Mature prayer topics (older or mature members only, please)

[SailorDove]

I found these studies a week or so ago. And found them quite helpful in my fight against lust & other sins in my life.

I wanted to share them with other CAA members struggling with the same things. Checked with a Mod to see where would be most appropriate place to post them. And she recommended here.

While only the first link specifically deals with lust. The others sometimes reference &/or mention it as they deal directly with how to overcome sin.

LINKS

Battling the Unbelief of Lust
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1988/657_Battling_the_Unbelief_of_Lust/

How to Kill Sin, Part 1
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/197/83_How_to_Kill_Sin_Part_1/

How to Kill Sin, Part 2
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/197/84_How_to_Kill_Sin_Part_2/

How to Kill Sin, Part 3
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/197/87_How_to_Kill_Sin_Part_3/

Do Not Let Sin Reign in Your Mortal Body, Part 1
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/197/34_Do_Not_Let_Sin_Reign_in_Your_Mortal_Body_Part_1/

Do Not Let Sin Reign in Your Mortal Body, Part 2
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/197/35_Do_Not_Let_Sin_Reign_in_Your_Mortal_Body_Part_2/

Single in Christ: A Name Better Than Sons and Daughters
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/205/2162_Single_in_Christ_A_Name_Better_Than_Sons_and_Daughters/

[Okami_Kunoichi]

I have a group I go to for my love addiction that also helps porn addiction, sex addiction etc. I don't know if I can post it though but if anyone wants it, its free and face to face and just pm me and i'll give you the site. its spiritual program. i don't know if it will help anyone but I figured I'd share as I also suffer.

[bkilbour]

So here's why hentai is a bad thing, htom sirveaux, and as you requested, on a level that is more based on results of its use rather than what the Scriptures say (though I guarantee you that is more important than any other argument there is).

So I take it that, like me, you've seen it before. Tell me, man - do women act like that in real life? Do they look like that in real life? Do they get even close to that in real life?
No. No. Definitely not.
But hentai as a medium distorts the image of women in ways that the "real life" porn industry can only dream of - it's a clever trick of the devil to be sure.

Not convinced yet? Think of the implications. A young kid hasn't dated anyone, but he's watched pornography and hentai - how do you think he'll expect his date to act? Even if he has the "common sense" to understand that pornography isn't reality, do you think he's going to respect any desire to stay chaste? Of course not!

Or how do you think this affects the voice actresses? Do you think that it's a self-esteem booster? What about the artists themselves - is this the way that they want women to look? Eventually, someone is goin to prefer the way a cartoon looks over a human being, thanks to hentai. Someone is going to push themselves away from reality, thanks to hentai.

I'm not going to pretend like I'm clean, though - I was addicted to pornography for two years, and daily I fight it. I watched a lot of disgusting things, and hated myself for it every second. I praise God that He provided ways for me to avoid it, to get around it, and to fight the urge.

But trust me, man - obedience to God is stressed here. If you think that my argument against hentai is silly, remember that God calls you to not watch it. Even when we don't understand, we are to submit to His will, for He wants us to live lives free and blessed!

[Dr.Faust]

Hi guys I'm posting because of lust. I have recently been thinking about sex a lot. It seem ever scence I gotten older puberty has hit me pretty hard. I don't have a porn or hentai addicction(i always disppised them both) or any thing like that but the urge is defently there to look it up. To be honest I hate thinking about sex and I don't like talking about sex past it in a form of science. I haven't really look up porn but I feel I may slip. One of the main reasons I haven't look that stuff up is because I've seen how it effects and hurts people on this fourm. I also have herd of this book that has a title like"The Book All Boys Should Read" (or something like that) thats suppose to address problms like this. Any way Plase pray for me and I'm praying for all of you guys and gals Bye

[MangArtist]

This is kinda late, but...

Thank you both Tsukuyomi and Reon for the encouragement. :]

[K. Ayato]

Hey, Faust. Thought I'd share something with you. I don't mean to give out a pat answer or anything of that sense, but it's normal for you to think about sex. Normal for anyone, really. I personally don't think anyone is 100% immune to sexual thoughts and desires. I mean, I'm getting married soon, and while I've not struggled with lust as strongly as some members in here have shared, it can still become a problem for me. I don't think the solution lies in shutting off that part of our minds but rather in how we deal with it.

