Overcoming pornography

[Jennigans]

Hi guys. I am new here and I am in desparate need of help. I have been addicted to pornography since I was 12, and it gets worse all the time. I tried countless times by listening to advice, read the word and blocking it. I repented countless number of times but I would be drawn into it again. Can any of you please help me, because I don't wanna experience eternal damnation.

[Billiards Ball]

On 6/26/2019 at 12:05 PM, Jennigans said:

Hi guys. I am new here and I am in desparate need of help. I have been addicted to pornography since I was 12, and it gets worse all the time. I tried countless times by listening to advice, read the word and blocking it. I repented countless number of times but I would be drawn into it again. Can any of you please help me, because I don't wanna experience eternal damnation.

First, eternal damnation is avoided by TRUSTING JESUS, not YOURSELF, for salvation. Do a "heart check" and let's make sure you're trusted Jesus Christ for eternal life, not yourself!

Salvation and overcoming porn have this in common: neither is by works/deeds/efforts, in fact, trying to overcome porn by self-will, reading the Bible, praying more, is a noose that tightens itself around you in an addiction-binge-purge cycle. Just like no one can say, "I swear I'll never sin again, I'll be perfect!" to try to get to Heaven, people also epic-ly fail doing the same thing with porn. Send me a PM if you want help, accountability, to talk--we can support each other in this cause!

Porn is not a moral problem--it starts out that way--its a brain problem. You need to retrain your mind. Instead of "I will try so hard not to do this again!", when you are tempted to view porn, tell yourself "Jesus loves me!" and focus on the love of Christ. The love of Christ/power of Christ will save your soul AND help you with porn addiction. THE VERY BEST resource I've seen to overcome porn in decades is at: https://conquerseries.com

[enoob57]

Realizing the battle will not end till we are with The Lord and out of this unredeemed body of flesh!
There is also the fact that when born again that old man, the one that loves rebellious lust, must be reckoned dead and the new man must be renewed daily by actively pursuing a s/Spiritual relationship with The Lord... Prayer, consuming God's Word, letting The Love of God flow through you in ministry to others... having relationship with your sisters in Christ and letting that bond of Love and purity as a hedge by God in renewing the mind toward the beauty of women in holiness!
Prayed... Love, Steven

[Who me]

On 26 June 2019 at 5:05 PM, Jennigans said:

Hi guys. I am new here and I am in desparate need of help. I have been addicted to pornography since I was 12, and it gets worse all the time. I tried countless times by listening to advice, read the word and blocking it. I repented countless number of times but I would be drawn into it again. Can any of you please help me, because I don't wanna experience eternal damnation.

How determined are you to stop?

Who are you most in awe of in your church? What one person do you not want to offend?

Set up your antiviruse to block porn and set up this person with oversight of your internet access.

Once set up every time you try to view porn this perso will be notified.

Apart from that fill up your spare time, get a part time job, do a corespondence course, learn to play an instrument.

Form a discipl;e ship group at your church and be accountable to them.

 

There is no easy way of breaking an addiction.

[BeauJangles]

@Jennigans Welcome to Worthy, since this is your very first post. Pornography is a hard cycle to break, and for a lot of males, it does begin at an early age. Having internet access makes it more increasingly difficult. It's just too easy to fall back into. You can set adjustments on your computer, but they can always be altered back again to suit temptations. You mentioned the word, so I'm assuming you know Jesus as Saviour and Lord. If not, trying to kick a porn habit will be next to impossible. You may need the help of a few brothers in Christ to be accountable for your actions, and help for support in making endeavors to breaking this habit. All the best to you. God bless. 

Shalom, 

David/BeauJangles 

[dr3032]

I feel you here.

First, as others have said, you must rely on God rather then yourself, your "willpower". I tried it myself and not only did it make life difficult, but the problem became worse and worse. You must assess yourself honestly. I shall use myself as an example. Me? I am weak. When the tempation arises, no matter how much effort I put in or what I do, it all crumbles. But God? God is strong, he is the source for strength and salvation.

