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Post by anonymouse on Oct 2, 2017 13:32:43 GMT -6
For so long now Ive been struggling with pornography, Ive read books, fasted, prayed but I still am in bondage and I come back to it again and again and again. Help me please! My soul cries out to be free. I long for the relationship Ive had with Yhwh, my heart cries and wants to be free. Please someone help me, I WANT TO BE FREE
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Post by Gary on Oct 2, 2017 14:35:29 GMT -6
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Post by anonymouse on Oct 2, 2017 22:51:19 GMT -6
Gary! thank you so much, your links have encouraged me tremendously!! please keep on praying for me. Do you have any more links? These are wonderful videos!! |
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Post by Rick on Oct 2, 2017 22:51:44 GMT -6
Praying for you my brother, please keep the faith and focus on Yeshua and Keep Looking Up!
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Post by whatif on Oct 2, 2017 23:34:10 GMT -6
Praying for you, anonymouse!
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Post by grandpaskitzo on Oct 3, 2017 10:37:43 GMT -6
I too used to struggle with this. In fact, practically my whole life up until about a few months ago or so. I constantly would focus on NOT doing it, and thus ended in failure every time. Once I shifted my focus on God and kept my eyes on Him, instead of not doing the sin, everything changed. It wasn't until about a month or more of this focal change that I realized I had zero craving for it. I was astonished that I didn't fall once since that time.
My advice, keep your eyes on God and He will change that for you. It's awesome to see what He does when we truly stop trying to do it in our own power. God bless you and keep you!
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Post by Gary on Oct 3, 2017 10:58:04 GMT -6
Gary! thank you so much, your links have encouraged me tremendously!! please keep on praying for me. Do you have any more links? These are wonderful videos!! I'm glad they were an encouragement! Here is another article that touches on pornography: www.unsealed.org/2017/07/created-for-good-works.htmlAnd here is another message: www.watermark.org/message/2449?utm_source=site-wide-searchI used to think fighting addictions was about balance, but I've come to realize that victory comes through a different avenue. God made us to be passionate creatures. We obsess about many things. The truth is you're going to obsess about something, so let it be God. If you don't obsess about God then you will obsess about other things (pornography, women, drugs, alcohol, possessions, success, body image, etc). |
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Post by yardstick on Oct 3, 2017 11:11:59 GMT -6
I too used to struggle with this. In fact, practically my whole life up until about a few months ago or so. I constantly would focus on NOT doing it, and thus ended in failure every time. Once I shifted my focus on God and kept my eyes on Him, instead of not doing the sin, everything changed. It wasn't until about a month or more of this focal change that I realized I had zero craving for it. I was astonished that I didn't fall once since that time. My advice, keep your eyes on God and He will change that for you. It's awesome to see what He does when we truly stop trying to do it in our own power. God bless you and keep you! ^^^^^^^^^^^^ This method works.
It also helps to know something peculiar about the genre:
The whole thing is a lie. Every camera shot, every behavior, every scene, all of it.
The people are not enjoying themselves, they are acting (if you want to call it that). It's all fake!
In addition,
The activities are not indicative of true and proper expression of love and affection for a spouse.
The activities are not indicative of the actual emotional attachment that two people develop from the activity itself.
In fact, what is imprinted on the watcher is the wrong kind of emotion corresponding to that kind of activity!
It's a destructive emotion that is imprinted, not a constructive emotion!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2017 12:03:01 GMT -6
anonymouse - another thing to consider - along with all the great comments so far - I have a "technique" that may be helpful. There is no magic trick, but this has helped me. First some theology:Moment by moment in our Christian walk, we are being presented with the fiery law of God - His character of Love that he wishes to write completely on our hearts. Eventually, every desire we have, will be what God desires, but that will have to wait until God is all in all. Until then, we undergo our Pentecost experience as he brings us into agreement with Him. So, we are tempted in an area and the spirit says, are you willing to deny yourself? We often respond, No - I really want to do this. Or, we respond, I don't want to do this, but can't stop myself. Once in awhile, we respond, Yes, I will deny myself. When we do this, we subject ourselves to his fire and allow it to burn off a bit more of our flesh. None of this is about going to heaven when we die. It is about knowing God and walking by faith not by sight. Now some practical technique:Jesus says, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (Luke 9) Moment by moment, identify the cross set before you. Each of us have our own cross or many crosses to bear. Sometimes we need to ask the Lord to show us what cross we need to take up. It would seem that you have identified yours. Now, each time you are tempted, pick it back up - this is why Jesus says, Daily. Think - over and over again. It is not a one time death, but a death by many cuts. When it is tough to pick up that cross and you find yourself starting to put it back down - read psalm 22 and realize that this was Jesus picking up his cross. If he can endure what we cannot even imagine - be assured, it went well beyond death - then we can, perhaps, just this once, pick up our cross. And tomorrow, we can pick it up again. You are truly, denying yourself and picking up your cross, moment by moment. And your incentive is - Jesus did so much more, I can just show him my love for him now by doing my little part today. And back to theology:It is important to know, though, while you are going through this process, a couple very important things: 1. This is not about getting to heaven, this is not about trying to get Jesus to love you more. He has purchased your debt. You are redeemed. You are going to heaven. He loved you while you were yet a sinner - stopping to sin does not make him love you more. Instead, taking up your cross and denying yourself shows him that you love him! Just as we may be faithful to a girlfriend or spouse, we show our love by being faithful to him. It does not change his love toward us. I can't stress this enough - many of us stuck in repetitive sins begin to feel unworthy of his Love, but that is not of Christ. He does not love us, nor did he die for us, because of our worthiness. It is exactly the opposite - he died for us because we were unworthy and incapable of saving ourselves. He loved us before he saved us. He does not say, If you obey my commandments, I will love you. He says, if you love me, obey my commandments. The difference means everything! 