Comments
Timmy Little
on 06/17/2022 at 06:47 AM
Hey, Noah! I really appreciate you saying that, it's encouraging to hear that the things I say can impact someone positively.
I'd like to keep talking too! But it does seem silly to keep using this comment section as a message board haha. How about we respond to the daily kick-starts with any thoughts we have, and then discuss those with each other? And hopefully that encourages some other guys to talk with us too!
Noah Gallagher
on 06/15/2022 at 11:09 PM
Timmy it’s people like you who give people like me encouragement man. I appreciate you and (super cool) am actually your brother lol. It is a struggle and although I may not ever meet you on this earth I will in heaven man! I’d love to chat more to!
Timmy Little
on 06/15/2022 at 04:24 PM
Noah, I'm really glad to hear you've been recently saved! Welcome to the family!
I'm impressed that even having converted so recently, you've already started reading daily devotionals and trying to cut yourself off from sin! A lot of new Christians aren't very passionate, and sadly, they quickly fall away because they haven't actually changed their lives, which is what following God IS, and so they forget whatever it was that brought them to God in the first place.
It's good to read devotionals, because they start you off in the right direction in the morning. And it is even better to always be praying throughout your day, to KEEP yourself directed towards God.
My pastor likes to say "Let's make it our goal to think of God so often that, no matter where we are, we default to him, pointing to God like a compass always goes back to pointing North."
I wonder - with the context of you being a new Christian - if anyone has told you this yet: praying on your knees beside your bed is only one of the ways to pray (and is legit, I'm not dissing it), and before a meal is more of a way to REMIND yourself to pray often, imo.
Prayer is any time you talk or even think towards God! He's always with you, and always listening.
That was kind of ranty, but I hope that there was something... I dunno, *helpful* in that!
Have a good one!
Noah Gallagher
on 06/15/2022 at 01:18 PM
Timmy, yes I am a Christian was saved actually on Mother’s Day😂 but it’s hard. I do devotions in the mornings before work and such and normally that helps but sometimes after work the temptation is there and gets to be to much.
Timmy Little
on 06/15/2022 at 06:28 AM
Noah, I'm glad to hear you're in a Christian group! I'll keep you in my prayers, I hope you can find someone to be accountable with!
Noah Gallagher
on 06/15/2022 at 05:45 AM
Timmy I appreciate your help! In my youth group I am a HUGE example to all of them. (I’m 17…one of the oldest) and with my walk with God I don’t want to do porn but still get tempted and act on those temptations. I am not doing it as much as I used to (which is progress) but I fed convicted after and repent. That doesn’t make it better. With Gods help and faithful friends like you Tim I will break this unGodly habit
brian hollingworth
on 06/14/2022 at 11:31 PM
Its crazy how pornography has put men of all ages into chains. Ive struggled with it and have three teenage boys i worry about. I have accountability apps and an accountability group. I stay in constant communication with the my fiance and God. Staying in his word keeps me off of sites not intended for growth. The world has become so sexualized, its everywhere. I talk to my sons about it, but the world around them has told them its ok to watch. So its a battle to get them to understand Gods way for loving our bodies and respecting those of the opposite sex. Stay strong brothers, keep praying and stay in his word. You are loved you are strong, you are worth more than gold.
Old Dude
on 06/14/2022 at 05:46 PM
My brothers, This is a subject I very passionate about. I struggled with an addiction to pornography for over 33 years as a professing Christian before I came to realize we cannot overcome it on our own. However, I have discovered there are things we can do to draw closer to God and break the chain of destructive behavior. First and foremost, we need to be in God's Word and in prayer everyday. Be specific in your prayers. If you don't belong to a Bible believing men's group, find one to join. We need other men who are willing to hold us accountable. Install Covenant Eyes or some other accountability software on all your devices and get an accountability partner who can monitor where you go on the Internet. There are plenty of resources that can help in the battle for sexual purity. There is a video set called "The Conqueror Series" available at Pure Desire Ministries I found very helpful in understanding the addictive nature of porn. I also recommend the following books that deal very candidly with the subject: "Pure Desire" by Dr. Ted Roberts, "Clean" by Dr. Douglas Weiss, "Every Man's Battle" by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker. Lastly, stay connected to the LIVE BOLD community. Most of the men that use this app are either going through the same struggle or have gained "sobriety" and want to help their brothers in Christ have victory over the flesh. I'm sorry this post is so long, but I want everyone to know there is victory, healing and restoration in Christ Jesus.
