Help with a personal struggle

[sergent]

Hey everybody I need serious prayer and guidance right now. I have been saved for almost 4 Years now and there are certain sins that just won't seem to go away. These sins are that of pornography and lustful desires that lead to certain actions. I am deeply ashamed and pray constantly for these things to go away, but somehow they always seem to repeat themselves. My heart desires to please and follow God, but my flesh is weak and I am becoming very discouraged. If yall could pray for me or give me some helpful advice it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Brad Huber]

Instead of regret and asking for forgiveness after the fact, attack the desires head on as they come at you. Give the desires NO foothold and they cannot gain it. Memorize scripture that addresses God's power through you, empowering you to overcome. There are many, look for them and then pick one or two, memorize them and repeat them out loud if alone, and silently if around others. My favorite is prov 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean NOT on your OWN understanding. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL DIRECT your paths. But there are many good ones, pick one and "pick up" the sword of the spirit (the word of God) to strike the enemy when it shows up. Repeat the verse over and over giving your mind no room for desire to focus upward, as your mind will be focused on repeating the verse until the desire subsides. It works for me.

 

[Peter]

Hello sergent.
Here is an excellent thread/link started by Chad, an administrator from this forum:
Can I Break an Addiction to Pornography? | Talk Jesus

 

[RJ]

Hey everybody I need serious prayer and guidance right now. I have been saved for almost 4 Years now and there are certain sins that just won't seem to go away. These sins are that of pornography and lustful desires that lead to certain actions. I am deeply ashamed and pray constantly for these things to go away, but somehow they always seem to repeat themselves. My heart desires to please and follow God, but my flesh is weak and I am becoming very discouraged. If yall could pray for me or give me some helpful advice it would be greatly appreciated.

• I have no power to say what God does or doesn't do, except what he tells us through scripture. Saying that, I think it is entirely possible that God, though he appreciates your repentant heart, which is a sign of salvation, but he may not be lifting this burden for some time, much like the thorn in Paul's side. This is to keep you humble and realizing you are in need of his help. This has nothing to do with you being saved or not, just the opposite, you may very well be in a refining process.
• Look at Paul and his struggling in Romans 7 and his answer in Romans 8:1.
• I have had a many sins that were gone immediately, but others that took some time. I still have a long way to go to perfection, but the key is to keep working at it! Keep at it, I promise God will cure you in his own timing and not yours!

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

I agree with the other posters and just want to add a scripture to ponder.
Romans 11:32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
If you find that you don't have to willpower to change on your own strength then that creates the perfect opportunity to trust God for his love and mercy.
He changes the desires of the heart so that change overcomes any addiction.

 

[KingJ]

Hey everybody I need serious prayer and guidance right now. I have been saved for almost 4 Years now and there are certain sins that just won't seem to go away. These sins are that of pornography and lustful desires that lead to certain actions. I am deeply ashamed and pray constantly for these things to go away, but somehow they always seem to repeat themselves. My heart desires to please and follow God, but my flesh is weak and I am becoming very discouraged. If yall could pray for me or give me some helpful advice it would be greatly appreciated.

You will be battling with venial sins until you die. Hate them, repent and ensure they don't go mortal.

 

[amadeus2]

I am praying for you, but keep on asking God for help for as often as you need help.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matt 7:7

If after you have sought God's help you stumble again, ask again! Don't quit just because you failed. Ask again!

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" I John 2:1