Please help...struggling with temptation

[oddleburg123]

Hi guys, this is a bit of a weird first post I admit, but I've been having a great struggle with temptation- specifically with masturbation. I have recently made the decision and I now believe that masturbation is a sin and a distortion of what God had planned for a married man and woman, and I want to stop. For the last 3 years, I've masturbated about 1-3 times every day. Recently I've started to look at perverted pictures that three months ago I would have steered clear of. I've been having a real hard time trying to stop. I can usually 'fast' for about three and a half days, but then I break down and do it several times on the evening of the third day. I really want to break this habit. I've prayed very hard and asked God to help me suppress the temptation, and help me be stronger against it, but I keep sinning thus way again- and again- and again. Please help...maybe you guys could give me some tips and bible verses on how to overcome temptation? Has anyone else broken a habit of masturbation like this? I recognize it as a disgusting habit and want to change. And please, no one respond like 'Oh it's natural,' because in all honesty, it isn't. God created sexual pleasure to be enjoyed between a married man and woman, and only that's what I'd call natural.

...Darn, I wish I was married.

 

[StoicGnostic]

It is natural. That doesn't necessarily mean that it is right but not trick yourself into believing that there is something wrong with you; I know that probably isn't what you meant but I know that some people can get themselves into a real state because of how ashamed or guilty they feel when they think things like masturbation, homosexuality and sexual fetishism are unnatural.

Now, Jesus only really has a problem with adultery (his definition includes having sexual thoughts about a married woman/man) rather than masturbation itself.

You're a teenager and, as such, you are going to find it incredibly hard to simply break a compulsion 'cold turkey' style.

Try simply masturbating less often and try to make sure that you aren't having adulterous thoughts (or at least try to make sure that you fully understand that they are fantasies instead of something you are actually prepared to do) and you should find you urge gradually start to fall and, hopefully, your guilt as well.

I hope this helps.

On another note; marriage is not restricted to a man and a woman. Jesus understands that certain people are born with different sexualities (Matthew 19:12).

 

[EndlessSerenade]

On another note; marriage is not restricted to a man and a woman. Jesus understands that certain people are born with different sexualities (Matthew 19:12).

Wow this is news to me??

I think you have completely misinterpreted that entire verse. Be careful.
That verse is in no way a explanation of homosexuality. It's actually Jesus simply stating that celibacy may well be an option for some of his followers. Jews back then considered marriage and the bearing of children to be a duty. but Paul explains both marriage and singleness are gifts of God.As to the three categories of eunuchs which Jesus mentions, the first two are to be understood in a literal sense, while the third is evidently metaphorical in intent. The first category has to do with those who are born without the physical capability – in other words, those who are, for various reasons, impotent.In no way does that verse refer to homosexuality and justifies that marriage is alright between a man and a man. You should read up carefully before making such statements.

 

[Kyleiferous]

I don't want to say whether it is a sin or not because I am unsure, but, hopefully these words will help.

I can't actually remember the exact words in the bible, but I know there is a verse that says something along the lines of "God will never tempt you beyond what you can bear, and when you are tempted, he will always provide a way out so that you can forget the temptation" Something like that, maybe someone can give the actual verse? Sorry but I can't remember.

Also, you said you prayed hard. I sometimes get in the habit of praying the same thing over and over again to make sure God heard it and to show him how much it means to me, but remember, he knew what you were going to ask before you asked it, he knows how you feel. Try and be patient (I know easier said than done) and just wait for him to respond, and trust that he has heard you. This is one of the hardest things to do, putting all your trust in something you can't see, but it can be done.
Basically what I'm trying to say is to try your best to trust him completely, it won't happen overnight, but remember he's God and he knows what's going on with your life and he is only there to help you.

That's how I see it anyway.