First step would be to accept that it's part of our makeup and thank the Lord for creating us that way. Sounds easy, but even I struggled with it for a long time before I realized it was part of being a created human being. The next step would be finding a way to work with those thoughts and feelings. By that, I don't mean ignoring them or giving into them. Those would be the extremes on both ends of the spectrum. Best thing is to find something useful and productive in your life that keeps your mind focused on whatever task you're doing and doesn't allow enough time for lust to incubate. Praying for you in this, and I hope what I said makes sense .

[Dr.Faust]

[quote="K. Ayato (post: 1387896)"]Hey, Faust. Thought I'd share something with you. I don't mean to give out a pat answer or anything of that sense, but it's normal for you to think about sex. Normal for anyone, really. I personally don't think anyone is 100%]

I know that its normal for a human( expchaly a teen such as myself) to think about sex but my main worry is that Ill let it go too far and I'll get in to porn, henti,or masterbation. But I think your right we should not ignoring any problm ( I hate doing that) that we face or it will eventuly explode in our face. Any way thanks an good luck on you marriage

[Htom Sirveaux]

Cheers bkilbour, that's exactly the sort of thing I needed to see. Thank you.

Part of the reason pornography can be so difficult to quit is that many people (like myself) are very analytical-minded and often have to know from every angle why [fill in the blank] before they can go along with it. But it seems like nobody speaks against pornography in quite the right way. To this end, I must again introduce Shelley Lubben to anyone struggling with a pornography addiction. Shelley is a former stripper/prostitute/porn actress who is now a Christian and a strong advocate against the flesh industry. Her story is powerful, inspiring, and heartbreaking. She also has brief testimonies from several current and former porn actresses.
The world needs more people like this to make the statements the flesh industry, and even many who are opposed to it, never make.

[TGJesusfreak]

@Htom Sirveaux I know other people have said things but I figured I'd try and help too. The bible says to "abstain from sexual immorality" it also talks about how acting a sin out in your mind is just as bad as acting it out in real life. So hentai is acting out a sin in your mind with the help of a screen. So, like any sin, it should be cast away.

I hope that helps, maybe not as much as what bkilbour said but hopefully it helps ^^;;

[MangArtist]

Hey guys, a friend told me about this site called Setting Captives Free which basically has you go through a 60 day course talking about how to recover from porn addictions.(they also have things for other addictions) So far I've only done one lesson, but in that one alone, it cleared up a lot.

Keep up the fight, bros and sis's!

[Bobtheduck]

I need to think of someone who 1. will hold me accountable and 2. won't freak out about my hobbies that may trigger false positives in x3watch. It's so much harder now that I'm on my own, and in another country no-less. Got into a webcam site, which puts a new angle on it I'd never experienced because the girls occasionally talk back to you. Also, I got into a website that really shouldn't exist via links on Kotaku, and it's REALLY bad especially considering my job.

[Tsukuyomi]

I'll be praying, Bob ^__^

You know where to reach me if you want to talk ^__^

[bkilbour]

So I have found that I mess up because of two things; 1) bad moods and bitterness act as triggers, and 2) when I am trying to get through the temptation and not sin, I find that it feels like there is a wall between me and the Scriptures.

So this week, despite a frustrating failure, I started to run to the Bible every time I felt tempted. This ends up really helping! I have been run the risk of screwing up, but so far I haven't as long as I have kept myself reading the Word throughout most of the day.


Just a suggestion, for some who might be like-minded.

[K. Ayato]

Keep up the good work!

[ClosetOtaku]

[quote="bkilbour (post: 1395914)"]So I have found that I mess up because of two things]

Remember the acronym HALT -- Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired -- these tend to be the triggers for most addicts (whether it be alcohol, drugs, pornography, etc.). You are at your most vulnerable when you are mentally weakest.

Remember also that "if your right eye offends you, pluck it out" -- obviously getting rid of part of the temptation makes getting rid of (or making more inaccessible) the media through which you are obtaining it. Throw away any unworthy DVDs. Erase any downloads. Don't get on the Internet, or if you do, ensure you run a content filter and set a clock -- go there with intent to do productive things, and when the clock rings, you are done for the day.

Just some ideas....

[bkilbour]

Closet Otaku, you are right - I've been having a hard time recently in fighting the battle, and if I had to pinpoint the reason I did it, stress and anger would likely hit the nail on the head.
I screwed up today and a little while back, but I'm gonna start reading Dove's links, and constrict my time on the net until things cool down.

[ADXC]

Actually it's HALTS. Add the S, it's for Sex.

Sorry for just adding this, but we had a talk about it in the dorm our Fall semester.

