Disclaimer; I am a Christian, a member of a PCA church, and hope to abide by Christ's standards of sexual morality. I've been a Christian for almost 2 years now, but before then I held many common modern beliefs about pornography, premarital sex, and live-in girlfriends. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I would love to give what insight I have. Hey Everyone, I'm so glad to have found this community and I hope that I can grow personally and contribute. I'm 26, a Christian, and currently working. I became a Christian just under 2 years ago, and am currently a member of a Presbyterian church. Before I became a Christian, I held the modern american beliefs of premarital sex and had several long term live-in girlfriends. Now, I intend to eliminate all aspects of sexual impurity, while acknowledging that we were created as sexual beings. I currently have a girlfriend who is also a Christian, and we abstain from premarital sex including anything that would lead to sex. I was exposed to pornography around the age of 10, through the internet and finding my fathers porn collection. My porn use escalated throughout the years to masturbating several times a day, binge watching pornography, and using pornography/masturbation while in an intimate relationship. Within the last year, my father was ousted as having cheated on my mom multiple times, though they are still together. I currently live in an apt that is on my parents property in exchange for renovations and upkeep. After becoming a Christian, I realized the harm that pornography and premarital sex has had on my psyche and health of my past relationships. Pornography created a negative image in my mind of women as sexual objects, and promoted selfishness and self serving in relationships. I want to make a pledge to Christ that I will keep my eyes and mind away from sexual impurity. That means for me, no lusting after women, no pornography, no masturbation, and no sex before marriage. As I said earlier, I am also in a relationship with another Christian (long distance now), I want to honor her, and treat her with the respect she deserves. The reason why I'm here, is because I continue to fail. I fail the fight against the internet and against my own self control. I find myself lured back into old habits of looking at pornography and masturbating especially when I'm lonely, feel rejected, or bored. I hope that joining this community would give me resources to work with others struggling with the same issue and holding the same desire to go porn free. My goal is to go porn/masturbation/sex free; till I'm married (sex). Though I'll start with a commitment of 90 days. I have gone 5-6 months in the past, which is the longest I've ever been free of porn. Thank you all again. This seems like an amazing community.
Welcome to NoFap where you are amongst friends who are here to encourage you and sometimes challenge you but not judge you. What are your current strategies for combating the enemy called PMO?
Thank you so much for those words of encouragement DJ. This community really seems like such an accepting community regardless of background. I'm so glad that such a diverse group of people are here to support each other. My plan of action is such, 1. work on the first week being porn free. 2. Within the first week creating lists of triggers, why PM is bad for me, and replacement activities 2a. I'm also going to keep a journal on this forum to track the way my Reboot goes, to find patterns in my behavior 3. Start pursuing 2 new hobbies, I'm thinking drawing and surfing; also challenging myself to take cold showers 4. After the first week, start to focus on reigning in my eyes and my mind to not seek sexual stimuli 5. To hate my addiction and to love my life free from it My markers for success are, spending more time with loved ones, not reclusing myself, having a stronger prayer life, feeling my connection with God deepen, and not feeling ashamed when thinking of or talking to my gf. I want my honesty and contribution to this community to also be a positive sign of change. I intend to connect daily with this community and hopefully with a strong AP. Please let me know if you have any recommendations or additions to my plan of action. Its a rough draft
Hey welcome aboard! I am also a Christian. I was raised very conservatively but teenager years got ahold of me and well I got hooked on marijuana and alcohol. When I was 18 in 2008 I recomitted my life to Christ. Although I was able to drop the weed and alcohol, I picked up a new habitat: watching porn. I also made a commitment to wait til marriage to have sex. But somehow someway something in my brain made me justify watching porn since I wasn't "hurting" anybody. So throughout the years up until 2015 I watched porn every night. I became a loner and often felt depressed and self pity. Never was able to maintain or develop a relationship with an actual girl. Anyways I would often blame God and religion for me being the way I was. I never realized the effects porn was playing into my antisocial behavior or just me not being able to develop relationships with girls. I am glad to see you realizing your sins and trying to mend them. The Bible talks about how if we do something wrong and we knowly that something wrong then it is sin. That's what nofap has become for me. Porn is bad for not only us spiritually but mentally and physically. Stay strong brother and fight the good fight.
I would suggest joining the group Christian Fapstronauts to be encouraged through scripture and prayer. As a Christian, I would tell you to dig deeper into the Word of God and into your prayer life. Understand this is a stronghold from which God can set you free. God will use your disobedience of the past to grow you toward Him. He has already forgiven you if you have asked for it but make sure you have forgiven yourself. As you place your full armour on to battle this, check out In Case You Didn't Know for strategies and tips which may help you along your journey.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement! Both Christian brothers, sisters and everyone alike! Hey Mixtec, I feel you man! My background is a bit different in that I didn't become a Christian till I was 24. Though similarly before I committed my life to Christ I too drank, and did drugs. I was living a normal life according to societal standards, though in my exposure to Gods wisdom in the Bible. I began to realize the real pain that I was causing myself and those around me. Though I plead ignorance in my past, I now need to hold myself to a higher standard, God's standard. One of the most hurtful things about pornography is that it makes both the user feel empty, and it also greatly degrades human life. It was a big realization for me, in reframing my porn use, as objectifing someone dear to God. The actresses and actors in porn are God's beloved as much as you and I are. We must support each other, and with love correct each other so that we aren't deceived by false lies! I hope to give you encouragement! Definitely seek out other brothers and sisters in Christ where you are. I know that my church plays a huge role in my own understanding of acceptance, forgiveness, and holding to God's moral standards. I would love to chat more and lend you encouragement how I may. Feel free to reach out. God bless brother! Dear DJ, Thank you so much for your wisdom and encouragement. I can't begin to express my gratitude for this community. God has really taken me when I was most weak and brought me into his Glory through the love and support of individuals like you. I hope to learn and encourage others. I will definitely check out your link. I need the full armor of God to conquer the lies. Thank you so much!
