Hi Richard,
It’s the little things in me I see that trouble me.
I see my mind as the battle field...
I think these things that are troubling you and the battle in your mind is the Spirit at work in chastening you. If you were not concerned because of these sins, then that would be something to worry about. Why do you think you go back and apologize? It is the spirit moving you to do so, that is the chastening to change and overcome.
Heb 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
v. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
v. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Here are a couple of emails that should help.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1026.0.html There is no magic bullet that will save you today from all your sins and problems. As you have stated YOU have tried and tried and failed time and again. ONLY GOD can save you from all of your sins. I can teach you the truths of the Scriptures, but overcoming the sins of the flesh is something that only God can do for you. I know the feeling. I have been there; done that. But God is faithful, and if you continue to hate your flesh and your sins and cry out to God, He will hear you. So be encouraged. Many have gone before you and have obtained the victory over sin. We are never totally free from all sin, but we do reach the place where sin no longer has dominion over us, and that is a great feeling. Don't do ANYTHING that gives you a guilty conscience. Don't GO anywhere, don't DO anything, don't SAY anything for which you feel guilty or wouldn't want your wife, children and par ents to see you doing. People condemn me and say all kinds of hateful lies about me on a daily basis. But my conscience is CLEAR before God, and so I don't have to answer to all my hate-filled detractors. Take God with you wherever you go and your whole life will change.
God be with you,
Ray
http://bible-truths.com/email16.htm#think ------
2Cor. 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
II Cor. 10:5 is one of those ALL-ENCOMPASSING Scriptures that cannot be realized by following some magic formula or repeating some prayer, etc. Bringing every thought into the captivity of Jesus Christ requires a LIFETIME of overcoming and living by God's Spiritual Laws. Jesus also told us to "Be ye therefore PERFECT." Again, this is not something that is accomplished by reading the Scripture or following some short-term magical formula. It requires a lifetime of obeying God and living through our many trials and tribulations.
However, I do not wish to let you stranded with an impossible task for your daughter. The Scriptures also say that "As a person THINKS IN HIS HEART, so is he." Therefore THINK ABOUT GOOD AND PLEASANT THINGS. Even dreams "Come from an abundance of business" or whatever we think about most. Therefore, again, THINK ABOUT GOOD AND PLEASANT THINGS.
Notice what Paul himself tells us:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me [Paul], DO; and the GOD OF PEACE SHALL BE WITH YOU." (Phil. 4:8-9).
I'll leave it up to you to put these terms into words your daughter understands.
God be with you,
Ray