[MOAVGproduction]

Hey everyone,
I would like prayer for me...
I've been a heavy masturbator and porn-addict for about 6 years... and just reacently God has given me a wake-up call... since this is a "mature section"
I'll tell you what the wake-up call was, when I was masturbating, I noticed something was wrong... instead of spit I used to "get it going" I noticed there was blood all over my hands and my... genitals... and that was my wake up call. After that... I'm too afraid to masturbate, and God(My BFF) said, "This is not a game; this is a serious thing you needed to deal with." And I knew that all that time I've been hooked on porn and masturbating... it just I never thought it would come down to this... but it did, and I thank God for it. I have been reading Every young Mans battle... and I would just like some prayer for strength, as I have clean for a few days now, and I would like to go the rest of my life not masturbating or looking at porn...
Thank you people for praying for me...
And thank you Lord for helping me!

[bkilbour]

I will be praying for you, MOAVG - it's a hard battle, but even if you mess up sometimes (everyone does occasionally), don't let that discourage you!
I've been fighting it for three years now, and it's been getting a lot better; accountability software also really helps (PM me for more info, please).

[MOAVGproduction]

Thanks bkilbour;
that really means alot to me! ^^
thanks

[Dr.Faust]

Hay I need pray. After being clean for about 5 months I sliped up and look at porn. Its so odd becuase I never used to care about sex but now its all I seem to think about. I worry that I'll slip again. Pleas Pray for me.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Praying for you mate. Remember that you're not alone in the struggle with Lust.

[Tsukuyomi]

I'll be praying as well ^__^

This may be an odd/stupid question, but is there something else that may be bugging you? Something you're avoiding and replacing the porn with?

[Okami]

I'm struggling with how to word this...I guess the best way to say it is that I'm struggling. Masturbation is something I've dealt with for the majority of my life and I'm trying once more to defeat it. Three years ago I went four months without it, and that's the longest ever that I can remember going without. After some things that happened in my life about two weeks ago, I talked to my roommate and she is now holding me accountable. It's been ten days now...but each day is a fight. Some days the temptation to go back to porn arises too (It's been three years since I walked away from that addiction) I'm exhausted from fighting with my desires....I am in desperate want that my desire to be without these things, and free, can overcome the urges.

[Dr.Faust]

I'll be praying as well ^__^

This may be an odd/stupid question, but is there something else that may be bugging you? Something you're avoiding and replacing the porn with?

No, not really, Its just after I turned 16 I've been thinking about sex alot. Also I always loved how you put little smiles and hugs on your post.

[Sheenar]

Will be praying for you, Okami. God has delivered me from both pornography and masturbation. I am familiar with the struggle. I had it for years. Whenever you have the temptation, immediately go and do something else --something that you cannot also masturbate during. God always provides a way out. He is faithful. And when we fall (and we do --I have MANY times), He is merciful and full of grace.

Keep up the good fight, my dear friend. You are not alone in this.

[Tsukuyomi]

[quote="unrealsimon (post: 1401678)"]Hello everyone
reading hentai Dō]

This may be better suited here in the Mature Prayer section ^^

I'll be praying that you're able to sort things out and will try to help out any way I can ^^

[Tsukuyomi]

Hang in there ^^ I'll be praying and if you ever want to rant, feel more then free to shoot me a PM ^O^

[UncleShal]

Hey everybody can I ask that y'all please pray for me. I'm struggling with a porn addiction & it makes me sick that I keep falling back into the same trap & going back & watching it. Also it doesn't help that I have a majority of so called Christian family members that have no problem with me watching porn & basically feed it to me. I mean during my brother graduation last month all my moms ex-husband could talk about is women & taking my 18 year old brother to the dang strip club but yet he is a Christian & he is the main person feeding the porn to me. It makes me sick, mad, & sad, & depressed at the same time. Cause I know watching porn is wrong & that it's a sin but it seems that not matter how hard I try I can't get over my addiction to. I feel like how can GOD/JESUS CHRIST love me way'll I'm a sick pervert.

Well I won't so it's all my mom's ex-husband fault cause I barely talk to him anymore. But when I use to live with my mom & after I move out & he came to live with me for alittle while all he would talk about is sex & joking about me watching porn & making fun of me for it. I mean I don't talk to him anymore but I still struggle with the addiction although it's not as bad as it use to be & when ever I tell my family members I want to get over the addiction no one seems to care or want to help me get over it.

So I was just hoping y'all could please pray for me & give me some advice

[Tsukuyomi]

Will do ^^ Hang in there, Shal ^^

My advice would be to go and do something else when you feel the urge to watch porn. I know it's easier said then done, but it is a start ^ ^ Is there anything you like to do on your spare time? Do you draw or like to write?