2. Even this act of picking up the cross is a work that the spirit does within you. Surrender your heart to the idea that you are helpless in the flesh and only in the spirit can you walk in righteousness. This is connected to what @grandpaskitso said above - don't focus on the flesh, focus on the spirit. Walk not by sight, but by the spirit. So what does this mean? Romans 7 and 8 shed some light on this, but the basic idea is that we are not focused on the flesh. Yes we are going to sin, but don't wallow in guilt and depression about it. Instead thank God that he has covered that sin for you. Don't dwell on it, instead look to Christ and to the spiritual truth that he has paid the price for that sin. Thank him. Indeed, you have just demonstrated that his Grace abounds even more. Now - show your love for him next time, by taking up your cross. Anyway, hope this helps. If you want more personal help, don't hesitate to reach out in PM. In Him, Jim
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Post by lookingup on Oct 4, 2017 10:36:22 GMT -6
Will be praying. The above is really great advice. In terms of some practical application to compliment the above, consider the following from my experience. I'd be in constant prayer, full of regret and with a heavy heart. Yet for the longest time - years and years - I never actually took an active step of faith. Looking back, I do think there's some truth when I say that my prayers for forgiveness and deliverance - though heartfelt and surely meant - were also a stall tactic on my part. It was only when I took an active first step in faith toward Him that I found something happened within me that I cannot explain. It was certainly not my own will power, doing or strength. I'm sure you already know how far your own attempts in this area get you or you wouldn't be here. I prayerfully surrendered control and cut out the source. For me, this meant disabling my phone and ability to access apps/internet etc. with a password I do not have. Again, this is not about me 'controlling' things but rather moving forward in faith. I believe the Lord was waiting for me to do that. And I'll tell you, not only do I have more Joy in a restored, closer relationship with Him, but the light has been turned on for me exposing the truths of that whole scene. Move in faith, take the first step and do your part. Kill and attack your sin. Understand how to put on and use your armor of God. Find accountability with someone. And trust in Him to fill in the very large gaps we have in all of this  |
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Post by anonymouse on Oct 4, 2017 20:19:07 GMT -6
Thank you so much for your support guys!! I have been doing sooo good these past few days, please please please keep on praying for me. Don't stop!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 20:32:58 GMT -6
Your courage to come forward is inspiring my friend, there is no telling how many people you witnessed to by sharing your experience and how you are coming through on the other side even stronger.
You are in my prayers. Just wanted you to know
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Post by mike on Oct 5, 2017 18:16:05 GMT -6
anonymouse this is what being a forgiven by His grace, not perfect or judgmental Christian is about (IMO). Of course there's other aspects, but recognizing our sin and being honest with ourselves and others is a huge witness. We all struggle, every day and those who don't know our Lord have a hard time realizing this. In fact some believers have a hard time with this too. The Lord bless you for confessing your fault to us, so we can pray for you! James 5:16 " Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
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Post by anonymouse on Oct 6, 2017 13:38:41 GMT -6
Hey guys I was doing so good on the 5th day!!! its been a while since Ive gone that good, but on the fifth day while I was going through my daily routine it felt like I was hit with a massive intense urge to watch it, it was so intense that if I did not watch it my thoughts would turn perverted in every way. What do I do when I am confronted with an attack like that? here we go again im still stuck with the same problem... how long does it take to get rid of this wicked addiction? the past 4 days my walk with Him was awesome,now I have to start all over again
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 14:18:35 GMT -6
anonymouse , unfortunately you are plagued by an addiction. There are physiological changes that take place in your brain that drive your craving. I encourage you to look over what I wrote a couple days ago in this thread. Have you had a chance to read psalm 22? But let's step away from the physical side of this - and consider the spiritual side.... This is critical - you need to turn the corner in your mindset about your relationship with Jesus. Stop believing the accuser. Jesus is not measuring your sin. He has already covered it. He wants you to love him. Focus on your love for him based on who he is and what he has done for you. Don't focus on your lack of ability to control your desires. I know exactly how you feel when you say you have to start over again. But that is from our point of view - Jesus does not see it that way. He didn't leave you while you were watching. He doesn't feel that your relationship was set back. Your standing in him is sealed! You are not starting over each time. Just continue to focus on your love for him and your gratefulness for what he has done. I do believe he will eventually bring you out of your addiction - but that is not his primary concern. It is yours, because, as humans, we think we need to do something to please our savior. We do not - just love him. Thank him. Rest in what he has done. From your first post - you want to be free. Brother - you already are. I will keep praying....
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