Please Help

[SpartanElite]

First let me tell you about my current situation. I am a 20 year old male. I was raised Catholic, and these past few years I've been questioning my faith, and now I do not believe anymore. However, I am making an effort to truly find Christ, as I have been going to church every sunday, and speaking with missionaries, even though at this time I am still having a hard time believing.
Now here is what I really need help with, and I need help with it right now! I am struggling so hard with masturbation. I have been masturbating compulsively since the age of three (Which isn't normal, I know, but it's the truth.) I am a young man, and my hormones are going crazy all the time. I constantly have strong sexual urges and most of the time I do nothing to cause them, I just become aroused as hormones act up. I do not know what I believe as far as Christ, I am searching, but for all I know Christianity may not be true. However, if Christ is real, then I want to purge myself of sin, and satisfy Him, and be as pure and good as I can be for Him. The thing is, I don't even know what is right or wrong (as far as masturbation) and this is causing me a lot of pain! Many Christians have told me it is sinful, while many other Christians have told me it is a normal part of growing up, and it's healthy as long as it is only used when needed. I try my best to fight the thoughts that enter my mind, and try to prevent starting these urges myself, but I can't stop it completely. I always end up having to give in, and it makes me so depressed, and feel so horrible and weak. If Jesus is real, and good then I want to love Him, and make Him proud! I want to be special to Him, but how can I achieve this when I can not even know what is right or wrong, and if I do know it's wrong I can't seem to stop. Please help.

 

[Onlythingavailable]

I managed to quit masturbating around 3 or so years ago. Trust me, getting rid of it is very much worth it. Ever since then I've been much more at peace.

When I first tried to quit, I didn't stop watching porn. I kept watching it as some sort of compromise to the urges. It was only when I stopped doing everything that I'd done in the past while masturbating that I finally managed to kick it. But, under no circumstances, do I believe that I could have done it alone. It was 100 per cent because of God and Jesus that I was able to stop doing it.

I'd suggest you stop thinking "if he exists", and try to find out why you're doubting. Read the bible, maybe talk to a priest or just any believer. When you've cleared that up, I think you'll have much more success in kicking the habit.

 

[nowhereville]

You know our sin - ANY sin - pick one - so distorts everything. God knows what we do - not just because we confess it he knows it before that and he knows our hearts as well - he knows that our sin crushes us even when we are not overcomers.

There are several things to keep in mind at this point in your life. God KNOWS you and he choose to have a relationship with you. He will ALWAYS meet you right where you are - sin and all. Because he was made man, Jesus is intimately aware of what temptation feels like. All you need to do is open your mouth and talk to him.

It's okay to ask/tell God - Look you are going to have give me something here to overcome this because I am failing on my own - there's nothing wrong with that. He doesn't expect you to be perfect in your own flesh.

There is no shame in sin, only guilt. The only shame about sin is that the devil tempts us, we give in and then he half beats us to death with it

Talk to God directly about this for his answer will suit all you need to be an overcomer.

 

[madison1101]

First of all, let's talk about Jesus. Having faith in Jesus will give you the power of the Holy Spirit, as upon accepting Christ as saviour, the Holy Spirit takes residence in you. The Holy Spirit is God, and with Him you have power. The same power that resurrected Christ from the dead is available to all believers through the Holy Spirit.

Now, the masturbation issue. I have struggled at times with masturbation. (Yes, this middle aged woman struggles with lust.) What God has taught me is that His grace is abundant and overflowing. When I have immersed myself in God's Word and prayed regularly, I have not had as much temptation to sin in this area, or any area for that matter. When I slack off in my devotions, I get tempted and sometimes fail.

Failing is sin, but 1 John 1:9 says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Read the story of David and Bathsheeba. Then read Psalm 51. Study the Bible and learn that God created sex to be beautiful and wonderful. However, as any other beautiful thing, used out of context it is sin. God has made provision for sin.