Q&A Home > R > Repentance

I am a deacon and I go to church regularly. However, my personal life is far from being close to God. Sin prevails in my life: smoking, cursing welcoming lustful thoughts, bad language, and worldly desires. Consequently, I am not doing well in school. I want to change and be with God. Please guide me.

I admire that you have a strong desire for repentance and to return back to God. This desire in itself will make you return to your spiritual life.

You are asking about guidance. My assumption is that you are surrounded with ungodly friends who are drifting you down that wide road of sinful life, if so then you need to cut off yourself from such ungodly company, because bad apples spoil good apples. Surround yourself with Godly friends ONLY. This move will bring about dramatic change in your life. If my assumption is not correct, I still advise you to befriend someone who is mature in the knowledge of God and His Word. With such people, you can live the life of prayer and start to grow spiritually together. Such a support system of Godly friends will help you be more vigilant on your spiritual life, always ready to repent, walk in the right path and grow in your spiritual life.

Please read the story of the Other Wing in Mighty Arrows Youth Magazine.

Another important point is; don't loose hope. Struggling against sin needs a very strong heart that does not know any despair. With hope and perseverance, you will be able to defeat all the trickeries of the devil. A very good book that will help you in your struggle is "Life of Repentance and Purity" by H.H. Pope Shenouda.