replacing P with God's Word

[chad32]

OK, so here's my radical idea for Christian's who are recovering from P addiction:

Instead of P - get deep into reading the Bible instead!!

It might sound a bit strange, but it worked for me when I was at college - I read the Bible all the way through about 6 times and had 3 years which were mostly P free!

It all crashed down after college and with the advent of the internet, but I'd also stopped seriously reading the Bible.

So here's what I'm doing at the moment - today I've read Matthew chapters 13-18 so far, had lots of inspiration and no P or MB temptations!

In Matthew 12.34 Jesus says, "out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."

If I put P into my heart, then that is what is acted out, but if I put God's word into my heart then that is what comes out.

Is anyone with me on this? I'd really love to have some of you with me on this. Each day, just report what Bible sections you have read and whether you have been P free.

Chad

[nrobinson]

I like the thread! I've really taken to reading more of the Bible after I started my recovery. I don't read it straight through, though. I tend to try to find subjects that apply to things I've been thinking about or having problems with.

I'll post later tonight or tomorrow with what I've read!

[chad32]

Thanks for the reply nrobinson, good to have you with me. I thought this thread might be a slow starter, but I'm going to press on...

Today I've read Matthew chapters 19-23 (really amazing stuff in there) and I've been free of P and MB.

I guess we're all different, but this is working for me so far. If anyone else wants to join the thread, you don't have to be a Bible reading obsessive like me (!), just say what you have read in the Bible, or how you have been seeking God today, and whether it has helped you keep free of P and MB.

I'm open to any new ideas, and want to know what works for you. I just don't think it will work stopping all P and not replacing it with something else - something opposite and life-giving.

Chad

[nrobinson]

I posted this in a thread in the general forum but I'll post it again.

James 1:2-3, 12
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

[nrobinson]

Last night, I just started perusing the Bible (usually the way I work is to look for things that apply to my life and my current moods and situations.) I started looking at the chapter and topic headings from about Acts to 2 Timothy and reading what looked like I could take something from it (I can take something from every word in the Bible, some are just more applicable at times than others.)

I found similar instructions for good living, as a Christ follower, as a husband, and as a father in Ephesians chapters 4 and 5, Philippians chapter 2, and Colossians chapters 3 and 4. They all say similar things, and really nothing you don't know you should be doing anyway, but seeing it in the Bible really makes it hit home.

[Rorke's Drift]

I agree. If your mind is a pool of water....it can only flow good or bad water. It can't flow both good and bad water at the same time. That being said, a daily regiment of bible doctrine is like adding chlorine to a swimming pool. It HELPS to keep the water in your mind clean. But it's been my experience it won't do it alone. You will have to add other action defenses to your plan to stay free of P in addition to bible study. That's my take.

Rorke's Drift

PS - you can get a "daily gospel meditation" at www.regnumchristi.com

[facingit]

I agree with Rourke - and chad, I think it is the fact that bible reading became such a part of your lifestyle while in college that helped you out. I look at the bible and prayer in gereral like plants - you have to tend them consistently. I have this little prayer book called Living Faith that contains the references for the daily readings and has some really cool little meditations. I find it a convenient way to keep my prayer life on track and consistent. Like Rourke said, you can find a lot of these types of daily meditation websites online, too. The key is to find one that has meditations that appeal to you. Some have very "religious" tones and deal with matters of doctrine and dogma, while others are more focused on secular issues and lay life. Like I said, the Living Faith books have a nice mix in my opinion and they are pretty cheap - I think about ten bucks for a year.

[1dayatatime]

Why just Christians? It seems to work for us Jews too!

[completelydone]

Well then share it, 1dayatatime!

[rockwell]

If anyone is interested, The Global Catholic Network has daily scripture readings. Three each day. Obviously you do not have to be Catholic to read scripture. I find this site inspiring.
Hope this helps someone. I have it bookmarked:

www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/inspiration.htm

rockwell

[chad32]

Thanks for all the responses and encouragement. (I've not been able to post for a couple of days due to internet access problems).

I'm still getting on well with my Bible reading mission. Since my last post I've read Matthew 24 - Mark 13 and have been much encouraged - I hadn't realised how much I've missed reading the Bible. Also - needless to say, I am still P-free, and have been for 43 days.

