I love your testimony. For me, it has the necessary "ingredients" of a true repentant heart as pertaining to your drinking. I believe the Spirit not only quickens but ensures we learn the requisite spiritual lessons inherent in the path, which may take time.
I see it this way.
When we are in the flesh and are having fun, our heart, mind and body get used to that path and are snared by it that it becomes difficult for us to part ways. And because we enjoy the pleasures of that path, we continue in it even if we know we are doing the wrong thing without feeling any remorse of the wrong done. (Though sometimes we may feel it but do not care). The worry and cares of the world and the deceitfulness of the pleasures of this path continue to keep us bound in the path and harden our heart in the process. The sin inherent in the path becomes malignant in us and when something is malignant, it becomes difficult to cure or do away with.
However, when we repent and start treading on the right path, the tentacles of our old ways, that carnal nature built over the years, will not give way easily. As the heart, mind and body are being renewed towards the right path, we will struggle because they are already used to a particular way of life and were pleased with it. From our experience, we know it is difficult to leave that which we enjoy and cherish. The motions of sin accumulated over time will continue to vent themselves out until they are subdued as we continue steadfastly in the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in true repentance, we could face an inner struggle between the spirit and the flesh as our heart is being renewed and spirit strengthened. We see ourselves doing the wrong or evil we hate to do while failing to do the good required of us. In this state, we should not despair but be hopeful because our God who sees and judges the heart and not appearances remains with us in this struggle without any condemnation, provided we continue not willingly to walk after the flesh for the body will eventually be quickened and made alive in our new way of life, for the spirit of righteousness in Christ Jesus makes us free from the spirit of life of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
The difference between when we were walking after the flesh and enjoying the pleasures of it and when we repent and jettison that path and find ourselves at times falling back to our vomit, is the remorse, sometimes tears, or the regret and the sadness we feel when we fall which propel us to reject the more that ugly situation and make us more resolute, resourceful, resilience and faithful towards the right way. We see how abhorrent that situation was and we vow never to do it again which unfortunately may not be our last fall as the carnal nature rears its head again. But, we will eventually overcome with the guidance of the Holy Spirit if we continue rejecting the path sincerely. This state of mind is not present when enjoying the life after the flesh. In a moment of serenity or sobriety we might regret our actions but because there is no true repentance of heart, we sink deeper into the pleasures we know best because we only have faith in that way of life.
I see it this way.
When we are in the flesh and are having fun, our heart, mind and body get used to that path and are snared by it that it becomes difficult for us to part ways. And because we enjoy the pleasures of that path, we continue in it even if we know we are doing the wrong thing without feeling any remorse of the wrong done. (Though sometimes we may feel it but do not care). The worry and cares of the world and the deceitfulness of the pleasures of this path continue to keep us bound in the path and harden our heart in the process. The sin inherent in the path becomes malignant in us and when something is malignant, it becomes difficult to cure or do away with.
However, when we repent and start treading on the right path, the tentacles of our old ways, that carnal nature built over the years, will not give way easily. As the heart, mind and body are being renewed towards the right path, we will struggle because they are already used to a particular way of life and were pleased with it. From our experience, we know it is difficult to leave that which we enjoy and cherish. The motions of sin accumulated over time will continue to vent themselves out until they are subdued as we continue steadfastly in the comfort and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in true repentance, we could face an inner struggle between the spirit and the flesh as our heart is being renewed and spirit strengthened. We see ourselves doing the wrong or evil we hate to do while failing to do the good required of us. In this state, we should not despair but be hopeful because our God who sees and judges the heart and not appearances remains with us in this struggle without any condemnation, provided we continue not willingly to walk after the flesh for the body will eventually be quickened and made alive in our new way of life, for the spirit of righteousness in Christ Jesus makes us free from the spirit of life of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
The difference between when we were walking after the flesh and enjoying the pleasures of it and when we repent and jettison that path and find ourselves at times falling back to our vomit, is the remorse, sometimes tears, or the regret and the sadness we feel when we fall which propel us to reject the more that ugly situation and make us more resolute, resourceful, resilience and faithful towards the right way. We see how abhorrent that situation was and we vow never to do it again which unfortunately may not be our last fall as the carnal nature rears its head again. But, we will eventually overcome with the guidance of the Holy Spirit if we continue rejecting the path sincerely. This state of mind is not present when enjoying the life after the flesh. In a moment of serenity or sobriety we might regret our actions but because there is no true repentance of heart, we sink deeper into the pleasures we know best because we only have faith in that way of life.
would you say that in order to come to that place of repentance believing the gospel is imperative , meaning the view and understanding Jesus gave pertaining to his eternal judgement ?
for instance suppose a person is at a place where their own mind is whispering that repentance isn’t important anymore because of “ the cross” wouldn’t we need to change our thinking about that first before we will come to a point of repentance ? Or even acknowledging our need for it personally ?
I think that often we can’t see it pertaining to ourself our own need for repentance I mean , because our thinking about God is all wrong . Renewing of the mind I believe happens through belief of the gospel , believing the judgements Jesus set forth for us . The more we can believe and accept his word faith goes into motion within and works to bring about the changes in our mind and heart that leads our actions
if we in our heart believe repentance isn’t important we never will find that sorrow we need for true repentance . It hurts a lot sometimes to have the light shine on your inner darkness , but that pain leads through the sorrow to a better place in Christ that opens new possibilities
You wrote really wonderful post very edifying sorry for interrupting that was good though[/QUOTE]
So much food to feed on in your post , very uplifting and truthful...
I used to hate the hang overs that kept me in bed for nearly a week , but when God saved me , and I was reading His word , I ended up hating hurting Him , so that was when my true repentance came in to play , when His Light shone on my darkness , I had to admit I was a drinker , I stopped going to the pubs , stopped buying from the shops , and resisting temptation , it was so so hard , but in the end , it was like a cloake fell off me , and I can not thank God enough Amen...
...xox...
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