 

[prodigal brother]

Hi guys, this is a bit of a weird first post I admit, but I've been having a great struggle with temptation- specifically with masturbation. I have recently made the decision and I now believe that masturbation is a sin and a distortion of what God had planned for a married man and woman, and I want to stop. For the last 3 years, I've masturbated about 1-3 times every day. Recently I've started to look at perverted pictures that three months ago I would have steered clear of. I've been having a real hard time trying to stop. I can usually 'fast' for about three and a half days, but then I break down and do it several times on the evening of the third day. I really want to break this habit. I've prayed very hard and asked God to help me suppress the temptation, and help me be stronger against it, but I keep sinning thus way again- and again- and again. Please help...maybe you guys could give me some tips and bible verses on how to overcome temptation? Has anyone else broken a habit of masturbation like this? I recognize it as a disgusting habit and want to change. And please, no one respond like 'Oh it's natural,' because in all honesty, it isn't. God created sexual pleasure to be enjoyed between a married man and woman, and only that's what I'd call natural.

...Darn, I wish I was married.

for many men this practice does not go away after marriage as it truly is an addiction, and I hope you don't listen one second to the false teachers and false apostles who will try to fill your ears with all kinds of lies

first let me tell you I spent nearly my whole life in this addiction and like all addictions the longer your in it the harder it is to get free from. after becoming a Christian latter in life, I was still bound in this unclean practice, I would pray and beg God to set me free, and moments later I was powerless to stop myself from doing it.

why wouldn't God answer my prayer I thought?........then I read a verse in the bible that changed my life, It was 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


first off masturbation was a stronghold the devil had on me, and I had no power to get free from it................or did I!........on reading this passage I almost missed the most important part, I DID NOT HOLD EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO CHRIST!

On the contrary I daydreamed all sorts of sexual fantasies, every passing girl I undressed and had a secret sexual fantasy about. my mind was completely full of every perverted sex act. I let sexual thoughts linger all day in my mind, then when I was alone the sin born in my mind gave way to my flesh and I was powerless to stop


So I came to the conclusion that I was in complete disobedience by allowing myself to think this way. and made a determined pledge that I would set up a mind monitor who would ask a simple question
"what would Jesus think about this thought"

if it was bad I would actually say out loud (or under my breath) if I wasn't alone "I rebuke that thought in Jesus name" "thats not what Jesus wants me to think about"

let me just point out, at first this was practically every other second, my mind was a gutter of filth. but I was determined that my mind belonged to me, and I should be able to decide what I think about.

It was a relentless battle, and let me be clear there appeared to be no success in this stragedy at its early beginnings, and I'm sure many would have given up, but it started to really bother me that I had so little control over my thought life, that I pressed on even after failure after failure

I told God I would go to the grave in this battle, evertime I failed I brushed myself off and got back up in the game, condemnation is really your biggest enemy in this battle, listening to the demonic spirits tell me I would never be able to stop was almost unbareable.

but then slowly I was noticing somthing, the relentless barrage of sinful thoughts were dwindling down, being tenacious in rebuking them one right after the other, It started to almost become a habit in itself, to where I was rebuking sinful thoughts almost without thinking. then I discovered almost unnoticingly, that I was going days without mastubating, and also rebuking the lie that I had to perform this act, (which it is) again I continued and stuck to the scripture and stopped allowing sexually immoral thoughts.

within months I was realizing a greater change, I was for the first time in my life actually able to resist temptation of masturbation, and let me just say that was a huge success for me, as I had used to be completely powerless to resist

and I grew stronger and stronger, after a while it was very strange, but I actually stopped thinking about it, since it stopped occuring, soon it was almost a year since I had done it. and I smiled because I realized I was now free from this addiction, I was so free from it, that now it doesn't even cross my mind, when at one point I couldn't be alone in the shower without doing it

I promised God that if He would help me get free I would tell others how I got free
The secret to the matter is you are already free, you just need to walk in the freedom. and that freedom is found in giving your mind to Christ. any evil thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God needs to be demolished.

 

[StoicGnostic]

Wow this is news to me??

