Saint Augustine's Joy

The are two ways how to get out from PMO. One of them is very painful, so painful that it seems to me almost impossible for most addicts although I learned from the net that such few cases exist. This is a secular way or better said a way of a believer who mainly uses secular means as a base of his efforts. Why is this way very painful? Because our nature is loath to let something pleasant go. The major issue is that PMO is not only pleasant, it's extremely pleasant. like saint Augustine is writing here - he is very glad (even sweetness) that he shruged off some very pleasant sinful life style (my assumption). It's absolutely impossible for our nature to feel gladness and sweetnes after we have got rid of PMO. The All of our nature dreams about is to experience this sinful pleasure once again (not only once - better would be an ocean of PMO).
That's why we can't be loath to PMO. And how to get rid of PMO when our nature loves it? We can try to fight against this law of nature but with the cost of pain. every hour without PMO is a torture for a man who has some longer PMO free time. For how long can you endure such a state? The proofs from some forums show me that it's not long, and even if after 1,2 years the addicts come back to the pit.
What do PMO addicts think about it? They believe in a wide spread myth. The myth tells the story that after some longer time (90 days, 1 year, 3 years ...) of maintaining the soberness there comes some time when you don't feel pain without PMO because your nature has rewired, your brain is new etc. This myth says that human nature can heal itself. Many believers believe this too not knowing that such a belief is not only phantasy but that it's contrary to our faith. If our nature could repair itself after having done or ceasing to do something - all the secular efforts used to get rid of PMO, then there would be no sense for Christ to come on earth and to be killed for us. What's the use of His death and life when old religious and phylosophy schools and systems taught about how to live as a good man? The only problem would be to start living according those teachings and change on this way one's own nature. Such a way would lead to sanctity either. If a man couldb change himself for good in one aspect of his life (sying good bye to PMO) then he could do the same with a second aspect, then with a third and so on until he would become a great saint and as a result as a great saint he would have to enter heaven. So, such an individual could prove that Christ's comming or death was unnecessary.

To be brief about the second way - a way of grace given from God provided we cooperate with God. God changes our nature on this way. Phase one - He makes some changes in our nature, will which enable us to experience some diminished by God PMO calls and not to answer with PMO actions - I'm here. I believe saint Augustine was on other level. God changed his nature, will so much that he even felt the loath to choose something very pleasant but sinful.

 

I read that portion of confessions daily- also the section where he beholds "chaste dignified figure of Continence..." where she asks, "Can you not do what these men have done, these women? Could any of them achieve it by their own strength, without the Lord their God? He it was who granted me to them. Why try to stand by yourself, only to lose your footing...."
By God, brothers, we will not go down.
Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio!