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Sin wins again!
Its late, to late to be to the point. I did it again after a long stint of not looking at porn and masturbating I did it. I am not happy about it either. I stepped down from ministry 2 years ago so that I could focus on my relationship with God and kick this awful habit. I had been doing well, but I am at my wits end! My heart is to change the world, my heart is to follow Gods ways, to make his thoughts my thoughts and love his people they way he does! I am single, maybe I need to get married, maybe that will give me an outlet to vent my sexuality. But I rather have this totally and utterly under control, fixed, cleaned up and out of my life before I go and do something like get married.
What do I do? where should I go? what should I read?
Ross wrote on October 3rd 08 at 01:17AM
Have faith. God is bigger than this.
Look inward. Is your masturbation the result of a seemingly unrelated problem in another area of your life?
Hit your knees. Pray. Praying for a month of Sundays will not fix you like magic but you need to be in dialogue with God and to listen to His direction.
Go out and serve. Unless God has clearly told you that you need to be out of all ministry don't stop serving others! While it is shameful for us I believe that even we sinners, which is everyone ironically, can be used by God to further His kingdom. If you've cut out the part of your life that is your calling, if you're not doing what can't not do, then are you missing God's point for your life.
What an encouragement it would have been for me to have a minister in high school who could honestly admit that he sinned in the exact same area of life that I did. Of course most congregations hate that, though I'm always puzzled about why a pastor can't have their sins be public knowledge, but if your calling is to minister then find a way.
How great would it be if God took your weakness and turned it into the strength of your ministry. God be praised that He can take a man's worst quality and turn it for His use in furthering the Kingdom.
God bless you. He already has, but tonight God bless you just a little bit more as He wraps His arms around His wayward son and lets him cry on His shoulder.
I know He will because right now He's doing the same thing for me, and my Lord has big shoulders that can bear any weight, even that of a cross.
Look inward. Is your masturbation the result of a seemingly unrelated problem in another area of your life?
Hit your knees. Pray. Praying for a month of Sundays will not fix you like magic but you need to be in dialogue with God and to listen to His direction.
Go out and serve. Unless God has clearly told you that you need to be out of all ministry don't stop serving others! While it is shameful for us I believe that even we sinners, which is everyone ironically, can be used by God to further His kingdom. If you've cut out the part of your life that is your calling, if you're not doing what can't not do, then are you missing God's point for your life.
What an encouragement it would have been for me to have a minister in high school who could honestly admit that he sinned in the exact same area of life that I did. Of course most congregations hate that, though I'm always puzzled about why a pastor can't have their sins be public knowledge, but if your calling is to minister then find a way.
How great would it be if God took your weakness and turned it into the strength of your ministry. God be praised that He can take a man's worst quality and turn it for His use in furthering the Kingdom.
God bless you. He already has, but tonight God bless you just a little bit more as He wraps His arms around His wayward son and lets him cry on His shoulder.
I know He will because right now He's doing the same thing for me, and my Lord has big shoulders that can bear any weight, even that of a cross.
matt wrote on October 3rd 08 at 06:50AM
marrage is not the full answer to this. Many guys think that and then wonder why the marrage falls.
dude i have faith in you. Its a day by day and hour by hour fight and as long as you keep God by your side and stick with Him it will get better. when the temptation comes you gotta flee. Flee from it, run to God and not the world. i know that God forgave you a long time ago. if you mess up you gotta pick yourself up and accept the forgiveness and keep movin toward the goal of bein done with the battle.
you got this.
dude i have faith in you. Its a day by day and hour by hour fight and as long as you keep God by your side and stick with Him it will get better. when the temptation comes you gotta flee. Flee from it, run to God and not the world. i know that God forgave you a long time ago. if you mess up you gotta pick yourself up and accept the forgiveness and keep movin toward the goal of bein done with the battle.
you got this.
live4porn wrote on October 3rd 08 at 01:30PM
Maybe you should realize that sexuality and masturbation are normal functions of the human body. God you people are pathetic. I bet you guys are the reason I cant go Religuous in my local theater today.
