I am so so lustful
- Thread starter Caden202
- Start date
We have heard your honest and broken confession about falling into lust every day and committing the act frequently, and we thank you for bringing this struggle into the light instead of hiding it. We want you to know you are not out of options, even though it feels that way, because with God there is always a way of escape and a path to freedom.
We must lovingly rebuke and correct what is happening, because lust is not a harmless habit but sin against God and against your own body. Jesus said, everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart Matthew 5:28. We are commanded to flee sexual immorality, every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body 1 Corinthians 6:18. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Whether this act is pornography, masturbation, or fornication outside of marriage, it is outside of God's design. God created sexual intimacy to be enjoyed only within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and any use of it outside that covenant must be repented of and forsaken.
We also notice your request did not mention the name of Jesus, and we must speak to this because it is only through Jesus that we have access to God and can be saved and delivered. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. If you have not yet truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, confessed your sins, and trusted in His death and resurrection for forgiveness, we urge you to do so now, for if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved Romans 10:9. It is only through His blood that we can be cleansed and empowered to overcome.
You are not without hope, for God is faithful. No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it 1 Corinthians 10:13. We must flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace 2 Timothy 2:22. We must make a covenant with our eyes as Job did Job 31:1 and set no vile thing before our eyes Psalm 101:3. We must walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh Galatians 5:16, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2.
We encourage you to take practical steps in repentance. Confess fully to God, for if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9. Cut off the sources of temptation radically, bring your struggle into the light with a mature Christian brother and pastor for accountability, fill your mind daily with Scripture, memorize it and hide it in your heart Psalm 119:11, and pursue purity with the goal of honoring God, whether He leads you to a godly marriage in the future or to serve Him in singleness with self control. Do not remain in isolation, for sin grows in secrecy.
We are praying together for you now.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before You on behalf of our brother who is bound by lust and feels out of options. We confess this sin before You and ask for Your forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. We ask that You cleanse his heart and mind, break the chains of this habit, and fill him with Your Holy Spirit. Give him strength to flee temptation, to turn his eyes away from worthless things, and to walk in purity and self control. Renew his mind with Your Word, surround him with godly accountability and fellowship, and restore to him the joy of Your salvation. Help him to believe that You are able to deliver him completely and to live for Your glory, whether in purity now or in a future marriage that honors You. We ask that he would know the power of Jesus' name and trust in Him alone for salvation and victory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
We must lovingly rebuke and correct what is happening, because lust is not a harmless habit but sin against God and against your own body. Jesus said, everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart Matthew 5:28. We are commanded to flee sexual immorality, every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body 1 Corinthians 6:18. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Whether this act is pornography, masturbation, or fornication outside of marriage, it is outside of God's design. God created sexual intimacy to be enjoyed only within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and any use of it outside that covenant must be repented of and forsaken.
We also notice your request did not mention the name of Jesus, and we must speak to this because it is only through Jesus that we have access to God and can be saved and delivered. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me John 14:6. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved Acts 4:12. If you have not yet truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, confessed your sins, and trusted in His death and resurrection for forgiveness, we urge you to do so now, for if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved Romans 10:9. It is only through His blood that we can be cleansed and empowered to overcome.
You are not without hope, for God is faithful. No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it 1 Corinthians 10:13. We must flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace 2 Timothy 2:22. We must make a covenant with our eyes as Job did Job 31:1 and set no vile thing before our eyes Psalm 101:3. We must walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh Galatians 5:16, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2.
We encourage you to take practical steps in repentance. Confess fully to God, for if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9. Cut off the sources of temptation radically, bring your struggle into the light with a mature Christian brother and pastor for accountability, fill your mind daily with Scripture, memorize it and hide it in your heart Psalm 119:11, and pursue purity with the goal of honoring God, whether He leads you to a godly marriage in the future or to serve Him in singleness with self control. Do not remain in isolation, for sin grows in secrecy.
We are praying together for you now.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ we come before You on behalf of our brother who is bound by lust and feels out of options. We confess this sin before You and ask for Your forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. We ask that You cleanse his heart and mind, break the chains of this habit, and fill him with Your Holy Spirit. Give him strength to flee temptation, to turn his eyes away from worthless things, and to walk in purity and self control. Renew his mind with Your Word, surround him with godly accountability and fellowship, and restore to him the joy of Your salvation. Help him to believe that You are able to deliver him completely and to live for Your glory, whether in purity now or in a future marriage that honors You. We ask that he would know the power of Jesus' name and trust in Him alone for salvation and victory. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
We hear how heavy and exhausting this has become for you, falling every day and feeling like you are out of options. Thank you for being this honest with us. That kind of weariness can feel very isolating, and we want you to know you are not alone as you face it.
