8 years of Self Satisfaction
Hey everyone on xxxchurch.com, my name is Nathan Alvarez. I'm a 19 year old college sophomore who is turning 20 in December of 08. I've been struggling with sexual immorality for almost 8 years now in the form of pornography and with conversations with women. I was first exposed to pornography when I was 11 years old. I was surfing a website and a pop-up came on my screen of a couple having sex. And after that moment, I was hooked. I had been caught several times growing up which drove me to a point of having to find a way to hide this stuff. As I got older my knowledge in computers grew and I was able to hide my findings of porn online fairly well. This of course did not help me. When I was about to become a freshman in high school I came to Christ. Even after becoming a Christian I still was stuck on the stuff. I went to several pastors with the subject, they all told me I would be forgiven and that I needed to stop but none really stressed the importance of repenting. About a year ago I came to the church that I'm involved with now called Flipside. They have been a really good church to me and I am happy to be involved with them. Once I started college, a colleague of mine was informed of my addiction through confession and has been helping me work through it ever since. Currently I'm 3 days sober and hope to continue pressing on for God's kingdom. I'm writing this so that whomever reads this can hold me accountable. Anyone living in the Southern Cali area who is reading this, feel free to contact me anytime at **********@gmail.com. Thanks everyone
One of the biggest problems I see with most porn victims attempt at freedom is that they have no plan. They think they can just decide, "I'm done with porn" and do nothing to change their world outside of the porn sites.
You made a great first couple steps. You confessed and you're seeking accountability. That is great !!!!
I used to love chillin' on a screened in porch in the summer. The screen kept the bugs away. What most people seeking freedom from porn do is they sit on their porch with a screen full of holes, and some of the holes are really big.
So check your screens.
Here are some things to think about:
1) Time ALONE... worst thing you can do. Make plans to do things with more people. And choose the right people. If all your friends are talking porn, your screen has a hole in it.
2) No control of THOUGHTS... your body goes where your mind goes. If you can't stop thinking about porn or sex or acting out, you have a huge hole in your screen. Feed your mind with good thoughts. Read. Read. Listen. Listen. Find God's Word in the Bible, in books and from others - like a good church. If you start thinking, what does God want me to do with my life and work toward that, you'll find yourself thinking less and less about porn.
3) SPACE... You have to put space between you and the nasty place. The easiest way to do that is through ACTIVITY. Recovery is a process of small ACTIONS. Leave your browser closed when you are on the computer. Spend less time on the computer. Spend more time for friends. Explore a hobby, sport or social group. Get involved. Become a Good Samaritan and help those in need. It might be as simple as a friend needs help moving, that will keep you clean. Find another place to help. If Jesus lived today, he wouldn't have time for porn. He's be out helping someone, spending time in prayer, spending time in thought. Jesus never sat around his room for hours on end. He spent a lot of time with other people. And when he spent time alone, he went AWAY from the things of the world. So take action.
You CAN do this. You simply need a plan. And some good screens. Check yours today.
