The truth of the matter is, bad thoughts happen-Yes we can stop them, yes we can ignore them but the ability doesn't just come from ourselves.
I have awful self control, there was a time when I was looking at porn 2-3 times a day, simply because it satisfied something i didn't want to admit i wanted satisfied. Been there?
Another sad thing is, it is way to easy to track down some intolerable photos of guys, girls and the in between stuff. Way to Easy.
But something to consider,
What will porn do to my future relationships?
(Each picture below, besides the very last logo, is a resource to an article about porn-check them out!)
Answer:
Like this author says, nothing good-and honestly, even though the above author is a guy, it doesn't mean it's any easier or harder for girls. Everyone battles with lust, some move away faster and some choose to feed it, fertilize it and that's what make problems like the above.
We face difficulties, especially as teenagers! I mean first of all, are we not the ones that all the camps have to re-vamp their dress code rules for? Cause all our 'stuff' (guys included) is hangin' out? We're also the ones who have new relationships every week/day/hour sometimes, we have high teen pregnancy levels we're the messed up bunch! Now-all these problems stem from a lot of things, which stem to less which stem to one-Sin. It's an easy word in church, until you've actually met with a temptation or addiction and experienced what it feels to deliberately break God's heart because you 'feel like it' I'm not pointing fingers, I've been there too!
The worst thing is, Temptation Lies. And more specifically so does porn.
I've lied before. I've lied to cover up the lies about other lies that I've lied to cover up even more. We lie. Many Psychologists today point that addictions come from peers, pressure (sometimes the two together) and broken families. Our world today has a lot of that. Back to the relationship thing, sometimes we don't always get the love we want at home, so we look for it somewhere else, in relationships. And maybe we don't get the fulfillment we thought the relationship would give us-so we turn to the computer screen. It's true.
And that's: Where God comes in. Jesus has created us this way-did you ever think of that? He made our minds, that we could enjoy loving our husbands and wives. I'm not married, so what I'm saying might be junk-but I came to realize via Holy Spirit, that God really did design us with hormones and such for reason. He did not create us to have lust issues, He did not make us so we want to masturbate, He did not want us to be addicted to porn. But He did make us. And He loves us. Has anyone told you today, that Jesus knew you were going to screw up, so He died so many years ago, so that you could be wiped clean again and again and again to however many times it takes, til the end of your days? God did. That's a powerful statement, one that i believe is over-used, the preacher gets all red in the face then says, "GOD DID!!!!" then everyone claps and cheers and then that's it. But do you wake up every morning, believing that God did? For you? And He didn't have to?
So, maybe you've realized-God needs to have something to do with your healing process. And i know i just jumped a bit-but i don't need to write a book!
These are some timeless steps to allow yourself room to heal and go through withdrawl. It's embarrassing, and honestly I don't have accountability partners, and I claim no power to myself in my healing. The thoughts are still there, but i believe God is helping me on the mend. And something important to always remember is that:
God will always love you, always forgive you, and always want what is best for you. Never forget that you are loved, and God wants you.
Resources:
Relevant Magazine
Grace Centered Magazine
The Rebelution
Be brave! Ask for help, seek God's word and please above all! Ask questions!
God bless, LizB