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Post by 🇺🇦 Ɖσмιиιc 🇮🇱 on Jan 23, 2022 21:04:17 GMT -7
it's nice to have you still with us. I hope the Lord will bless you and I'm very happy you are well from the covid. God is good.
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Post by iamfree on Jan 25, 2022 5:18:42 GMT -7
One of the things I have set boundaries on is what I watch on TV. I’ve gotten to the point where I only watch sporting events, old movies, and a few old TV shows. Why? I am learning that I need to be careful what I put in front of my eyes. Since the eyes are “the windows of our souls”, I don’t want no part or even a hint of putting anything before my eyes that will cause me to lust. This may sound silly, when commercials come on TV and they even look like something that may tempt me, I close my eyes until that commercial is finished. That’s how serious I am about not allowing anything that can provoke lust in me.
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KevinesKay
Administrator
Posts: 1,735
Occupation: Balloon Artist
Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Jan 25, 2022 7:03:22 GMT -7
That is such a great idea. Good job. I consider my eyes and mind to be very fragile. They can take only so much stimuli before they overheat. But if I protect them from too much exposure, they function quite well.
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Post by iamfree on Jan 27, 2022 5:07:36 GMT -7
The biggest challenge I have is watching what I allow in my mind. I am learning not to allow any thoughts that lead me to temptation. That includes thoughts from past experiences and things I have viewed. I know Satan is bring these thoughts, sometimes all of a sudden. I am being more successful in casting those thoughts down (2 Corinthians 10:5). I am learning that if I entertain those lustful thoughts of the past, I will be in trouble. I admit sometimes it can wear on me, but I am learning to abide in the strength of Christ.
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KevinesKay
Administrator
Posts: 1,735
Occupation: Balloon Artist
Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Jan 27, 2022 7:36:45 GMT -7
You are right. Sobriety has to include custody of my mind. For much of my life, I hoped that by simply avoiding the obvious behaviors such as viewing XXX websites or staying out of strip joints, then my mind would somehow eventually fall in line. Not true!
Every sin originates in my own heart. That means that I think it before I do it. I need to be at a place where I don't think about nor desire porn. And that needs to happen now, not later. The Bible says to ask, and I'll receive; to seek and I'll find. God is faithful to lead me to the right path so that I will desire holiness instead of evil.
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Post by iamfree on Jan 29, 2022 5:32:59 GMT -7
The other day, I started viewing porn. I entertained the thoughts I shouldn’t have entertained. As I was viewing, I asked myself,”Why am I doing this”? . I got disgusted and stopped. I asked for forgiveness from the Lord and thanked Him I didn’t go all the way. Again, I am learning not to entertain the thoughts Satan put in mind. He tried again yesterday. This time, I overcame the thoughts and was victorious! Hallelujah! I overcame by prayer, speaking to Satan by taking authority in Jesus name and praising the Lord for His goodness. As the Bible states, “Resist the devil and he will flee”. As I remained steadfast, he left. I thank God! Thank you for your continued prayers.
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Post by 🇺🇦 Ɖσмιиιc 🇮🇱 on Jan 29, 2022 7:25:43 GMT -7
I'm glad brother. I can't do anything except go to God. It's getting really dark in the world. Lord, please help us stay strong and abide in You Jesus. Please help us Lord. Please help my brother. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Post by iamfree on Feb 5, 2022 5:24:56 GMT -7
Well, I acted out several times this week. I feel so ashamed. I know what I must do. It’s like I get tired of fighting and this is no time to stop fighting. Please keep me in prayer. Looks like the more I am determined to resist, the more the temptations come. I know it’s not a coincidence. I still believe I am an overcomer. Starting back over. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks
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Post by iamfree on Feb 5, 2022 5:24:56 GMT -7
Well, I acted out several times this week. I feel so ashamed. I know what I must do. It’s like I get tired of fighting and this is no time to stop fighting. Please keep me in prayer. Looks like the more I am determined to resist, the more the temptations come. I know it’s not a coincidence. I still believe I am an overcomer. Starting back over. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks
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Post by iamfree on Feb 5, 2022 5:25:44 GMT -7
Well, I acted out several times this week. I feel so ashamed. I know what I must do. It’s like I get tired of fighting and this is no time to stop fighting. Please keep me in prayer. Looks like the more I am determined to resist, the more the temptations come. I know it’s not a coincidence. I still believe I am an overcomer. Starting back over. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks
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Post by 🇺🇦 Ɖσмιиιc 🇮🇱 on Feb 5, 2022 8:31:08 GMT -7
Praying brother. Heavenly Father, please help iamfree to overcome with You. Please help him get back up, and again refocus, repented, and restored in You Dear Jesus. We need Your help Lord. Even we all stumble in different ways, please forgive us of our sins. In Jesus' name. Amen. If you need to talk offline, please PM me. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Remember, the Devil, resist him, ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit. It's the only way. Gal 5:16.
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Post by savedbygrace on Feb 5, 2022 10:16:32 GMT -7
Praying for you, me, and us all
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Post by SandyJWE on Feb 5, 2022 13:59:15 GMT -7
Praying for you as well.
