Struggling with Temptation

[McScribe]

I need some encouragement and I thought I would take the first steps here. Recently I entered a new ministry, childrens' ministry of all things, they were almost begging for men to be involved. It was a tough decision for me. I lost my stepchildren after my wife left me for another woman and cut off all contact; I can't really challenge this decision and I have to wait and hope and pray.

So...I have many blessings in my life but I'm (this is hard to admit) really lonely for female company and I feel like my manhood has been really flattened. And before I got saved (which was long after I became a man) I casually looked at pornography; I'm just really used to doing it. I desperately need to remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

I need some encouragement to stay firm; I've already strayed a number of times but I want to stop, especially since I was invited into this ministry. I want to also talk to one of the other men in my church, either the Pastor (who is a friend) or one of the other men in leadership. I'm going to Promise Keeper's this weekend; I'd appreciate prayer and encouragement to keep my body a temple for the Lord.

 

[mufpan]

I will be praying for you. I am dealing with the same thing, I also struggle with porn. If you are still struggling with porn, I would not recommend taking a ministry position. It will make things difficult, I have already been there. I was a youth leader at a church a couple years ago, and I decided to step down because how could I mentor to youth and tell them about God...and tell them to live Godly lives. When I wasn't living correctly. (I'm not saying that you aren't) It just made things hard to deal with. I encourage you to confide in the pastor or a friend who is in the men leadership. I also want you to know that we can get through this, but we need a support team. The people on this forum have helped me a lot. And I have not looked at porn for 4 days. It has been a struggle but I keep putting my eyes on God and taking some quiet time to be with him and it does help. I encourage you to take like 10 mins at the least of your day and pray...and take with God about the temptation. I know you can do this friend. When we are weak God is strong.

 

[McScribe]

I did actually talk to my pastor about my struggles with temptation, and I'm meeting with him one on one every week. Thank you for your prayers and sharing your testimony. There are a lot of temptations out there, and as a book I was leafing through suggests they are different for every man and he needs to be aware of them.

 

[HISservant21]

I need some encouragement and I thought I would take the first steps here. Recently I entered a new ministry, childrens' ministry of all things, they were almost begging for men to be involved. It was a tough decision for me. I lost my stepchildren after my wife left me for another woman and cut off all contact; I can't really challenge this decision and I have to wait and hope and pray.

So...I have many blessings in my life but I'm (this is hard to admit) really lonely for female company and I feel like my manhood has been really flattened. And before I got saved (which was long after I became a man) I casually looked at pornography; I'm just really used to doing it. I desperately need to remain strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

I need some encouragement to stay firm; I've already strayed a number of times but I want to stop, especially since I was invited into this ministry. I want to also talk to one of the other men in my church, either the Pastor (who is a friend) or one of the other men in leadership. I'm going to Promise Keeper's this weekend; I'd appreciate prayer and encouragement to keep my body a temple for the Lord.

----
friend,

the only ONE who can help is The LORD. Keep reading the holy word of GOD and, without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), keep praying to LORD

"Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." - Mark 14:38

here are some parts of scripture to help... remember, the "word of GOD is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword..." (Heb 4:12).
(try and be reconciled with your wife, or stay single and serve the LORD until HE returns (May 21, 2011) or calls you)
======

"
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." - Matthew 5:28

"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [i.e, remove it from that thing immediately] - Matthew 5:29


"Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied." -Proverbs 27:20

"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." - 1 Corinthians 6:18[bless and do not curse]

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10[bless and do not curse]

"Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body." - 1 Corinthians 6:13

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17

"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." - Hebrews 13:4