Overcoming Lust & Temptation.

[KevenChia]

I'm struggling with lust and all those sexual immorality over and over again and I hate it, alot. At times till the point where I feel like giving up on myself and saying : " This doesn't work anymore, I've failed the Lord over and over again. " Coming to think of it, every single time I'd always be caught up in that specific situation and after doing what I shouldn't be doing, after committing sin, I feel all lost, weak, and vulnerable, and happened everytime asking myself : "Why is all this happening again to me? Why can't I just be more obedient and faithful to the Lord our father just as He was to me?" I just hate it every, single, time that I'm giving into lust and sin and after that I'd be filled with guilt and remorse and I just hope to overcome it and one day I wouldn't be under the law of sin already. I wish I could do it and yes I hope you guys could give me some advices and verses to read upon and thanks for your guidance.
Keven.

[Lone Arranger]

Hi KevenChia, everyone (at least everyone I know of) struggles with this at various times and ways. Realize you are in the flesh as long as you are in the body, and therefore will have to deal with these issues. The apostle Paul did such a wonderful job of describing his struggles with the flesh in the book of Romans. Carefully read Romans chapters 3 - 8. It will help you. Remember we are positionally dead in Christ, and the law no longer holds sway over those who are dead. Don't give up, and don't try to win this battle in your own strength. Regardless of our struggles we are positionally seated with Christ. God promises us in the scriptures, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," Philippians 1:6. What He has promised He will do. Blessings.

[Slug1]

This doesn't work anymore,

What are you doing that doesn't work and did it work, once before?

[baxpack7]

One of the biggest issues we have as human beings, is putting our full faith and trust in Him. It's way too easy to look at a problem with our fleshly eyes and try to take care of things on our own. As it says in Prov 3:5;
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
It sounds to me like you truly want to abstain from lust and the temptations that come with the territory. That's great! Part of the problem is solved.Now, you must seriously put your entire faith and trust in Him to help you through the rough times.Searching out accountability partners within your circle of worshippers in your church is an option. Staying busy with things of the Kingdom(church activities)certainly can help as well. Anything to help keep your mind occupied with things other than porn or related things.
Above all, stay prayed up and continue to be in the Word. Keep in mind that satan will attack you when you let your guard down even for an instant. Don't let him in!
Also know that we're praying for you. God bless!

[jayne]

Hi, Keven ~

What you are feeling with the guilt, remorse, and “I’ve-failed-God-again” emotional state is precisely where the devil wants you to be. It’s his most effect shtick with Christians. Tempt them to sin – yet again – and bombard them with guilt, despair, and spiritual depression. Then when they are smack in the middle of the grief over their sin – tempt them to sin again.

It’s a very vicious and ugly circle.

Remember what Peter said about the devil. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 And Peter knew what he was talking about. The devil literally sifted Peter like wheat. Jesus even warned Peter that it was coming. “Simon, Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 Let me make a comment or two and then I’ll give you some scriptures to meditate on.

First, we’ve ALL been there. Whatever the lust is about or the greed or self-absorption is about – we’ve all been there. Sin can make a fool out of us and the Bible says that you can tell a fool by his folly in the fact that we are like that proverbial dog who goes back to his vomit and eats it. Proverbs 26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” I don’t know about you, but that verse gets to me. I don’t want to be a fool. I don’t want to wallow in the folly of sin. I’m not a dog. I am made in the image of the Great I Am.

Secondly, combating sins that plague us takes more than just being sorry that we did it again and feeling remorseful. It takes a conscience effort of the mind and a renewing of our mind to proactively seek out what’s holy so that we won’t fall into folly again. Remember the parable of the man who was delivered from being demon-possessed?

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12: 43-45

It’s not enough to “clean out” the folly from our lives. We have to consciously replace it with what it holy. Imitating God, imitating Christ, being led by the Holy Spirit, consistent Bible reading, prayer, fasting, fellowshipping with other believers, giving, serving others, and more.

As I said, it takes a conscious effort of the mind.

The Bible says A LOT about our minds. It’s quite revealing. I’ll leave you with some scriptures about how our minds affect us and what we should be thinking about.

God bless you and I'm praying for you.

• Isaiah 26:2-4 - "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
• Romans 8:5-6 -"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 12:1-3 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
• Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

[KevenChia]

Hey Everyone, thanks for all that you guys have said and stuffs.
Well, I really want to know God deep down inside me and yes I don't know why but my mind seemed to always have the thoughts that I shouldn't have.
Negative thoughts and everything that's NOT of God.
I hate to say this but at times I even feel like God isn't close to me anymore as compared to when I was young.
I would like to ask, HOW DID YOU GUYS DO IT?
I mean, I don't know how but I really really do want to abide in God but when the situation's there, I just lost it again and again.
& at times after reading the bible, I feel like I'm the seed that's among the thorns, always bothered and absorbed by worldly things. Forgetting what God has had for me.
I feel down, I feel lost, I feel horrible, and I feel like I failed countless times.
Please help me on this one, I really need your supports and guidance!
May God bless you all always.
Peace, Keven.

P/s : Merry Christmas!

[KevenChia]

To Slug1 : "It doesn't work anymore." I used to focus and think about God, keeping Him in my mind when these circumstance comes, and on the other hand, singing hymns and praises of words that speaks to me. However, at times I feel that I've lost it all and I don't seem to feel like I know God anymore. In the past, I was happy, I was happy when I read his words. I remembered once when my parents went overseas, and I woke up in the morning at 5am to send them off home and back home I couldn't sleep and I was reading the bible by myself all alone in my room. & I've read and read and I feel happy as I know God's words more and more to me, and upon reading Revelations, it really struck me the fear and the thought of being in Hell and etc. However now at times when I read the Bible, I tend to find things that I WISH COULD HELP ME, instead of things THAT GOD WANTS TO SPEAK TO ME. Sigh, I really wanna break off this chain and just ask all these stuffs. Praying things in the name of Jesus, I just pray that everything would come to pass once and for all and all I want is to go back to the place and the part where the only thing I want in the world is Him.

[turtledove]

I would like to ask, HOW DID YOU GUYS DO IT?

We didn't do it on our own. In faith we trusted God to help us and He did. Like the psalmist says in..

Psalm 40:1-3.
I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and HEARD my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the MUD and MIRE;
He set my feet on a ROCK
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and FEAR the LORD
and put their TRUST in him.


We all have sinned and fallen short in some ways. Each day we may yet fail in some way; but we keep right on turning to God who picks us up and gives us the courage and strength to go on. His grace is sufficient and either we believe that or we don't. And we co-operate with that grace as we try not to put ourselves in a place of temptation by avoiding whatever triggers the urge to commit sin.

People who become steeped in sin actually choose to be. They like sin because it gives them something and fills a need, or so they think for a while. Of course, the thing is that it is a mirage and doesn't last as it becomes less and less satisfying and the enemy begins to swallow them up so that eventually they have formed an unhealthy and unspiritual lifestyle. Sin has become very satisfying to them. They don't usually want out. Sad because they, then miss, the peace and joy only Christ can bring.

But from what you have said in your first post and how you feel after sinning you do want to experience a breakthough. And God is listening to your prayer. You may have to seek one on one help face to face from someone who is mature in Christ and can listen to your problem not condoning but understanding and giving good scriptural counsel.

It isn't all about feeling. And being a Christian doesn't mean that you will always feel the way you did at first. All of us who accept Christ go through a sort of honeymoon period before temptations are back and it is easier to fall. His grace is sufficient to pull us out of the pit. Obviously you don't want to stay there and so trust Him in that you won't..

The practical thing I have found "to do" besides trusting God to pull me out of a pit of sin or protecting me from falling in one is to occupy my mind with good things..and to replace bad habits with good ones.

Not enough to just praise and pray although important to do that. But get in the habit of spending more time in the Word letting your thoughts become transformed and renewed as you remember:

Phillipians 4:8-9 "... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Praying and believing for victory over this for you in 2012. May that peace of God mentioned above be with you.

[david]

To Slug1 : "It doesn't work anymore." I used to focus and think about God, keeping Him in my mind when these circumstance comes, and on the other hand, singing hymns and praises of words that speaks to me. However, at times I feel that I've lost it all and I don't seem to feel like I know God anymore. In the past, I was happy, I was happy when I read his words. I remembered once when my parents went overseas, and I woke up in the morning at 5am to send them off home and back home I couldn't sleep and I was reading the bible by myself all alone in my room. & I've read and read and I feel happy as I know God's words more and more to me, and upon reading Revelations, it really struck me the fear and the thought of being in Hell and etc. However now at times when I read the Bible, I tend to find things that I WISH COULD HELP ME, instead of things THAT GOD WANTS TO SPEAK TO ME. Sigh, I really wanna break off this chain and just ask all these stuffs. Praying things in the name of Jesus, I just pray that everything would come to pass once and for all and all I want is to go back to the place and the part where the only thing I want in the world is Him.

are you the same guy as joey? if not, here is my testimony of conquering lust.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Went through this struggle too. You're not alone. This is what I did that helped me a lot (and you must take this very seriously. you can't be complacent by going halfway and still expect to make it out. Matthew 5:30 says, "if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."): First, I drastically cut off all my causes of sin. I cut off all porn sources. I deleted all the porn off my harddrives. Second, I took out the wireless card in my laptop so that I'm less likely to use the internet in a private place. Third, I asked people to help pray for me. Fourth, I installed an accountability program on my computer that reports my internet history to another person (Norton Family Minder). Lastly, here are some verses that may help you to stop sinning (meditating on these when temptations came up helped me a lot):

LUST OF THE EYES: Flee youthful lusts. 2ti 2:22 The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace. Ro 8:6 Everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Mt 5:28 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. Jn 6:63 We put no confidence in the flesh. Php 3:3 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Col3.11 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes. Pr 6:25 Charm is deceitful. Pr 31.30 Never satisfied are the eyes of man. Pr 27:20 The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. Eccl 1:8 Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness. Lk 12.15 LOOKING ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCES: Beauty is vain. Pr 31:30 What is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Lk 16:15 man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1Sa 16:7 All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of God stands forever. 1pe 1:24-25 We walk by faith, not by sight. 2co 5:7 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. Jn 7:24 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Jn 8:15 His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind. Isa 52:14 Show no partiality. Jas 2:1 No one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. Ro 2:28 We behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. 2co 1:12 LUST OF THE FLESH: Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Ro 13:13-14 I said in my heart, Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself. But behold, this also was vanity. Eccl 2:1-3 My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jer 2:13 Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. Jn 4:13-14 Fornication and all uncleanness or greediness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints, Eph 5:3 I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1pe 2:11 I will not be brought under the power of anything. 1co 6.12 Keep your way far from the forbidden woman, and do not go near the door of her house. Pr 5:8 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mt 10:39 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Eph 5:18 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. He 13:4

Don't give up! Fight as a good soldier of Christ Jesus! We are receiving an inheritance as a reward for fighting!

I would highly recommend going on the site settingcaptivesfree.com and trying the way of purity course (it is free) because this site helped me a lot. It has many resources to help you break free of lust and has freed many many people. It gives you free counseling via email also. But always remember to not take anything for granted and test everything people say with the Bible and prayer. "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 14:15 " I pray you will make it out! Grace be with you.

[Toner44]

I don't know if someone has already mentioned this but just like eating healthy foods and exercise helps fight off mal health, there's something about communion with God that helps you battle temptation. Its not really about what you say as long as you're saying something. If a tempting thought enters your might - Boom, something to share with your God. If you run out of stuff just start talking about your day, something you saw, or someone in your life. Its just you and God. You'll eventually notice a change in your mind. You won't be giving into the same thoughts as you were before and your mind will have a renewed sense of strength.

Its important also just like prayer that reading the Bible has a power of its own. I'm trying to make a habit of reading psalms before bed.

God Bless and praying for you.

How To Pray

[RockyTop]

Hello KevenChia,

I too struggle with overcoming lust and temptation. In my introduction to the forum, I pointed out that the Lord has recently blessed me with a much needed fire and yearning to understand and follow His word. This has led to a renewal in my faith and opened my eyes to how weak I trully am. One of the first things I noticed about myself were the multiple temptations that I am susceptible to. A big issue I battle is lusting after women. It's not to the point of me ever acting on my feelings, rather I would often let my mind wonder to places it shouldn't. When I read this verse, it really hit home with me:

Matthew 5:28 - "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

I used to be one of those guys who operated under the notion of 'there's nothing wrong with looking at the menu as long as you don't eat.' After reading that verse, I realized how wrong that mentality truly is. For that reason, the moment my eyes open in the morning I ask God to give me strength for the day and lead me away from temptation (among other things of too course). Since seeking his help, my brain has conditioned itself to stop and think (throw up a red flag if you will) before my mind ventures off course. There are of course times that are much more difficult than others, and in those circumstances/tests I say to myself, "Lord, keep me strong" and he delivers.

I would recommend first praying for strength and then seeking the Bible for help regarding self control. Here's a few to start with:

Proverbs 25:28 - "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."

1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

[schlot]

This is my first post here so I hope I don't sound like I am doing anything but trying to help.

Sometimes I think when we fail (whether it's a sin or not) we focus on the failure so much it becomes a focal point. Yes we have to learn from our mistakes but as Christians we know that we are forgiven for our sins. If your life is focused on failures I think you are bound to repeat them. Perhaps try focusing on your "wins". Think about how you opened the door for someone, how you shared your faith to helps someone, checked on the neighbors to make sure they are ok, things like that. It will reset your mind into a positive light. It won't diminish all of our ability to fail but perhaps it will make you think more about what is right, and what is the right thing to do.

If God can accept and love you as you are, a human and full of mistakes, we should be able to do the same.

Hope this helps a little.

[IMINXTC]

Certainly does help. A very timely reminder of the Lord's love and patience.

[ChristianKristyn]

Some prayers to try:


Prayer for breaking soul-ties:
Lord Jesus, I now break every ungodly soul-tie that I have had with (name the persons). I renounce the ungodly soul-tie that I
had with the this cult (name them), drugs (dealer), sexual perversion, sex outside of marriage, vampirism, idolatry, tattoos,
sorcery and witchcraft, and the person that led me into this activity (name them).
The demons and devils are not under the grace. They are under the law. Mocking spirits have no regard for the name of Jesus.
When conducting spritual warfare, deliverance, or an exorcism, it is best to use the covenant names of God,because unclean spirits are under the law.
Using the proper name for God will put them under your authority.