Day 9, still moving on. There is a lot at stake here. I don't want to think about "relapse". Relapse happens when we lose sight of the goal, in our Christian world, the eternal reward. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. Proverbs 11:18 We have to look for answers to our addictions, or bondage issues in the Word, because nothing we are experiencing is new, this stuff is common to mankind. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes Ch. 1 If we truly humble ourselves before our God, He will give us the strength we need: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Corinthians 10:4 And the porn struggle is definitely a "strong hold"! We have to use the weapons He gives us to pull down this strong hold. What are His weapons? Humility for one and wisdom, God's wisdom (the Word) Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. Ecclesiastes 9:18 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Psalm 111
Day 6 for me. First time in a while I had an almost perfect morning. I showered cold, ate healthy, meditated and went to church. Now some work has to be done! Things are getting better very rapidly. The war is going good as far as I am concerned and God´s word and wisdom in general seem to be very effective weapons .I hope you´re having a nice day^^
Here's the thing about porn. It promises to serve and please, but what it actually does is dominate and destroy! For most of us this habit was formed as a coping skill (even though it's not a good skill!) And for most of us it's not about sex, but about how we learned to "medicate" pain, whether it's emotional, or trauma, or whatever. And usually it's because we were wounded at some point, led to believe we weren't good enough. It's a binge-purge cycle that we get stuck in, because it's shameful. We REALLY, REALLY have to meditate on God's Word daily, and take His promises to heart! Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We have to believe this, every day, when we wake up, think and believe that old things are passed away (if we are in Christ!) Day 10 for me, it was a little rough today, had an argument with my wife, but I refuse to "medicate the pain" Keep trucking wisdomkaulen, and thank you so much for posting, it's really encouraging, man!
By the way check out Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. This is talking about Christ, the sword is out of His mouth, it's the Word of God! If we want to do battle brothers, it has to be with the Word (the sword)!!!!
Exactly, only through speech can we articulate ideas. Hence the best possible way to pursue truth is through words and the word of God ^^
Hey, just wanted to let you know that I´m not going to post anything until Friday since im on vacation with my school class. I hope you´ll make progress! God bless
Thanks brother, I am looking forward to hearing from you this weekend! In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6
Day 11 today. Only because of the grace of God have I been able to stay PMO free for the last 11 days. There have been plenty of triggers for sure: movies, girls in bathing suits at the aquatic center (where I've been swimming laps), arguments with my wife (which usually send me spiraling), periods of insomnia (because I often masturbate myself to sleep) etc. I know I have a very long road ahead, if I want to be victorious, but we have to take manageable steps, so right now,I have 19 more days to go to my first milestone. I will only post on the Christian forum, because I want to interact with other believers. Honestly, it's been a renewed focus on the Word of God that has really helped! "...thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness" Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him Proverbs 30:5
Day 12 no PMO. The noose of sexual bondage is made up of four parts: 1.The root is quite often an old wound that caused us to start acting out, so if that's the case look into the pain and find out where it came from 2.The mindset is having a shame perspective: We become ashamed of who we are, basically our identity, instead of simply feeling guilt over sinful actions. The former is worse, because we believe we can't be cured, which is a lie! 3.The binge-purge cycle of quitting and relapsing becomes a vortex that we spiral into, and as the vortex becomes deeper, it gets harder to get out. Only the Lord can truly rescue us out of this 4.We want to cloak our secret underground life with either one or all of these things: denial, delusion or blame I think everyone on this forum is past the denial stage, otherwise you wouldn't be here. But we still delude ourselves thinking we need to medicate with sinful sexual acts And we blame other people or circumstances for our repeated sinning. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Day 13 no PMO! Understanding the cycle of bondage: Basically like a noose around the neck, the harder you try to pull away, the more the noose tightens! Understanding shame: you can't get the ball into the end zone, no matter how hard you try; you're convinced there is something fundamentally wrong with you! We need to understand the battle and learn how to fight it, brothers (and sisters), and literally the battle is in the mind! For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
Hey Fanchman and others, just wanted to let you know that I´m back again. Had a good time. Now discipline is required in the next days/weeks. I hope we all will make it to our goal of 30 days no PMO and that God will continue helping us on our way!
Good to hear from you! With God's incredible mercy, I have been able to make it 15 days without PMO-ing. I had a couple of nights though when I thought I wasn't going to endure. Tossing and turning in bed and my thoughts going wild. I've decided to wait to go to bed until I am really tired, so I don't struggle so much. Finding our ultimate satisfaction in our sexuality, rather than in God, is a form of idol worship, because it replaces our need for and reverence for God, our Heavenly Creator and Father. Each time you repeat a thought or action, you create neurological pathways in the brain, causing these patterns to become programed in your mind, that's where the battle takes place! 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10, 3-5 The best weapon is our sword, which is the Word! The sword of the Lord!
Day 17 today, no PMO, but I did allow my mind to wander several times, and almost failed! The "harlot" referred to in the following scripture has been my porn addiction: If we are truly glorifying God with our bodies, then we will not PMO! 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Cor Ch. 6
Day 14, can´t believe I´ve made 2 weeks. Got up today at 4:30 am , learned , prepared, showered cold, prayed, and now I´m going to meditate. Hope you all have a great !
By the grace of God, day 18 of no PMO! Pornography damages the brain! Brain scans reveal clear similarities between a cocaine addict and a porn addict. Repeated viewing of pornography damages the pleasure centers, sears the conscience, and makes a person attracted to what is synthetic rather than what is real. It physically alters the structure of the brain. The only way to reverse the damage is by going through the process of renewing the mind! For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
Day 19 of my 30 day challenge. No PMO. I had a hard time at the pool today, was looking at young women who were sort of curvy, and I let my mind wander a bit. But was able to put a lid on it before it got out of control, and I mean leading to porn watching, which in the past could have easily happened! For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Keep going! Day 17 for me. Got a bit off the track in those last days but now I´m going to attack the day!
OK, man, now I'm really glad I signed on, wisdomkaulen, because I was actually going to view porn just now, but decided instead to login to this crazy fapstronauts forum! You are a lifesaver with your very short, simple encouraging posts! Day 20 for me, no PMO, thanks to my brothers at home and on this forum!
