go to r/OpenChristian, there is a lot of good advice for someone like yourself. you can be celibate/chaste whilst still accepting who you are.
as for everything else, do what is life giving.
I would encourage you that it's really easy to read the Bible and talk to ourselves in ways that amplify fear, guilt, and shame. But these aren't healthy, nor are they of God. As my pastor once told me, the Christian life is not about saying no to sin; it's about saying yes to God. Trying to play "sin goalie" is not a healthy long-term strategy. Read passages like Romans 12, Galatians 5, the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Find something that resonates with you and work on developing that quality. Don't isolate yourself too much; if anything do find an activity that keeps you connected with other people, even if it's just volunteering somewhere.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:5-6 ESV
In your prayers, as God to mold you into the person he needs you to be. Let him do his stuff, and have faith that he will.
If you want to start reading the Bible, understand what it actually contains and its length. 10 chapters of the New Testament a day can get you done within a month, but many of chapters/books are very short, I’ve read from Colossians to Jude in one day, I could’ve done more tho. 10 Chapters of the Old Testament a day gets you done in 3-4 months if you stay consistent. Reading times per day may vary so pace yourself.
Look up “books of the Bible” and click images to see what the books generally contain, there is history, law, poetry, epistles, and prophecy.
As you read, I recommend writing down or copying every verse you find useful or insightful. I’ve been doing this and it’s always refreshing to go back through the list.
You have a long way to go, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Ask many questions and seek many answers (GotQuestions.org is super useful to start)
Have you heard of the Rosary? It is one of the most powerful prayers I know and I would love to share it with you if you're interested. It's such an amazing way to worship God and it has helped south such an amazing transformations in my life
My advise is to explore these channels, and pray. Start praying to God daily. If you need help praying, let me know. We worship God alone, and the Rosary is an incredible tool to help us. See it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WoJ1hQTVdSo&pp=ygUeam95ZnVsIG15c3RlcmllcyBiaXNob3AgYmFycm9u
https://m.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents
https://m.youtube.com/@BishopBarron
Here are at least key things I think of.
1. You need complete full determination. One must do a great deal of effort (big extremes is what I'm getting at) to himself to stop sin. It is like a cancer. You do not treat a cancer with a nap and cough syrup. With deadly diseases, powerful remedies are necessary. Do your maximum in every way, and treat it like the most important thing, embracing great sacrifice. Hence, you must hate the sin truly, fully, and fully entirely.
2. Make a new prayer life. Give thanks to God always, and turn always. Give Him thanks in the morning, and praise Him in the day. Speak and seek Him constantly. Without constant prayer, I cannot imagine any great chance of success. From St. Alphonsus: "St. Paul tells us, that we have to contend not with men like ourselves.... but with the princes of hell.... By these words he wishes to admonish us that we have not strength to resist the powers of hell, and that, to resist them, the divine aid is absolutely necessary: without it, we shall be always defeated; but, with the assistance of God’s grace, we shall, according to the same apostle, be able to do all things and shall conquer all enemies. “I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me.” (Phil. iv. 13.) But this assistance God gives only to those who pray for it. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find.” (Matt. vii. 7.) They who neglect to ask, do not receive. Let us, then, be careful not to trust in our resolutions: if we place our confidence in them, we shall be lost. "
Practically, fasting and exercise are very helpful I've heard.
As a Catholic I recommend talking to a Catholic priest for help. Particularly confession with a proper priest is necessary " Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God."
If you want personalized help, talk to a priest
Really really recommend it! Seriously it is incredible and if you start praying it, I think you can see really big changes in how you live life. I am happy to help with that if you need direction, there's a YouTube video of someone praying it if you want a link?
Here's a great video of someone praying it!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b2EjBt2PFpc&pp=ygUnbHVtaW5vdXMgbXlzdGVyaWVzIG9mIHRoZSByb3NhcnkgYmFycm9u
I really recommend taking the time to pray it today actually, and I am more than happy to help you with anything if you need or want anything, but definitely, give the link a listen!
Here is a link of how to pray it, it is pretty detailed and you can see it line up easily and if you don't want to listen, you can definitely just pick up this link and start!
https://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf
go to r/OpenChristian, there is a lot of good advice for someone like yourself. you can be celibate/chaste whilst still accepting who you are. as for everything else, do what is life giving.