Timmy Little
on 06/14/2022 at 04:10 PM
Noah and Brandon, I totally feel that.
I'm still struggling with this BAD at 21. But by God's grace and strength in me, I've managed to cut back from using porn every day to maybe once a week, twice on a bad week.
That isn't an excuse, I'm just saying that sometimes, progress is incremental. I got an accountability app that keeps a "days without" counter to start. I start and end every day by praying for a list of things, and asking God intentionally for strength against lust today.
The best I've done is one whole month without, and I felt simultaneously free, and like I was walking on thin ice.
Here are 3 major things you can do:
1. Have a worship playlist or radio open on your phone and computer all the time, and when you see even a HINT that you'll be feeling tempted, turn it on. Even if you don't like Christian music, you just CAN'T watch porn while it's playing, pretty incredible.
2. Practice gratitude to God. In my experience, sexual sin is rooted in anxiety, pride, loneliness, self hate, or a slew of other negative emotions relating to yourself. Have something that reminds you of what you're grateful for (a list on your wall over your computer, a wallpaper on your phone, etc.) and thank him for those things often throughout the day.
3. Talk to someone. Tell someone you trust about this, they might be going through it too. And have them keep you accountable, which means you have to tell them if you mess up.
Comment here if you wanna talk more, I'll keep checking!
Noah Gallagher
on 06/14/2022 at 03:25 PM
Any advise for a teen caught in the trap?
Brandon
on 06/14/2022 at 02:51 PM
Well… that hit home today.
Brandon Pembleton
on 06/14/2022 at 02:37 PM
I know for me a lot of what I did in life was based on lust and ego. I was a womanizer, sleeping around regularly. I knew it was wrong and it would eat at me and make me feel yuck. So to fix the yuck, you guessed it more womanizing. Then when porn became super available I thought I'll just do that because it's not that bad.. little did I know just how much it disconnects me from God and all good things. I'd always feel pretty stupid watching it, like God's voice was saying directly to me to knock it off. I know it's a pathway to the dark and if that pathways is even played around with for whatever short term reward it is a long term downfall back into the pit of despair and suffering. I thank God for breaking me free of it and the lust of thinking I need to go hook up with whomever to bump me up. All I had to do this whole time was bow my head to God and ask for his grace to help me to let go of the lustful thoughts. Thank you God for taking me in and burning out the dark. You truly are an amazing and loving God!
Rick Ortiz
on 06/14/2022 at 02:08 PM
Kevin you are fully known and loved by God, we all are.
Ashley Jarvis
on 06/14/2022 at 02:02 PM
and then it wouldn’t be long before I might drink again if I didn’t get to work with prayer
Ashley Jarvis
on 06/14/2022 at 02:01 PM
I can tell you as someone who’s grateful to be 18 months sober today, it wasn’t drug or alcohol truly at the core of my spiritual illness… Porn was. Pornography and lusting were one of the most difficult character defects for me to overcome, and when I would relapse, it was proven to me time and again by how my attitude and outlook would quickly grow dark with others I interacted with. My temper, irritability, and judgement of others would resurface, and then it wouldn’t be long before I might drink again if I didn’t get to work with prayer
Boyce Moses
on 06/14/2022 at 01:45 PM
Keep your eye on the Cross, and Jesus in your heart and let that guide you. Love you Jesus! 💙❤️💜💚
Stephen
on 06/14/2022 at 01:33 PM
I guess that is the good and bad thing about it. God will know so there is the accountability to help prevent it but when I do anyway, God knows then there's the guilt and shame.
Kevin Richardson
on 06/14/2022 at 12:28 PM
Whether people know or not is irrelevant to me at 50, the scary thing is God knows every evil thought that runs through my mind. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 🙏
165/365: Stuck In A Lust Loop?
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ~ Matthew 5: 27-28
It's a broken old story about how guys think no one can tell if they are hooked on porn or lust. Truth time... people know. It shows up in your stares, where you look, your stories, your words, and reactions.
Jesus teaches, purity begins in your heart and mind. You can appreciate beauty - just don't idolize it.
Go Deeper: 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20
Next Step: Caught in a lust loop? Interrupt it with an escape door. Pray for the people you have targeted. Ask God to bless and care for the ones caught in your gaze.