Justin wrote on October 3rd 08 at 02:16PM
Keep fighting. You are wise to want get the upper hand on masturbation and have a pure heart and mind before putting yourself out there as a potential husband. If you haven't read Steve Arteburn's book, "Every Man's Battle" yet, I highly recommend it. You can win this battle and Steve's book can provide you some solid tools.
PastorJennifer wrote on October 3rd 08 at 03:51PM
You are kidding aren't you? Hasn't anyone explained to you that masturbation is normal!
Do yourself a favor and see a therapist who can explain that there is nothing wrong with you.
Read 'Thank God for Evolution' by REv.Michael Dowd to get an intelligent perspective
Do yourself a favor and see a therapist who can explain that there is nothing wrong with you.
Read 'Thank God for Evolution' by REv.Michael Dowd to get an intelligent perspective
Justin wrote on October 3rd 08 at 04:28PM
Masturbation might be "normal" if you consider yourself no better than an animal that acts on instinct.
We were created by God to love one another. We were created for relationship. Masturbation, although it feels good, is selfish. It stunts our ability to love another person in true intimacy.
We were created by God to love one another. We were created for relationship. Masturbation, although it feels good, is selfish. It stunts our ability to love another person in true intimacy.
Dave wrote on October 3rd 08 at 05:20PM
Dude,
If you're interested in making Prov 27:17 and Eccles 4:9-12 part of your daily lifestyle, then I have a battle plan for you. Feel free to email me at wheatonwr@hotmail.com.
If you're interested in making Prov 27:17 and Eccles 4:9-12 part of your daily lifestyle, then I have a battle plan for you. Feel free to email me at wheatonwr@hotmail.com.
aj wrote on October 3rd 08 at 11:20PM
brotha, let me share something w/you...The goal of the reality of knowing Christ is not that you can "get" it together in your own strength. If that were the case, then toss out Ephesians 2:8-10.."It is by grace you have been saved...not of your own works..." If you had called yourself into ministry, then call yourself out of it! But since God called into a loving caring relationship with Him, pursue Him fully and trust Him with your sexual desires. Adam didn't go looking for Eve, God put him to sleep while He was preparing Eve for Adam. Sleep on the marriage issue and let God introduce the two of you. Don't believe the lies of the enemy, God can break this in your life, He has done it countless times with men and women, and He will accomplish it in your life. I have faith in you brotha, much faith; don't give up and don't give in!
Brian wrote on October 28th 08 at 08:12AM
To your questions:
- What should I do? Keep fighting. Purity is about having a pure MIND. The mind is the battlefield in which all struggles are fought. You purify your thought-life and the rest will follow.
Where should I go?
- Go FAR AWAY from what tempts you. You said you had a long stint of not looking at porn. My guess is that happened because you were SICK of porn in your life and ACTIVELY ejected it from your life. My (experientially-educated) guess is that you fell back into it because you got comfortable. Maybe a little prideful even. Feeling great about not stumbling is the WORST thing we can do. RUN from evil. Gouge out your right eye and cut off your good hand (metaphorically speaking).
What should I Read?
- Hunger For Healing (J. Keith Miller)
- The Shack (William P. Young)
- Bondage Breaker (Neil T. Anderson)
- Breaking Free (Jack Frost)
- These verses:
http://xxxchurch.com/prayerwall/comments.php
- What should I do? Keep fighting. Purity is about having a pure MIND. The mind is the battlefield in which all struggles are fought. You purify your thought-life and the rest will follow.
Where should I go?
- Go FAR AWAY from what tempts you. You said you had a long stint of not looking at porn. My guess is that happened because you were SICK of porn in your life and ACTIVELY ejected it from your life. My (experientially-educated) guess is that you fell back into it because you got comfortable. Maybe a little prideful even. Feeling great about not stumbling is the WORST thing we can do. RUN from evil. Gouge out your right eye and cut off your good hand (metaphorically speaking).
What should I Read?
- Hunger For Healing (J. Keith Miller)
- The Shack (William P. Young)
- Bondage Breaker (Neil T. Anderson)
- Breaking Free (Jack Frost)
- These verses:
http://xxxchurch.com/prayerwall/comments.php
