Struggling

Question:



Hey, I have been dealing with porn. The thing is that I'm also married to a wonderful woman. I just can't stop looking at this. Plese help



Answer:



This is a very common struggle among men (as I’m sure you know) and unfortunately the line of this does not stop with unbelieving men. Men of God struggle with this just as much as unbelievers and stay in defeat. I would like to share a couple of realities with you that you have to accept in order to move forward in victory. You have to be honest about your struggle. You’re in over your head and you don’t know how to stop. You are completely powerless against this because the enemy is yourself, not the images. This is a lifelong fight and not a quick fix. You did not get where you are now overnight. More than likely it started when you were and adolescent and now you see years of hiding and protecting this secret. Another thing you need to realize is that you already have the victory in Christ. Now I said it’s a lifelong fight, the fight is to learn to stand in His victory, but He has already won. When Christ conquered sin and death on the cross, He overcame the addiction to porn.


Now there are a couple of steps that you need to implement in your life to walk in this victory. The first starts with confession. This secret has got to get out in the open. Not with everyone because not everyone is equipped in Christ to help you. You need to share this with Christ first, then out of obedience to Him with your wife, your pastor, and those in your life who are Christ to you (James 5:16, 1 John 1:9). Next, you need to keep this in accountability, that means being open and honest about those times that you fall with those people who you confide in and will encourage you to push forward in Christ. You then need to get involved with other men of God who are fighting the same fight. If you know of a group I encourage you to get involved with them. If you don’t, contact me and I’ll help you find a place to get involved. Next, you need to let God change your heart with His Truth and fill you with what you need to combat that lie that porn will satisfy. Your heart believes this lie because you have given yourself to it, now you must choose to focus the attention of your heart to Christ and let His Truth set you free. If you are filled with Christ, you won’t find satisfaction anywhere else.


Don't forget, if you have a question you can send it to me at asktheyouthpastor@xtrlive.com plus you can talk to us tonight at www.studenthopeline.com.