[phaze7486]

Hay guys, its taken me a while to get to this point. A point of desperation. I always thought id get over this by myself. I guess not. Basically ive been addicted to pornography and masturbation for i dont know since i was 13-14, im 17 now and nothing has changed. Ive tried everything, ive tried the whole accountability partner thing, tried a few softwares, but nothing has worked. I am very close to the lord but i hate that im addicted to sin. If i could destroy my computer i would but i cant, seeing as i live with my parents and all. Basically im asking for your guys help to conquer this thing. Im doing a lot better now tho, i can go a week or so with out doing anything (a month or so ago it was everyday) but at the end of the week or so i still fall. I just... i just really need some advice. I really want to get a good blocking program to run but most of them i know how to get around. Example being all you have to do is ctrl+alt+delete and end the process. So can you guys help me find a program that i cant get around or give me some kinda other advice. Thanx.

[6strings21frets]

Did you look at this thread? It's stickied at the top of the forum. Have a look through there. I'm pretty sure you'll find something.

I'll be praying for you.

[Sean]

1 Corinthians 6 tells us to flee sexual immorality. So....

Confess the extent of your sin to a more mature Christian.

Give them full permission to ask you anything in regard to what you're struggling with

Avoid any images which will arouse you. So whatever it is that gets you going, avoid it. That may mean you don't watch one of your favorite tv shows.

Don't get a blocking program, get an accountability program. Get a Covenant Eyes account. You can find ways to turn off the software or uninstall it, but then an email is sent to your accountability partner.



However, if you're not pursing Christ as well, you'll always revert back to your sin. It's important that you not only avoid things which lead you to sin, but you must also pursue the things of God. So it's vital you do all things your Sunday school teacher told you to do pray, read your Bible, and go to church.

[6strings21frets]

Originally Posted by Sean

Don't get a blocking program, get an accountability program. Get a Covenant Eyes account. You can find ways to turn off the software or uninstall it, but then an email is sent to your accountability partner.

...which reminds me, Safe Eyes is a great tool. It's such a great program that it blocks a whole heap of things (e.g. games, chatrooms, criminal-related information, malicious web proxies, etc.)

[phaze7486]

The thing is i cant afford to buy any of that stuff, i wish i could but i cant does anyone have any free links that i cant get around, like i saw the one thread with contentprotect and id love to have that but i cant buy anything right now. Thanx

[Sean]

Put your computer in a public place and only get on it when people are around

[j0s1ah]

Know God, which will lead you to fear him.

Like Sean said, "flee." In other scriptures, we are told to contend, to stand, to fight, to bear, etc. When it comes to sexual immorality... to flee.

Flee conjures images of dropping whatever I have and sprinting for my life.

Don't put yourself in positions in which you ought not to be.

If you lived with five girls, you would probably be more likely to "hook up" or have sex with these girls.
Not living with those five girls = fleeing.

Same with the computer.

[Big_al]

Are your parents Christians? Maybe they could set up the computer where you wouldn't have access unless they gave it to you.

[tmlfan123]

Originally Posted by Sean

However, if you're not pursing Christ as well, you'll always revert back to your sin. It's important that you not only avoid things which lead you to sin, but you must also pursue the things of God. So it's vital you do all things your Sunday school teacher told you to do pray, read your Bible, and go to church.

+1

Our pastor had something interesting to say about this on Sunday. He wasn't talking specifically about porn, but sin in general. Basically he said that too often we make it all about stopping sinning, instead of growing closer to God. His idea was that if we are growing towards God more and more, our desire for sin grows less and less.

Just some thoughts.

[rock_show_host]

Originally Posted by tmlfan123

+1

Our pastor had something interesting to say about this on Sunday. He wasn't talking specifically about porn, but sin in general. Basically he said that too often we make it all about stopping sinning, instead of growing closer to God. His idea was that if we are growing towards God more and more, our desire for sin grows less and less.

Just some thoughts.

I actually had a talk with a pastor recently who made the exact same point -- porn, like any sinful pattern, is at its core about trying to fill ourselves up with something other than God. When we focus too much on conquering the individual issue (in this case, porn addiction), we're treating the symptoms instead of the deeper problem. As long as we keep doing that, the problem will keep resurfacing in different forms. If it's not porn, it'll be some other addiction, until we realize what's really at stake.

[Makotoseven]

i used to have this problem but i've noticed that if i'm using my computer to learn about God i have zero desire to pursue those things of the flesh. its hard enough just going to the mall these days. we're to beat our bodies into submission. it isn't about controlling ourselves, its about giving HIM control.

the answer to this is the answer to everything: seek christ

everyone who said that scripture tells us to run is correct 100%. its the only thing God tells us to run from because what is inside us WANTS that and if exposed to it will find every way in the world to rationalize doing it.

[JerRocks2day]

Flee conjures images of dropping whatever I have and sprinting for my life.

Don't put yourself in positions in which you ought not to be.

This is good.

Another good method of fleeing porn addiction is try doing something else thats time consuming [i.e. go out for a walk, write some poetry, listen to sum music, etc.]. That way, the busier u are, the less likely u are to look up porn.

Especially look up and meditate on 1 Corithians 6:12-20. It makes good points about honoring our bodies to God and not giving in to sexual immorality.

[Thrash]

this was one of my big struggles too.
My breaking point came at the middle of my freshman year of college where i figured out there were no filters on the system, though i was lead to believe there were... Anyway, i talked with my youth minister who struggled with the same thing and he said he pretty much did what Jer said: he did something else to glorify God when he felt the desire.
He would usually, he said, play his guitar to take his mind off of the addiction and help refocus himself upon Christ. This really helped me.

[OiBoyz]

Can you set up your system so it doesn't even show images? If you don't see anything to start the cycle, perhaps you'll be more in control of the impulse.

[Makotoseven]

flee is the best word i can think of. as in "run for your life" metaphorically or "don't put your self in that situation".

my eyes have gotten pretty bad over the years and now if i dont wear my glasses i can see but everything is fuzzy. beauty turns to fuzz, ugly turns to fuzz. most people look pretty similar. it isn't dangerous, just irritating. sunday, however, something occurred to me. if i'm looking at something i shouldn't be looking at (like a hot chick at the mall or something) i have been blessed with the gift of being able to hinder my vision.

at your age the best you can do is run. you will fail, you will succumb to temptation, and you will feel horrible (which you should). this is a tough one and the best you can do is run from it with all the energy you have. we are bombarded every minute of every day with images that are literally engineered to get us thinking about sex. the best you can do is run and when you run go to the word.

really its the same answer as everything else: seek christ