Overcoming Lust

Christianity Today ^ | June 12, 2012 | Jim Vander Spek

[EscondidoSurfer]

Use of pornography and other sexual sins are rampant in our culture and in the church. Many have concluded that such behavior or at least the lust—evil desires—that drives them is fundamentally an unsolvable problem, a sin that will not be defeated in the lives of God's children. Such a response is unacceptable in the face of the severe and incalculable damage that lust inflicts upon lives, families and fellowships.

[EscondidoSurfer]

Some insightful ideas here.

[andyk]

BTTT

[Revolting cat!]

[deadrock]

The barn that contained the horses was obliterated during the sexual revolution storm. Good luck with that.

[onedoug]

Pornography has been, is and always will be a fact of life, one way or another.

Our trick was, is and will be to turn it into a monogamous marital aid, towards our thity-eighth year together.

[5cents]

Typically, the answer to this dilema, the inability to exercise self-control, is to attempt to exercise more self-control. “Just say no”, is a useless remedy to something so deeply engrained in the heart. It is impossible to stop doing something inordinate if that something is part of your personality. It is only by God superimposing Himself on a broken vessel that will bring about change. It is not within man to heal himself, it is up to God and the power of faith and grace. Seeking those things which are above and not the things upon earth is a good start. Being open to the Spirit and yielding ones members to that Spirit is the only answer. Scriptural lust is not connected solely to sexuality, by the way. It is the entire nature of human flesh, which cannot be subject to God in any matter, to lust in all areas of physical desire, being controlled continually by forces outside the self. Reforming what is beyond redemption, the human heart and body, is a lost cause. Were it possible to do so, the Crucixion was in vain.

[stpio]

Steve Woods, this wonderful apologist, he has a weekly
radio show on EWTN *thursday afternoon*. He use to be a Protestant pastor. It’s called Faith and Family. Search,
same name for his website.

He speak a lot about Porn.

I recall him saying when you are tempted, remember when
Our Lord was tempted by Satan, Our Lord spoke a verse from
Scripture to rebuke Satan. You can too.

Memorize a few verses from the Old Testament or the
Gospel.

[stpio]

Here’s the link to the info on ridding yourself of porn
addiction.

Listen and there’s free CDs.

http://www.familylifecenter.net/catholic_porn_help.asp

[Outrance]

It is the loud noise that is always in the room. It distracts you from your work, interrupts your sleep, depresses your mood, creates havoc in your relationship, gives women power to manipulate you. It never gives you any peace. Only old age seems to diminish it.

In my twilight years it is my wife who now initiates but the hardness in my heart after so many years of rejection has taken away its enjoyment and fulfillment for me. It is an obligation and a duty which I perform in compliance with my marital responsibilities.

[stpio]

Hi,

I am not righteous, I have a ton of habitual sins. The
world is full of porn now because instant access. It is
proven, viewing pornography is addictive.

Don’t blame yourself or your spouse. Just pray. And
forgive one another. You can do this. God has got to help
us, He knows how we are... He will send the needed grace,
trust and pray.

You will like this recent message from God the Father.

June 8, 2012

I Rejoice For You Try To Please Me
Children of My Divine Heart,

I Am. I Am the Alpha and the Omega. I Am the Great I Am. Open your hearts to Me. Surrender to Me in love. Give Me permission to transform you into powerful receptacles of My grace. Children, I look down from My throne of glory, and rejoice. Many of you pray. Many of you have given prayer MORE IMPORTANCE. You rise, and immediately turn your hearts to Me in love. You rise, and call down My blessings upon your loved ones, and those I have placed on your path. I see all your works. I know all your thoughts. I know the deepest secrets of your heart, and I rejoice for you try to please Me in even the slightest things. My Children, grow in holiness. Walk blameless before My sight, and rejoice for great will be your reward. I will keep My covenant with you. I will raise you up to Me. I will make you holy, and use you for My glory. Continue this walk in faith. DO NOT let your hearts be troubled. DO NOT let setbacks discourage you from moving forward. Become instruments of love in your broken world. Become beacons of light for the masses. I count on you. I rejoice at the progress you have shown in so short a period of time. I rejoice in you. I love you. I Am, your Heavenly Father, is proud of you. Persevere. I leave you My kiss of peace. Shalom

http://www.jabezinaction.blogspot.com

[jacknhoo]

So have many ills in our human nature. Lust, like murder, lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc, is a serious sin.

Pretending that, because something has been around since the beginning of time, it is futile to resist and overcome it, is simply ridiculous and there is an ulterior motive in such reasoning...it is also quite atheistic, but that's another discussion.

[a fool in paradise]

Jimmy Carter: "I have lust in my heart!"

[onedoug]

You’re right, of course.

Like Adam and Eve, it was originally the female. But typical male in me, I was more than willing to go with it. Though over time she’s become less interested. Now maybe you’ve shamed me of it too.

Maybe. That seed planted, and I don’t feel so compelled just now. Just now, that is. But I’ll remember your post if I get itchy. Good medicine.

Thanks, Doc. And praise God and FreeRepublic once again.

[Bellflower]

When we come to the end of ourselves, that is where we can find God. Like another poster said, forgive your wife for those years of rejection. Do this by asking God to forgive her through you, as you, a human, are not capable of forgiving like you should, outside of God's intervention. Ask God to forgive you for not loving her, as He would have you to love her. Then lift your hands towards heaven and ask God to fill your heart and life up to overflowing with love for your wife, from Him, and Him alone. Be like a cup and let Him fill you up with love for her.

Remember that He loves you, though you do not deserve it, and He, through Himself, will give you miraculous love for your wife. God's love, once we receive Him, and avail ourselves to it, is unconditional. Make a choice verbally, before God. Say to The LORD out loud, "I choose to love my wife unconditionally, as you LORD love me". Love is a choice. It begins with lining up our will with God's will for us. Choosing God's will over our own. When we do this God responds by giving us all we need for life, love and service to Him, right out of His infinite storehouse of love and grace.

Grace is God giving good things to us that we not only do not deserve, but we richly deserve the opposite. When we understand that God gave His only begotten Son to die a gruesome and horrible death for us, who are so totally undeserving, out of His love for us, than we can love others. They may not deserve it, but neither do we. We can love them with the love that God has for them, by the power of His Holy Spirit.

It is God's will for you to understand how incredibly much that He loves you, and for you to love others, out His rich storehouse of undeserved love. He loves your wife with infinite love, and He wants you to demonstrate His love to her.

Trust The LORD with all of your heart for your life, and your marriage. Let Him pour His love upon you, and through you. Let Him transform your marriage into something beautiful and wondrous. If you let Him, you will be utterly amazed at what He can do for both you and your wife.

Ask Him to take your hard heart away and give you a soft heart full of love and compassion for her. There is a brand new honeymoon waiting for you and your wife, if you choose, by the grace of God, to go on it. May the LORD help and bless both of you, In Jesus Holy Name, Amen. ________________________________________

1Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1Cr 13:2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.

1Cr 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

1Cr 13:4 Love suffereth long, [and] is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Cr 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1Cr 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Cr 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1Cr 13:8 Love never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1Cr 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Cr 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Cr 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1Cr 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1Cr 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these [is] love.