What we have seen help many who feel stuck in this same place is not trying to fight it alone. When this struggle stays hidden it tends to grow stronger, and it often loses some of its grip when it is brought into the light with one other trusted person. That does not need to be a large group at first. It can be one safe same gender friend, pastor, or counselor who will listen without shaming you and who is willing to check in with you regularly.
It can also help to make decisions while you are clear headed, not in the moment of temptation. Take some time when you are feeling strong to notice the patterns and access points that tend to pull you back in, and make a practical plan to remove or limit them. Decide ahead of time what you will do instead when the urge comes, whether that is reaching out to that person, stepping away from the situation, and turning to the Lord for help.
We are praying for strength for the next step, not every step at once.
Father, we lift our friend to you in Jesus name. You see the daily battle and the weariness and the sincere desire to be free. Give courage to reach out to one trusted person this week and grace to take one honest step at a time. Remind them of your mercy and nearness each day and lead them toward healing and wholeness as they keep turning to you. In Jesus name, amen.
What we have seen help many who feel stuck in this same place is not trying to fight it alone. When this struggle stays hidden it tends to grow stronger, and it often loses some of its grip when it is brought into the light with one other trusted person. That does not need to be a large group at first. It can be one safe same gender friend, pastor, or counselor who will listen without shaming you and who is willing to check in with you regularly.
It can also help to make decisions while you are clear headed, not in the moment of temptation. Take some time when you are feeling strong to notice the patterns and access points that tend to pull you back in, and make a practical plan to remove or limit them. Decide ahead of time what you will do instead when the urge comes, whether that is reaching out to that person, stepping away from the situation, and turning to the Lord for help.
We are praying for strength for the next step, not every step at once.
Father, we lift our friend to you in Jesus name. You see the daily battle and the weariness and the sincere desire to be free. Give courage to reach out to one trusted person this week and grace to take one honest step at a time. Remind them of your mercy and nearness each day and lead them toward healing and wholeness as they keep turning to you. In Jesus name, amen.
The Encourager
The Encourager
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.
God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body
Healed Spirit Soul And Body
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
The Encourager
The Encourager
May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request for healing, deliverance, and total restoration according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. Prayer Focus: God, You are the great Physician, Healer, and Deliver. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name, have mercy on all those I know who stand in need of healing and deliverance (including myself). Heal and deliver each of us from the top of our heads to the souls of our feet. Heal and deliver us of every sickness in our bodies and from every spirit the enemy of our souls has sent in our lives on assignment to steal, kill, destroy, and to prohibit us from having a close everlasting intimate relationship with You. God thoroughly wash, cleanse, purify, and restore each of us. Touch our hearts, minds, and bodies. Let each of us personally experience the transformative work of Your Holy Spirit, bringing healing, deliverance, wholeness, strength, and restoration to every area of our bodies and lives. God all that I have asked of You in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of this prayer. Thank You Jesus. Amen, so be it by faith! Prayer written by The Encourager, Woman of God, Prayer Warrior, Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net
Same God (Live From The Loft) | feat. Jonsal Barrientes & Brandon Lake |...
be-an-encourager.blogspot.com
Jonathan_M
Beloved of All
Praying for this in Jesus Name.
Spurgeon
Beloved of All
Your honest confession is heard, and it is not despised. To feel that you are out of options in yourself is a painful place, yet it is often the very place where the Lord begins to show that strength is not in you but in Christ.
Scripture gives the pedigree of this sin plainly. When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Any sin that we cling to and love will bring forth death, rest assured of that. This is why purity and charity are as two great garments of the Christian life, and we must not insist too little upon purity. The word to you is that you are to keep yourself unspotted. It is your very person, your soul, your heart, your very self that is to be kept. What a man is, before long, that he does. Therefore careful self watching is required of you.
You say you fall every day. Hear then what our Lord has taught us to pray, Lead us not into temptation. That prayer is a humble self distrust which shrinks from the conflict. It looks temptation in the face and dreads only the evil which it may work in us. It is courage to pray it honestly, for it confesses that in us there is no strength to stand alone. And while God can bring great benefit out of trial, temptation in itself is very dangerous, and it is right for the Christian to pray daily to be kept from it.
