I am 18, male. How do I quit masturbating?
Absent minded people on the net say, "masturbating is ok, but the guilt you fell is unfounded." I know its wrong. I need help quitting. People on the net also say, "Go to a physiatrist."
I expect that if this question was to be answered in a timely fashion and taken seriously the "experts," answering this question, might say, "Go to your father of confession/ psychiatrist." I would then inform him the tragic new, I am a coward because I am too ashamed of myself to directly, in person (Christian orthodox), ask my father of confession for advice, and that I do not have the necessary means or funds to go to a psychiatrist.
If I must be brave to ask, in person, for help in quitting masturbating, then my question to you is "practically, what can I do to gain courage to ask my father of confession directly for help."
I urge you to help me.
I have been masturbating since I hit puberty at 14.
Thank you,
A Inconsolable Christian.
My name is Jeff, I am 39 years old, from the time I got saved around the age of 21 and before, I struggled with shyness that was so severe that I could never get myself to go out with a women. As a teen until I was about 30 I had moderate to pretty severe acne, and the about age 22, I went bald. I struggled with masturbation starting from about 14, and continued back and forth, until 37, when I was attacked by something unseen. I struggled and cried out to God to help me for about 3 weeks, then suddenly God came and rescued me. Whatever is was scared me so bad that I made up my mine quick to get to church no matter what, because my fear of rejection, was over powered by the need for help. I started going to church, and I was so upset with myself for allowing shyness to keep me from going, because it was so wonderful and everyone was so nice, and God love was so awesome. I thought I was free from whatever happen to me, but after a month. something started attacking me again, even though I hadn't gone back to masturbation, but I did have a sexual desire, which I thought was normal. I was getting ready to go to church, and I had a strong sexual feeling, for no apparent reason, and it caused me to have a strong sexual desire, and while I was on my way to church I was attacked again by something even worse, and when I got to church I didn't know what to do, and I was afraid so I left. I went home and I struggled to control the sexual desire and feelings. I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to have mercy on me, and he started helping me again, and again I thought I was going to be OK and I went home, but then it happen again, and I cried out to God for help again. I was so tormented that I took some Zoloft from a friend and everything got worse and thought I was going to die, but by God's mercy I didn't. I kept praying and crying out for God to help and many people were praying for me also, then one day I had a seizure so severe that it broke about 10 bones in my body and I almost died again, but again by God's mercy, I didn't. I was bed fast for about 3 months with the most severe pain and torment you can imagine, but I kept crying out to God for mercy, and again he delivered me, and I felt I needed to get to church as fast as possible, and this lady suddenly came into my life and started praying for me, and trying to get me to church, but also old friends that were so called Christians started coming and wanted to hang out, but that distracted me from getting to church, and again I didn't get free and it happen again, it was just really hard to control every thought that came into my mind and believe there were many, but I kept seeking God, but I thought he wasn't there, so I started taking some different drugs from the doctor to deal with thoughts, stress and pain, but at the same time I think the drugs were giving me a since of well being and I was putting my guard down in my mind. Anyway, another old friend showed up and brought crack into my room, and because I was looking for relief I tried it and it seemed to make me feel better, but at the same time I was still crying out to God to help me, then after about 3 months I stopped crack and started going to christian counseling for about 6 months and I started having hope and faith, and some joy and I think God was helping me, because every time the counselor would pray I would feel the power of God hit me. I was just about to start going to church, when another old friend showed up. He told me he was straight and wanted to go to counseling and church, but the next day he comes to my door and bribed me to take him to get crack, and for some reason I agreed. I don't understand why I did, but I did. after he got it, I went over to his place and I tried it again, I kept reasoning that it wasn't much different than what I was getting from the doctor, but I was wrong, and something bad happen again and my body was poisoned. Then I realized from the Internet, it was witchcraft, or idolatry. It really frustrated me, because I was feeling better and didn't need anything. After that I was determined to get all people that were not close to God out of my life, because I finally realized the devil was using them against me to cause me to stumble. My friends that I had, I met by them coming to me, so I ended up taking what I could get, because of shyness I wouldn't never get out of my comfort zone to make good friends. I couldn't make wise choices in my life, with all that I was going through, over shyness, physical problems, and what happen to me, because of masturbation, but now I take Gods word so serious that I won't even eat lunch with people that call themselves Christian and don't obey God, now I am so determined to obey God I am watching out for anything that would cause me to give place to the devil, and I don't feel that shy anymore, because I am more concerned about obeying God. I realized that God is still wanting to help me, when I went to christian counseling and I am fighting with all the Integrity, prayers and faith I can muster up, but I know now it is in God's timing, not mine, and I can't let my feelings deceive me. Please pray for Gods mercy on me. Please pray that I will get free again, and heal my body. Please warn others of the dangers of masturbation! Thank you Lord Jesus for your mercy, I know when I get free that I will be able to call you Lord, because I am not going to go astray or fall for lies anymore. Father, in Jesus name I pray you will have mercy on me and deliver me from the fire, according to the book of Jude. Amen! I found that little book of Jude, after this happen to me. I can't believe I never saw that book, because I believe I would have realized what I was doing. I kept thinking I had an excuse, and God would understand, because of my problems with shyness and physical problems. Looking back I can see were God was trying to tell me what was going on, but I never caught on, or I would forget things. I knew it wasn't the perfect thing to be doing, but I didn't think it was as bad as it was, because I wasn't looking at inappropriate contento, calling prostitutes, or taking advantage of women. I kept feeling guilty, but I heard one time that we weren't suppose to feel guilt, because Jesus died for our sins, and I use to think lust was looking at women and having lust in your heart, which I didn't think I was doing, but looking back I realize when went to a store I kept looking at women thinking they were beautiful, so I guess I was. I don't really remember thinking about sex when I looked at them, I just thought they were beautiful and it was normal for a man to desire a women, or I would think I wasn't perfect, and that's why Jesus died for me. I kept struggling if it was real bad or what, since I had the problem I did. I was deceived by shyness and physical problems and fell into false doctrine. Sometimes it seemed like I knew it was bad, and I was just rebelling,, but again I thought we didn't half to be perfect. God only knows what my heart was doing. The bible says who can know the heart of man. I wish I would have studied more about it. Please warn people about the book of Jude, and that should clear up weather masturbation without lust is wrong. Please pray that by this warning that God will have mercy on me, and cover a multitude of my sins, and the sins of others, in Jesus name. Amen!
James 5:19-20 (Phi) My brothers, if any of you should wander away from the truth and another should turn him back on to the right path, then the latter may be sure that in turning a man back from his wandering course he has rescued a soul from death, and in so doing will "cover a multitude of sins."