen to him here in Romans 7:24-25. he says

"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

We don't do this for salvation, we do it because of his lordship over our lives. It's his spirit that aligns us up with his will.

We should thank him for such conviction because it is he that works in us as we're clothed in his righteousness.

God bless you.

Hi Nick , may I ask do you get any help with your mental health issues ? Medication can definitely help , my own step sister suffers with paranoid schizophrenia . When she was young and before she was diagnosed and treated , she was in a terrible state . It took a while to find the right meds for her but now in her fifties , she's leading a normal life and has been doing very well for over 30 years . She's married , has a grown up son and is content , so I do know meds can help a lot . As for doing everything that the Bible tells us to , none of us are capable of that all day every day , only Christ is sinless , we are all imperfect in this life . Most importantly you need to have faith in God's love for you and in His willingness to forgive our sinfulness through and because of , Jesus Christ and what he accomplished in order to reconcile us to God . Try to pray to God at least twice a day , even if you just thank Him for all the good things in your life . Try to read your Bible every day , pick a time when you are confident you won't be disturbed , set a time limit or a chapter goal , maybe two chapters a day ? Or twenty minutes ? Whatever you feel is doable for you . The main thing is to persevere . It takes time and effort to get to know your God . Don't be impatient with yourself , relax and enjoy learning about and growing closer to Him . Do you know anyone who might like to read with you ? Is there someone you could talk to about what you read every day ? Maybe you could come on here and talk to us about what you read each day ? I hope you continue on this path towards a better understanding of and a stronger faith in your Dear Heavenly Father , He's waiting to greet you :) .

Yes I am on medication for my mental illness, just like your step sister I have the same illness. Thank you for your comment, that really helped. I will try to devote a time during my day to study and pray. Thank you!

Hi Nick34.

I would recommend continue in prayer and go to your pastor and address your concerns with him, especially about the things the Bible says to do.

See if he will talk and mentor you without bringing you in front of the whole congregation.

Perhaps there is others here that can help.

God bless you.

Thank you for your comment. I'm going to devote time for prayer and study. Thank you!

You're welcome Nick34.

There's comfort in that!!

God bless you