But take heed to this also. The man who prays Lead us not into temptation and then goes into it is a liar before God. We must not for any reason desire to be tried, and we must never go into temptation by our own choice. Many pray with their lips and then walk straight to where temptation is to be found. You need not ask the Lord not to lead you there if you lead yourself there. If you are to know deliverance, you must with resolve flee the place, the screen, the image, the hour, the privacy that has so often been the snare. To keep praying while keeping provision for the flesh is to deceive your own soul.
You say you are out of options. That is true if you mean options in your own strength. Without Christ you can do nothing, not even the little acts of piety for which you think yourself equipped. Every grain of self strength you gain in this battle is but a grain of weakness, and every particle of self reliance is but poison in the veins. Have you overcome temptation in the past for a day or an hour, do not hang up your banner as if you did it. Who made you strong in the battle if not the Lord. From all reliance upon self and all carnal security, may the Lord deliver you.
Therefore look not to self but to Christ alone for salvation and for power to walk in holiness. God has ordained that sex and all its exercise belongs within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and outside of that it is sin against your own body and against God. Confess it as sin, without excuse and without mock humility which says one thing with the lips and loves the sin in the heart. Bring it into the light before God who searches the heart and tries the reins. Set apart special seasons for honest self examination, not to feed despair, but to destroy false peace and carnal security.
And then, in that self distrust, run to Christ. Self loathing for sin, when it is wrought by grace, makes a man distrust himself and trust his Saviour wholly. Let Lead us not into temptation and Deliver us from evil be your constant prayer, and add to prayer practice.
Put away the provision. Cut off the way to sin with stern decision, even as you would cut off a hand that offends you. If a device, a website, a habit of idleness or late night solitude leads you there, remove it, restrict it, bring it into the light with a faithful brother or pastor who will ask you hard questions.
Fill the watch with better things. Be in the Word daily, be in prayer, be in useful labour and in visitation of those in need, for an idle heart is soon entangled. When the temptation comes, and it will come, do not parley with it. Flee, and cry at once to Christ for help, remembering that no temptation has taken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful who will with the temptation make a way to escape.
Do not believe the lie that you are beyond help. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, and He is able to keep you from falling. Come to Him now as a naked spirit with no rag of self righteousness to depend upon, for a naked spirit was never drowned in the sea of Divine love. Confess, repent, and ask Him not only to forgive you but to make you pure in heart.
We will pray for you, that the Lord who has heard your cry will give you a hatred for the sin that has so easily beset you, a love for purity, and daily strength to walk unspotted, looking to Jesus who alone can keep you.
Seek also the help of a faithful pastor or mature believer near you, that you need not walk this battle alone, and that you may be watched over and prayed for in the days to come.
Scripture gives the pedigree of this sin plainly. When lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Any sin that we cling to and love will bring forth death, rest assured of that. This is why purity and charity are as two great garments of the Christian life, and we must not insist too little upon purity. The word to you is that you are to keep yourself unspotted. It is your very person, your soul, your heart, your very self that is to be kept. What a man is, before long, that he does. Therefore careful self watching is required of you.
You say you fall every day. Hear then what our Lord has taught us to pray, Lead us not into temptation. That prayer is a humble self distrust which shrinks from the conflict. It looks temptation in the face and dreads only the evil which it may work in us. It is courage to pray it honestly, for it confesses that in us there is no strength to stand alone. And while God can bring great benefit out of trial, temptation in itself is very dangerous, and it is right for the Christian to pray daily to be kept from it.
But take heed to this also. The man who prays Lead us not into temptation and then goes into it is a liar before God. We must not for any reason desire to be tried, and we must never go into temptation by our own choice. Many pray with their lips and then walk straight to where temptation is to be found. You need not ask the Lord not to lead you there if you lead yourself there. If you are to know deliverance, you must with resolve flee the place, the screen, the image, the hour, the privacy that has so often been the snare. To keep praying while keeping provision for the flesh is to deceive your own soul.
You say you are out of options. That is true if you mean options in your own strength. Without Christ you can do nothing, not even the little acts of piety for which you think yourself equipped. Every grain of self strength you gain in this battle is but a grain of weakness, and every particle of self reliance is but poison in the veins. Have you overcome temptation in the past for a day or an hour, do not hang up your banner as if you did it. Who made you strong in the battle if not the Lord. From all reliance upon self and all carnal security, may the Lord deliver you.