Second, don't focus on it too much. Failure is a part of life. Use and view your failings as fuel for improvement, and also as a means of learning. Think about what it was exactly that triggered the urge. Maybe there was a commercial with women in bikinis, or some girl walked in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face. Develop strategies on how to avoid such things. In other words, if you don't want to fall, then don't look down.

Third, speaking of which, the illusion of privacy must be combatted. Act like someone is always watching you, because he is. if it helps, only use your computer in public, like a coffee shop or a library. Poop with the door wide open like some kind of brute. Get into the habit, learn from your mistakes.

Fourth, feed the good, not the bad. Lurid thoughts occur to all of us, but we must not feed into them. Pray to God when this happens, to avoid it progressing further into the act which you hope to avoid. You are what you focus on - so focus on wholesome things rather than otherwise. Wandering eyes can be a problem, but try to focus on a woman's eyes or hair. I personally find it helps to just pretend like they're dudes.

Finally, have patience. The ease of access and the high achieved from the act DO alter your brain. You're basically the same as a drug addict and likewise, getting off and away from such a habit is going to take time. Just remember to pray to the Lord, put faith in him, and wait on him.

Buona fortuna to you, brother.

[Billiards Ball]

Please IGNORE any statements above, including mine, that suggest you can overcome a brain-wired addiction by willpower. "How much do you want to overcome?" is not the issue!

You need help from Christ and others to find success. Please follow what I laid out in a prior post. 

 

Thanks!

[warrior12]

First you have to realize that you are in a spiritual battle for your mind.  Yes, this is a stronghold that the devil wants to keep you in and as you are doing, you must continue to hate the sin and repent whenever you stumble or fail.  You see, the test is for your endurance to persevere and stand on being faithful to God, even though you struggle and fail at time. God knows all our weakness and you have to keep that determination to know that the Lord is with you in your trials.   The devil plot is for you to give up and give in.  Hang in there, read the word and there are many other who has this struggle too, you are not alone in this battle.  

side note....    These are the steps that are leading many to the alternative lifestyle.  Those who do not resist, then join  the growing number of people that if falling for satan lies and live that way of life.  Porn is reaping havoc and leading many to addictions that are burdensome as this person mentions.

Ephesians 6 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Edited July 1, 2019 by warrior12

[BeauJangles]

57 minutes ago, Billiards Ball said:

Please IGNORE any statements above, including mine, that suggest you can overcome a brain-wired addiction by willpower. "How much do you want to overcome?" is not the issue!

You need help from Christ and others to find success. Please follow what I laid out in a prior post. 

 

Thanks!

@Billiards Ball I see nothing wrong with anyone's post, including yours. Everyone shared from their hearts to reach out to someone in need. The only concern I do have, is on this forum there are a number of men and women who come in with a major concern, post one time only and never return. If impressed of the Lord to respond I'll do so. But some discernment needs to be taken into consideration for newbies that just come and go. I personally can't go into more than briefly for those who won't commit to membership. And that's the case with the OP in this instance. Just my two shekels worth. 

Edited July 1, 2019 by BeauJangles

[Billiards Ball]

1 hour ago, BeauJangles said:

@Billiards Ball I see nothing wrong with anyone's post, including yours. Everyone shared from their hearts to reach out to someone in need. The only concern I do have, is on this forum there are a number of men and women who come in with a major concern, post one time only and never return. If impressed of the Lord to respond I'll do so. But some discernment needs to be taken into consideration for newbies that just come and go. I personally can't go into more than briefly for those who won't commit to membership. And that's the case with the OP in this instance. Just my two shekels worth. 

Thank you for your concern--but as someone who has overcome addiction, I see the need to promote the de-emphasis on willpower in overcoming. Just as trust in Jesus, not behavior and works, saves, so does trust in Jesus and the love of Christ help overcome addiction--while effort is a noose that creates a horrible binge-purge-shame cycle of addiction.