I think you have completely misinterpreted that entire verse. Be careful.
That verse is in no way a explanation of homosexuality. It's actually Jesus simply stating that celibacy may well be an option for some of his followers. Jews back then considered marriage and the bearing of children to be a duty. but Paul explains both marriage and singleness are gifts of God.As to the three categories of eunuchs which Jesus mentions, the first two are to be understood in a literal sense, while the third is evidently metaphorical in intent. The first category has to do with those who are born without the physical capability – in other words, those who are, for various reasons, impotent.In no way does that verse refer to homosexuality and justifies that marriage is alright between a man and a man. You should read up carefully before making such statements.

Apart from the fact that, coupled with 'Eunuch' having been common euphemism for homosexual, people do not need an all-knowing being to tell them that someone born without a physical capability doesn't have a physical capability.

I read extremely carefully; I just don't let pre-existing social prejudice define how I interpret scripture.

 

[Barricade24]

nm

 

[oddleburg123]

for many men this practice does not go away after marriage as it truly is an addiction, and I hope you don't listen one second to the false teachers and false apostles who will try to fill your ears with all kinds of lies

first let me tell you I spent nearly my whole life in this addiction and like all addictions the longer your in it the harder it is to get free from. after becoming a Christian latter in life, I was still bound in this unclean practice, I would pray and beg God to set me free, and moments later I was powerless to stop myself from doing it.

why wouldn't God answer my prayer I thought?........then I read a verse in the bible that changed my life, It was 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


first off masturbation was a stronghold the devil had on me, and I had no power to get free from it................or did I!........on reading this passage I almost missed the most important part, I DID NOT HOLD EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO CHRIST!

On the contrary I daydreamed all sorts of sexual fantasies, every passing girl I undressed and had a secret sexual fantasy about. my mind was completely full of every perverted sex act. I let sexual thoughts linger all day in my mind, then when I was alone the sin born in my mind gave way to my flesh and I was powerless to stop


So I came to the conclusion that I was in complete disobedience by allowing myself to think this way. and made a determined pledge that I would set up a mind monitor who would ask a simple question
"what would Jesus think about this thought"

if it was bad I would actually say out loud (or under my breath) if I wasn't alone "I rebuke that thought in Jesus name" "thats not what Jesus wants me to think about"

let me just point out, at first this was practically every other second, my mind was a gutter of filth. but I was determined that my mind belonged to me, and I should be able to decide what I think about.

It was a relentless battle, and let me be clear there appeared to be no success in this stragedy at its early beginnings, and I'm sure many would have given up, but it started to really bother me that I had so little control over my thought life, that I pressed on even after failure after failure

I told God I would go to the grave in this battle, evertime I failed I brushed myself off and got back up in the game, condemnation is really your biggest enemy in this battle, listening to the demonic spirits tell me I would never be able to stop was almost unbareable.

but then slowly I was noticing somthing, the relentless barrage of sinful thoughts were dwindling down, being tenacious in rebuking them one right after the other, It started to almost become a habit in itself, to where I was rebuking sinful thoughts almost without thinking. then I discovered almost unnoticingly, that I was going days without mastubating, and also rebuking the lie that I had to perform this act, (which it is) again I continued and stuck to the scripture and stopped allowing sexually immoral thoughts.

within months I was realizing a greater change, I was for the first time in my life actually able to resist temptation of masturbation, and let me just say that was a huge success for me, as I had used to be completely powerless to resist

and I grew stronger and stronger, after a while it was very strange, but I actually stopped thinking about it, since it stopped occuring, soon it was almost a year since I had done it. and I smiled because I realized I was now free from this addiction, I was so free from it, that now it doesn't even cross my mind, when at one point I couldn't be alone in the shower without doing it

I promised God that if He would help me get free I would tell others how I got free
The secret to the matter is you are already free, you just need to walk in the freedom. and that freedom is found in giving your mind to Christ. any evil thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God needs to be demolished.

Thank you so much, this post was actually by far the most helpful! Lately, whenever those thoughts pop into my mind, I pray to God to destroy that thought and remove it from my mind. It has actually helped me immensely! Not only has it helped me defeat lust, but also, when I stumble across something suggestive be it a picture or something in a movie, I look away. I still have been masturbating...but I'm masturbating between greater intervals of time. While I've still got a long way to go, I feel God is working through me and answering my prayers in destroying this habit! God is good!