how do i fix java.net.connectionrefused : connection refused on my own minecraft server 1.7.5 on the mac?

[massivetoothbrush951]

i cannot access my own server on Minecraft 1.7.5, i have tried turning my internet on and off and messing around on server.properties, this has happened on more than one server and i've been aloud to go on all of them but once i disconnect i cannot connect again. by the way i am on the mac and i would prefer an answer thats compatible with macs
also i would like a link to a tutorial

[efflandt]

In server.properties make sure that server-ip= is blank. That allows minecraft to bind to any IP on your computer, which is better than specifying a wrong IP.

Then make sure that you can connect a minecraft client on another computer to the LAN IP of the server. Make sure that the IP of the server has not changed (it is best to use a static IP, but then you also need to set gateway to your router LAN IP and nameserver(s) (which often is also your router LAN IP.

Even if you have proper port forwarding on your router, it is possible that you might not be able to connect to your server on the same LAN through your public IP because many routers do not do loopback (LAN2LAN via WAN IP).