I keep committing the same sin over and over...

[briocht]

I am really struggling with pornography addiction. It actually is linked to sexual abuse in my past. I get nightmares or bad memories and I end up using it to hurt myself (I know it's really messed up). I know this is all wrong on many levels and I don't want to do this but I feel trapped.

 

Anyway my worry is when I sin I ask God to forgive me, but I keep doing the same sin over and over and I keep worrying that this means that I haven't really repented and I read somewhere that it could indicate I've not truly been saved! 

 

I am so concerned that God isn't going to forgive me that I am pulling away anyway and that's making everything worse.

 

I want to do the right thing, I want to live a life that honours God but honestly I am messed up mentally. 

 

Any advice or insight?

[1x1is1]

God does not keep a tally sheet to record your past sins.  He will never bring them back to mind again.  He is able to do that, but not us.  Our guilt can be used to aid us in asking for strength and wisdom along with forgiveness from the Lord.   Stick around in here at Worthy, it is difficult to be on those undesired sites when you are engaged with other believers.  You will receive great insight and direction from others, Soon.    GBU Brother or Sister

[timidman]

Hello my brother/sister.  If you have accepted Christ then you're salvation is secure, please do not ever believe the devil that God would ever go back on his promise. There is nothing you can ever do to earn salvation and in the same respect, there is nothing have to do to keep it. It is a gift with no take-back rules.

The doubt being put into you is from the devil. Of that you can be sure.

I have issues too my friend, and some things take time. What God knows is what is in your heart and not in your actions. Now that his son Christ is in your heart, you have the power to eventually overcome everything from your past, you just have to learn to have unconditional faith in his promise as God has unconditional love for us in his word.

 

That is the devils ruse, making people believe that God is disappointed in them and they might lose their salvation. Hogwash. Devil begone with your games and lies.

 

Your heart and spirit are pure in christ my friend, your mind is still wounded by the world of the flesh and will be overcome with the word. Just have faith that God loves you sooooo much and there is nothing you can do to disappoint him. You are already winning the battle because it hurts you to think you have hurt God.

 

My advice for you is to read the new testament, new testament only, everyday from front to back, no skipping gospels or letters, and even if you just read a page a day. But everyday, find quiet time with the lords word, and let the word speak to you without influence from man of the flesh interpreting the word to their own meanings. The word was written specifically for you to understand my friend, for man cannot live on bread alone but by every word that comes from god. Which means your new spirit in you of the holy spirit needs to be fed with the word in order to grow in strength just as the body of the flesh needs to be fed or it will weaken and be vulnerable to disease and death.

 

A very important scripture to read and understand regarding the devils untruth his false ideology of becoming unsaved in Gods eyes is.

Mathew 17: 25-26

kjv......What thinkest thou simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children or of strangers?

    ......Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

 

Christ is asking Peter, to whom do the kings of earth take their stuff and taxes from, their own children or from strangers, and peter answers strangers, and Christ says that's right, so their children are exempt from their own laws.

 

So let me indulge here and try and expand on this teaching if Christ were to give an answer in full, rather than have people think about it to gain the understanding.

 

" if the kings of the earth exempt their own children from their own laws, then how much more will the king of kings exempt his own children from his own laws "

 

You see, the laws and works of sin are for those who have yet to accept christ, but us who are the adopted children of God, the law of sin does not apply to us for Christ took sin to its death for all of us. What is sin to others is not sin to us, and salvation will never be lost for God will never go back on a promised gift.

We may get disciplined as a father would his children, but that will always be done out of the purest love.

 

Your salvation is secure my friend, your heart is pure and good, you can overcome the troubles of your past, simply rebuke the devil that he no longer has power over you, and read the new testament everyday.

You will still slip off the path, but God will never let you fall off the path. Each time you slip, just get back on, thank your father in heaven and just keep on keeping on doing your best.

 

Btw, i was saved a year and half ago, and i am still trying to get over a porn addiction as well my friend. i believe i am about 80% there. I committed suicide when i was 19 and have struggled with the devil all my life until a year and a half ago when the vale of deceit was lifted from my eyes and the truth has set me free.

With man nothing is possible but with God EVERYTHING is possible.

 

God bless

[timidman]

PS:

Forgiveness is the greatest form of healing. Forgive everyone that ever hurt you, and forgive yourself for ever hating on any of them who have hurt you. Even write send them letters asking for their forgiveness for whatever hate or bad thoughts you have had for them.

 

Romans 12:20.......Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head

                   21.......Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

In following Gods word here my friend, it will set you free, you can trust me on that for i have done it and have been set free. it is hard for the wounded flesh mind to get to this point but be strong in your new spirit and just have faith and do what it says here and you will be set free of the clouds in your head, the thoughts that go round and round and never stop, and the nightmares that suck the life right out of you.

 

and if your saying to yourself, yeah, that is me, how did he know, well because i have been there my friend, i have been in the dark dungeon for my whole life save the past year and a half, and it gets to the point where any sight of the light frightens you because the dark has become your security blanket.