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KevinesKay
Administrator
Posts: 1,735
Occupation: Balloon Artist
Interests: weight lifting, singing, playing the guitar
Days of Integrity: 1 year
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Post by KevinesKay on Feb 7, 2022 7:07:27 GMT -7
Well, I acted out several times this week. I feel so ashamed. I know what I must do. It’s like I get tired of fighting and this is no time to stop fighting. Please keep me in prayer. Looks like the more I am determined to resist, the more the temptations come. I know it’s not a coincidence. I still believe I am an overcomer. Starting back over. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks I really appreciate your honesty. I really do. I can relate so much. This feeling of giving up porn as being this long uphill neverending battle, like taking over Mt Everest. And one small mistake or one moment of unclarity or one moment of letting up will set me off and everything I've fought sooooo hard for will come crashing down in a heartbeat. It's an unstable equilibrium. For me, relapse was commonplace because my soul still placed a high amount of value on porn. And quitting it meant that I was making a sacrifice; that I was depriving myself. Even though sobriety comes with a number of gifts; better relationship with God, improved relationship with my wife, free of guilt, improved self-esteem, etc. But none of that outweighed the enormous amount of value that my soul was assigning to porn. Thus, I kept making the logical decision. Since porn seemed so much more valuable, my soul would always run back to it like a dog returns to it's vomit. But the truth is that porn has no value. It has no benefit. It's completely worthless. When I act out, I get a rush of dopamine. But once that dopamine wears off, I quickly return to a state of irritability, moodiness, craving, obsession, stress, anger, anxiety. All of this is caused by my addiction to porn. Non users never feel like this. The idea that porn offers me something is a lie. Porn doesn't relieve stress. It creates it. Porn doesn't cure anxiety. It creates it. Porn doesn't fill a void. It creates one. Porn doesn't create pleasure. It makes life less pleasurable. The only pleasure I receive from porn is the pleasure of relieving the cravings and withdrawal pangs that was caused by porn to begin with. That's not pleasure. That's a lie, an illusion, a miserable existence. I've been duped! For most of my life, I've lived in a some sort of bubble feasting on nothing but porn which has the same amount of value as moldy bread. And thus, I conditioned my mind to believe that this moldy bread is ten times better than anything else in the world! Once I reset this variable, the high amount of value that's been assigned to porn, to it's actual value which is ZERO, choosing sobriety from porn becomes a lot easier. There's a resource that God led me to that explains this in better detail. It's www.Easypeasymethod.orgIt's a hackbook based on Allen Carr's, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. No, it's not a religious book. But I do believe it's truth when a resource challenges the high amount of value that is being placed on porn. The guide can be read in only several days. It can't hurt. It's helped me and others immensely. Check it out and let me know what you think. I've struggled with some cravings throughout these past few months. But most of the time, I'm feeling free just like your handle says iamfree. Let's stop being like so many chronic relapsers on here and start living free for a change. By quitting porn, we're not depriving ourselves of anything. We're not missing out. And then furthermore, we receive everything in return.
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Post by iamfree on Feb 19, 2022 5:00:38 GMT -7
Well, I acted out several times this week. I feel so ashamed. I know what I must do. It’s like I get tired of fighting and this is no time to stop fighting. Please keep me in prayer. Looks like the more I am determined to resist, the more the temptations come. I know it’s not a coincidence. I still believe I am an overcomer. Starting back over. Please continue to pray for me. Thanks I really appreciate your honesty. I really do. I can relate so much. This feeling of giving up porn as being this long uphill neverending battle, like taking over Mt Everest. And one small mistake or one moment of unclarity or one moment of letting up will set me off and everything I've fought sooooo hard for will come crashing down in a heartbeat. It's an unstable equilibrium. For me, relapse was commonplace because my soul still placed a high amount of value on porn. And quitting it meant that I was making a sacrifice; that I was depriving myself. Even though sobriety comes with a number of gifts; better relationship with God, improved relationship with my wife, free of guilt, improved self-esteem, etc. But none of that outweighed the enormous amount of value that my soul was assigning to porn. Thus, I kept making the logical decision. Since porn seemed so much more valuable, my soul would always run back to it like a dog returns to it's vomit. But the truth is that porn has no value. It has no benefit. It's completely worthless. When I act out, I get a rush of dopamine. But once that dopamine wears off, I quickly return to a state of irritability, moodiness, craving, obsession, stress, anger, anxiety. All of this is caused by my addiction to porn. Non users never feel like this. The idea that porn offers me something is a lie. Porn doesn't relieve stress. It creates it. Porn doesn't cure anxiety. It creates it. Porn doesn't fill a void. It creates one. Porn doesn't create pleasure. It makes life less pleasurable. The only pleasure I receive from porn is the pleasure of relieving the cravings and withdrawal pangs that was caused by porn to begin with. That's not pleasure. That's a lie, an illusion, a miserable existence. I've been duped! For most of my life, I've lived in a some sort of bubble feasting on nothing but porn which has the same amount of value as moldy bread. And thus, I conditioned my mind to believe that this moldy bread is ten times better than anything else in the world! Once I reset this variable, the high amount of value that's been assigned to porn, to it's actual value which is ZERO, choosing sobriety from porn becomes a lot easier. There's a resource that God led me to that explains this in better detail. It's www.Easypeasymethod.orgIt's a hackbook based on Allen Carr's, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. No, it's not a religious book. But I do believe it's truth when a resource challenges the high amount of value that is being placed on porn. The guide can be read in only several days. It can't hurt. It's helped me and others immensely. Check it out and let me know what you think. I've struggled with some cravings throughout these past few months. But most of the time, I'm feeling free just like your handle says iamfree. Let's stop being like so many chronic relapsers on here and start living free for a change. By quitting porn, we're not depriving ourselves of anything. We're not missing out. And then furthermore, we receive everything in return.
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