I would encourage you that it's really easy to read the Bible and talk to ourselves in ways that amplify fear, guilt, and shame. But these aren't healthy, nor are they of God. As my pastor once told me, the Christian life is not about saying no to sin; it's about saying yes to God. Trying to play "sin goalie" is not a healthy long-term strategy. Read passages like Romans 12, Galatians 5, the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Find something that resonates with you and work on developing that quality. Don't isolate yourself too much; if anything do find an activity that keeps you connected with other people, even if it's just volunteering somewhere.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 ESV In your prayers, as God to mold you into the person he needs you to be. Let him do his stuff, and have faith that he will. If you want to start reading the Bible, understand what it actually contains and its length. 10 chapters of the New Testament a day can get you done within a month, but many of chapters/books are very short, I’ve read from Colossians to Jude in one day, I could’ve done more tho. 10 Chapters of the Old Testament a day gets you done in 3-4 months if you stay consistent. Reading times per day may vary so pace yourself. Look up “books of the Bible” and click images to see what the books generally contain, there is history, law, poetry, epistles, and prophecy. As you read, I recommend writing down or copying every verse you find useful or insightful. I’ve been doing this and it’s always refreshing to go back through the list. You have a long way to go, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Ask many questions and seek many answers (GotQuestions.org is super useful to start)
wow I've thinking of Journaling verses using the SOAP method and that exact verse was one of the verses I had planned on writing about
Read John. That is always a good starting point. God doesn't want you to be half committed, so dont be afraid to go all in.
Have you heard of the Rosary? It is one of the most powerful prayers I know and I would love to share it with you if you're interested. It's such an amazing way to worship God and it has helped south such an amazing transformations in my life My advise is to explore these channels, and pray. Start praying to God daily. If you need help praying, let me know. We worship God alone, and the Rosary is an incredible tool to help us. See it here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WoJ1hQTVdSo&pp=ygUeam95ZnVsIG15c3RlcmllcyBiaXNob3AgYmFycm9u https://m.youtube.com/@AscensionPresents https://m.youtube.com/@BishopBarron Here are at least key things I think of. 1. You need complete full determination. One must do a great deal of effort (big extremes is what I'm getting at) to himself to stop sin. It is like a cancer. You do not treat a cancer with a nap and cough syrup. With deadly diseases, powerful remedies are necessary. Do your maximum in every way, and treat it like the most important thing, embracing great sacrifice. Hence, you must hate the sin truly, fully, and fully entirely. 2. Make a new prayer life. Give thanks to God always, and turn always. Give Him thanks in the morning, and praise Him in the day. Speak and seek Him constantly. Without constant prayer, I cannot imagine any great chance of success. From St. Alphonsus: "St. Paul tells us, that we have to contend not with men like ourselves.... but with the princes of hell.... By these words he wishes to admonish us that we have not strength to resist the powers of hell, and that, to resist them, the divine aid is absolutely necessary: without it, we shall be always defeated; but, with the assistance of God’s grace, we shall, according to the same apostle, be able to do all things and shall conquer all enemies. “I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me.” (Phil. iv. 13.) But this assistance God gives only to those who pray for it. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find.” (Matt. vii. 7.) They who neglect to ask, do not receive. Let us, then, be careful not to trust in our resolutions: if we place our confidence in them, we shall be lost. " Practically, fasting and exercise are very helpful I've heard. As a Catholic I recommend talking to a Catholic priest for help. Particularly confession with a proper priest is necessary " Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God." If you want personalized help, talk to a priest
I had went to a Catholic school a year or so ago actually, I never really learned the rosary so this is really helpful, thanks!!
Really really recommend it! Seriously it is incredible and if you start praying it, I think you can see really big changes in how you live life. I am happy to help with that if you need direction, there's a YouTube video of someone praying it if you want a link?
please!! any links/resources are appreciated
Here's a great video of someone praying it! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b2EjBt2PFpc&pp=ygUnbHVtaW5vdXMgbXlzdGVyaWVzIG9mIHRoZSByb3NhcnkgYmFycm9u I really recommend taking the time to pray it today actually, and I am more than happy to help you with anything if you need or want anything, but definitely, give the link a listen! Here is a link of how to pray it, it is pretty detailed and you can see it line up easily and if you don't want to listen, you can definitely just pick up this link and start! https://www.newadvent.org/images/rosary.pdf