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Moving away from homosexual desires?

RyanB92

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Hi guys. I am a new Christian, only recently gave my life to Christ. I am also someone who has identified as gay for years and had multiple homosexual relationships.

Since beginning to come to Christianity, this is maybe the biggest struggle I have had. I want so badly to follow God's word and be a good follower. But this is something that has been a huge part of my life and identity for so long.

I am praying to God to please give me the strength to leave this lifestyle in my past and be fully repentant, but it has been so hard for me to fight these feelings.

I am beginning to understand what is meant by "count the cost". I feel so so blessed to have come to the point where I have given my life to Jesus. But at the same time repenting for these sins and leaving them behind is a huge, daunting change in my life. Its something that is very scary to me, both because it will be a huge change, and because I don't know if I am strong enough to do it.

So Id like to ask for anyone to please pray for me as I try to follow the path God has for me. And please, if anyone has any advice or resources to deal with this I would really appreciate it.

I know that now that I have accepted Jesus into my heart, he will guide me to where I need to be. And I am continuing to pray for the strength to resist and reject these feelings, but still I am so scared I wont be strong enough to leave this part of me behind.
 

RyanB92

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I am continuing to pray about this, but finding that even more than my body's physical reaction, I struggle most with my thoughts and how I look at men. I sometimes look at men and feel my thoughts beginning to go in that direction, but now I am trying to stop them before they get out of hand, and when I feel the thoughts begin I pray to God for strength. Its absolutely still a huge struggle, but getting easier bit by bit.
 
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dms1972

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So Id like to ask for anyone to please pray for me as I try to follow the path God has for me. And please, if anyone has any advice or resources to deal with this I would really appreciate it.

There are more resources out there dealing with this, than there used to be:

In terms of books, you might want to look for Mario Bergner's Book Setting Love in Order, or Leanne Payne's book The Broken Image. Andy Comiskey has books on this also, as well as some stuff on Youtube.

A couple of ministries with good audio resources I'd suggest:

Ministries of Pastoral Care.
Ministries of Pastoral Care

McLean Ministries
McLean Ministries


Hope that you'll find something helpful amongst those.
 
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Messerve

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Well, if I understand correctly, that physical side of it is probably one of the most difficult things when it comes to this stuff because we only have so much control over it. Sometimes it isn't even a lustful thought but just a feeling of closeness with someone else that can cause it. One thing I've realized is that it's more often a result of anticipating intimacy than caused by intimacy itself. So it's really just your brain drawing the wrong conclusions about the interaction you're experiencing.

Just guessing, but I bet it happens with something as dumb as anticipating spending time with a friend, right? And then by the time they arrive, everything is completely normal. I think this is stuff guys just don't talk to each other about much, for obvious reasons.

Physical reactions aren't sinful on they're own. They're just normal body functions. But if it's caused by thinking lustful thoughts, definitely cut those thoughts off as soon as they begin and divert your eyes somewhere else.

I wish I had resources for you, but I don't really... I know they're out there, though. Look up books by Christopher Yuan. I've never read them, but I think he comes from a very similar background as yourself.
 
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