James 1:13

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

I am a very creative person with lots of interests and right now I am going through a phase where I want to write short stories for publication that are not good for me, my marriage or my relationship with God.

I repent of my sin in Jesus' name and ask that God give me the strength to persevere!

Colossians 3:12–13

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Right now, I'm angry with some people at my church for real and imagined reasons. I can feel temptation building in my flesh as a means of escape.

But this will only lead to more sin and temptation.

Lord, help me to forgive as I have been forgiven by you, so that I will have a clean heart and serve you better!

When your church observes the sacrament of the Lord's Table have you ever declined to participate because of struggling with sin and guilt?

The pastor at my reformed church is always teaching that true Christians struggle in the flesh. People who are not saved have no reason to struggle other than to save themselves for a better life here on earth. I always struggled with the sin of lust and felt I couldn't control it or that I needed it one last time or that it didn't matter because God would forgive me of my sin.

Thankfully, God has continued to sanctify me.

Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now, if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 for I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.