My friend, when you see the light, grab it, grab it for it is the hand of Christ reaching down and offering to pull you out of the dungeon, you only have to latch on to it, you only have to have faith and trust in the goodness of the light and the purity of its love.

For it is REAL and it is BEAUTIFUL!

 

God bless

[7thseal]

I am really struggling with pornography addiction. It actually is linked to sexual abuse in my past. I get nightmares or bad memories and I end up using it to hurt myself

 

Any advice or insight?

 

God offers better... not to hurt or justify but healing. He never looks at our past when asking for forgveness,  the future of our steps is whether to apply  His word. Everything is jugded by this .... His word made flesh.... His word made part of our lives.

[OakWood]

Pornography addiction is probably difficult to overcome. I too have problems with lust.

Faith in Jesus will heal some of this but it can take time.

If you truly want the Lord you will want what he wants.

It's not a matter of committing sin or not committing sin, it is a matter of knowing that you can't overcome sin all by yourself. After a period of time being a Christian you will find that pornography loses some of its appeal.

If you're no longer interested you won't be tempted.

[Guest]

I just encourage you to keep trying, never give up, persevere. Sanctification, the process of being conformed to the image of Christ, is different for everyone. God is not giving up on you, as long as you are not giving up on Him. Perseverance and patience are called for, pray for those qualities, memorize 1 Cor 10:13 and realize it's truth, and use it.

Do some practical things to, to help you. For example, if you turn to porn, I bet you do it when you are alone, or bored, or have nothing to do. Find ways then, to minimize those opportunities, get involved in things with others, find ways to schedule time to occupy yourself. If you need to, end your internet service:

 

   8“If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. 9“If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

 

Of course, the internet (or magazine, etc) does not cause you to stumble, but it does make it easier, so, make it harder!

 

You can get internet service providers who can block access, you can install prograns that do the same thing, but you have to get someone else to be in charge of the password.

 

Make yourself accountable to a real person in your life, a friend, a relative, a pastor, someone, whom you will confess to, when you fall, and who can encourage you and provide some wisdom.

 

There is also accountability software, that notifies a partner, when you access porn. I know these things are difficult, they require trusting others, dispensing with pride, and even embarrassing yourself. However, if you are really serious, you will make some real efforts to find ways to curb this.

 

Addictions of any sort, are difficult to kick, what is easier, is to replace them with another addiction, something to replace them. For some people, if they have a time of day where they fall, they might fill that time with an acquired "addiction" to gardening. Dedication yourself to an hour of prayer, or something like that, bible reading etc, would be better. Just find ways to occupy your vulnerable time with better thing, and that will go a long way to help you - but you have to take charge yourself, and decide to be led by THE Spirit, instead of a spirit. One force pulls you one way, another force pulls you another way. It is up to you, to be the tie breaker, choose the right side. 

 

Perhaps visit xxxchurch.com, kicking porn is largely what they are about, they may have some resources to help you. I'll pray for you, but don't let the devil rob you of your joy, fight back!

 

I hope something here helps!

[Guest]

Praying~!

[Osten]

Hello, 

 

I have watched Pornography in the past too. It was a mistake; I was exposed through failed safe search when a group of immature 4th graders started looking at things. I was addicted for 4 years, back when I was not exactly a Christian. 

 

I became Christian somewhere around the same time I stopped watching Porn, but by no means was Christianity an instantaneous miraculous cure. (Well-- maybe miraculous..) Even before I converted to Christianity I had a clear conscience that I was a sinful person and there was a God. I more or less converted from a wicked unrepentant sinner that denied God's existence to feel better to a sinner (still) but good enough to call myself a Christian. 

 

I really cannot say I know the extent of your abuse or how deep your addiction is. I know that compared to others', mine is probably less severe. However, I will still try my best to relate and help. 

 

But here are some suggestions anyways: 

 

1)Recognize that God's love for you is unconditional. No matter how much you fall, you are still valuable in God's eyes and don't ever let Satan tell you that you are unworthy of redemption. I am sure lots of people have had this feeling of hopelessness before, but God's promise to us is eternal. 

 

2)Recite and memorize scripture to take away intrusive thoughts and images. Even after quitting Porn for almost a year, I still sometimes have intrusive thoughts that are sometimes lustful. I have noticed that devoting my mind to scripture helps me focus on God, and it reminds me each day of the truths of God's message. 

 

From the top of my head, Philippians 4:8 may be good for dealing with lustful thoughts. 

 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:8 (NIV) 

 

However I know my knowledge of the Bible is limited so there may be some better verses out there. 

 

3)Recognize that Porn is a sin. You may already recognize that, but sometimes the devil tries to deceive you into thinking it is okay. Have a strong consensus in your mind that it is not okay, and know when Satan is trying to tempt you. 

 

4)When you find yourself compelled to sin, shut yourself down. I learned this from a speaker, relating it to a Terminator movie. I think it could prove useful, though I will admit I have not use this much. Perhaps you could start exercising to wear yourself out whenever you begin to feel overwhelmed with lust, as a means of exhausting your temptation. 

 

I know that these suggestions may or may not be helpful; you may not even take most of them to heart or even look at them. But whatever you do, I'll be praying for you  

 

God bless.