I'll have to have a look into those online Bible readings - I've tried daily reading booklets in the past - I know these are helpful for a huge number of people, but personally I've had most success reading the Bible almost like I read a novel - straight through. It seems to give the best overview, rather than cherry picking the well known verses.

Great to hear from you onedayatatime - I'm really glad to hear a Jewish viewpoint, and that God's word blesses you too - I'd be interested to hear what you read which most helps you.

Oh, and Rockwell - I love your signature "What you feed grows, what you starve dies!" - that's exactly the priciple I'm working to.

Chad

[Clean2day]

Why just Christians? It seems to work for us Jews too!

Yes 1day you are right if it were not for what your testaments tells us we would not know where we came from.

I read the Bible, not as "what happened to someone" but I find myself in all the Bible. The highs and the lows that it speaks, it is all my story. When the prophets spoke they speak to me. When in the history books it tells me where I was/am/or are going.

Exodus is my story of how I have come out of the slavery from my use of P. How God has lead me from Egypt/addict pits through the desert of Sin to freedom with Him. My falls/slips where I have been "stiff necked" and done "it my way". Where I have been brought to Mt Sinai to be blessed and fallen down to worship the god of P. How he brought me to the cross to become a Child Of The King. When Jesus looked down and said to me, "C2d Behold thy mother, woman/[Father] behold thy son"

I could go through the stories of Adam, David, Saul and Paul and Peter and the rest. They are all either "what I should be" or "what I should look out not to became". That is how I read the book.

When I started reading it this way, then it all had meaning in/for my life. I could hear God speaking, sometimes yelling at me through the pages of time. It has always been simple messages. "Come bake to me". "Please come back."

C2d

[chad32]

Thanks for your insights C2d.

One that's been speaking to me recently is about David, after he sinned with Bathsheba.

David is my No 1 biggest hero in the Old Testament, but when he fell into sin it was a big one! He lusted after a beautiful woman he saw from the roof of his palace (compare to P - he went on the roof where he could secretly look at a beautiful woman bathing), he committed adultery with her, even though he was friends with her husband. When he found out she was pregnant, he arranged for the husband to be murdered and then covered it all up by giving orders to his army chiefs. He thought no one knew, and that it would all be OK (he even married the woman).

I'd have to say that is more serious than anything I have come accross on this board (or elsewhere), and he was a man of God as well!

A friend (Nathan) comes to him to tell him that he knows - because God has told him - and David is immediately repentant, and desperately seeks God's forgiveness. See Psalm 51, written after these events (and see my signature below).

It took a long time for David to get back where he was, but he is a real inspiration, because he turned from it all and it proves that no matter what you have done, you can turn to God, and if you turn to him with your whole heart, then he can restore you and heal you.

That's my thought for today. Today I have read Mark 14, and been free of all P.

Chad

[1dayatatime]

completelydone said:

Well then share it, 1dayatatime!

Ok, I will.

My daily scripture reading is of several parts. First is a daily portion of the week's Parshah. The Parshah is a weekly reading portion of the Torah according to Jewish practice. The entire Torah (the books of Moses) are read in a once yearly cycle. Each Parshah has a name, this week's is called Vayechi (which means "and he lived", the first words from the portion). Each weekly Parshah is divided into seven portions for daily study before going to synagogue on Shabbot (Sabbath). Along with reading the daily Parshah portion I read from the companion commentary of it by Rashi. The next part of my daily scripture reading is are a number of the Tehillim, the Psalms. Today's Tehillim are Psalms 55-59. If I have additional time I may read from the Haftarah. That is a second scripture portion, from one of the Prophets (Nevi'im), that is read along with the particular Parshah. I say Prophets, but the classification of books in the TaNaKH (the Jewish scriptures) is different than in Christian Bibles and they include books Christians don't usually call Prophets such as Yehoshua (Joshua), Shoftim (Judges), Shmu'el (Samuel) and Melakhim (Kings). In the TaNaKH the books of Shmu'el and Melakhim aren't divided as in Christian Bibles into I Samuel/II Samuel and I Kings/II Kings and each of them is a single book.

[chad32]

Thanks 1dayatatime, that's really helped my understanding - I really didn't know how much Jews read of the old testament, and if the list you've given is typical for other Jews, then you must read the Bible a lot more than the average Christian.

I'm really impressed that you can get through all that, and it's an inspiraton.

Your brother,
Chad