Personal Struggle

Quesiton:



I am having a difficult time overcoming sort of an awkward subject, masturbation. God has saved and delivered me from so many thing such as drugs and alcohol and many other things but this is just one obsticle I'm having a hard time getting over... Could you give me some advice?



Answer:



I would like to first refresh you on the perspective that Christ wants His children to take. Our being and our life flows from Him. We are the reflection of the image of Christ and because of Him we are alive. Outside of Him, we cannot do anything. I say that to help you realize that it's only through the redemptive work that Christ has done in you that you will walk in victory. The victory does not come through your own will or strength to resist. It starts when you submit your desires and your passions to Him. Jeremiah 17:9 says that the heart is deceitful. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, man speaks, and James 4 says that no man can tame the tongue. So in essence, masturbation is an outflow the desires of the heart which you cannot tame. It starts when you let go of all the desires surrounding this outflow and surrender to Christ and allow Him to steer the desires of your heart and seek to walk in His obedience.

I would encourage you to become a student of the Word. Out of reading His Word and committing yourself to letting Him teach you through His Holy Spirit, you will see for yourself how to walk in His Will and stay pure in Him (Psalm 119:9-11). Then next I would encourage you to walk in accountability. You cannot fight this alone, you need to be open and honest with yourself about this struggle, with the Lord, and with other believers who are fighting the same fight of purity. When you walk in the light, bear each other's burdens, and pray for one another, you walk in the light, and grace of Christ, He will help you walk in His grace, embrace His forgiveness which is already yours, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Now I want you to know that this is a journey, that there will be times of struggle. But slipping and falling is not the judge of failing. It's if you will get back up and keep moving forward. Christ is not interested in perfection as much as He is persistence.

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.