I am in dire need to make a decision, however, when I make a decision -(the one I know is God's will) I soon change my mind and go back to making the other decision in fear of hurting someone. I am at a point where I just feel like I am going crazy!

4/4/2008 2:34:59 AM by libby, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/3/2008

You're not going crazy. Paul expressed his anguish about the very same thing in Romans 7...

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to dothis I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

The answer to Paul's rhetorical question can be found in the next Chapter....

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligationbut it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.

A very wise man recently told me something very profound. He said that you can only have one spirit dwelling in you at one time. You can have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, and by His power, you will have the strength to overcome sin. Otherwise, you are being motivated by your own spirit, and the only power you have to overcome sin is your own.

Ask the Spirit to dwell in you, control your will and save you from sin. Be prepared to completely surrender your will to the Spirit. You will need to do this every single day! (For I am not speaking of being sealed in the Spirit, which we need only once and can never be taken away). Make this the prayer to start your day - empty yourself and let the Spirit come in, and see what power you have to overcome sin!

4/4/2008 9:06:47 AM by Michael Lane, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries

"If you don't do what you know is right, you have sinned."
James 4:17

4/6/2008 1:45:23 AM by Ignited~Faith, Member of Delve into Jesus since 2/20/2008

Libby,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perservernace. Perserverance must finish its work so thst you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. (James 1:2-8)

Don't be double-minded. Command your spirit to line up with the will of God. No, we should not go around hurting people, but we MUST put God's will before other people's feelings. God knows your heart and if you do His will, He will fix the hurt of the other person.

4/6/2008 1:04:24 PM by mrspiggy, Member of Delve into Jesus since 1/18/2008

Libby, can I also add Luke 6:26? "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contestslook how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. "

I sympathize with you, because this is something we have all faced in our lives. It is very hard sometimes to make the right decision for fear of offending or hurting others, thus hurting ourselves. However, as Christians, we know what is right and wrong, according to God's word - and we have to stand strong against those that oppose us.

Second Corinthians 12:8 says, "Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to sizeabuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (emphasis mine) May you find strength in Christ through your weakness in struggling for answers and let Him take the situation from you. *hugs*

4/6/2008 11:33:04 PM by txhoneydarlin, Member of Delve into Jesus since 4/5/2008