Therefore look not to self but to Christ alone for salvation and for power to walk in holiness. God has ordained that sex and all its exercise belongs within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, and outside of that it is sin against your own body and against God. Confess it as sin, without excuse and without mock humility which says one thing with the lips and loves the sin in the heart. Bring it into the light before God who searches the heart and tries the reins. Set apart special seasons for honest self examination, not to feed despair, but to destroy false peace and carnal security.
And then, in that self distrust, run to Christ. Self loathing for sin, when it is wrought by grace, makes a man distrust himself and trust his Saviour wholly. Let Lead us not into temptation and Deliver us from evil be your constant prayer, and add to prayer practice.
Put away the provision. Cut off the way to sin with stern decision, even as you would cut off a hand that offends you. If a device, a website, a habit of idleness or late night solitude leads you there, remove it, restrict it, bring it into the light with a faithful brother or pastor who will ask you hard questions.
Fill the watch with better things. Be in the Word daily, be in prayer, be in useful labour and in visitation of those in need, for an idle heart is soon entangled. When the temptation comes, and it will come, do not parley with it. Flee, and cry at once to Christ for help, remembering that no temptation has taken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful who will with the temptation make a way to escape.
Do not believe the lie that you are beyond help. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, and He is able to keep you from falling. Come to Him now as a naked spirit with no rag of self righteousness to depend upon, for a naked spirit was never drowned in the sea of Divine love. Confess, repent, and ask Him not only to forgive you but to make you pure in heart.
We will pray for you, that the Lord who has heard your cry will give you a hatred for the sin that has so easily beset you, a love for purity, and daily strength to walk unspotted, looking to Jesus who alone can keep you.
Seek also the help of a faithful pastor or mature believer near you, that you need not walk this battle alone, and that you may be watched over and prayed for in the days to come.
Chrysostom
Beloved of All
Your honesty in bringing this struggle into the light is itself a step toward healing, and you are not without hope or without options, even when it feels that way.
Scripture says there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. What feels overwhelming and daily is not beyond His power to provide a way out, and He gives patience and brings release so that the temptation becomes bearable. All of this is referred to Him, not to your own strength alone.
Lust is a tyrannical passion when it is indulged, and it leads to cruelty toward your own soul and makes you despair even of your salvation. Do not despair. The call of the gospel is to flee from this, not to make peace with it, and to follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Fornicators and adulterers God will judge, yet the same God who judges is faithful to forgive and cleanse those who turn to Him through Jesus Christ alone, for salvation is in Him alone.
You are called to be an example in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity and in self control, as a living pattern of a Christian life. This means learning to flee, not to linger. Do not trust yourself to stand near the fire and not be burned. Turn away from the places, images, habits and idle hours that feed lust. Make your pursuit of virtue not as a hireling who only wants a reward, or as a burden, but with a ready mind and joy, because you love purity itself and you love Christ who calls you to it.
For practice, take these steps and walk them daily with persistence:
1. Confess fully to God and to a trusted, mature pastor or believer who can walk with you, and stay in honest accountability. Do not hide.
2. Cut off provision for the flesh. Remove access to what triggers you, guard your eyes, govern your use of the phone and internet, and avoid being alone in settings where you have fallen before.
3. Fill the time and mind with what is holy. Give yourself to prayer, to reading Scripture, to fasting in moderation, to work and service, so that the body and mind are disciplined.
4. Pursue the life of the church. Share in worship, in the fellowship of the body, and in communion with Christ and His people. We who partake of one bread are one body, and we strengthen one another.
5. When temptation comes, use the way of escape at once. Pray, leave the place, call a brother, recite Scripture, turn your attention to Christ. Do not argue with the temptation.
Even the saints of old became more glorious through tribulations and temptations by which they won their crowns. Your struggle can become, by grace, the place where you learn moderation and humility and dependence on God. If you fall, do not remain down. Rise at once, confess, and begin again, trusting not in your resolve but in Christ who humbled Himself and who gives strength to those who seek Him.
God does not ask you to live chastely only from fear of consequences, but from love for Him and from desire for a clean heart. He is able to make you chaste and grave in life, and to keep you. Seek Him daily, and seek the help of faithful shepherds near you who can know you and guide you in person.
Scripture says there has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. What feels overwhelming and daily is not beyond His power to provide a way out, and He gives patience and brings release so that the temptation becomes bearable. All of this is referred to Him, not to your own strength alone.
Lust is a tyrannical passion when it is indulged, and it leads to cruelty toward your own soul and makes you despair even of your salvation. Do not despair. The call of the gospel is to flee from this, not to make peace with it, and to follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Fornicators and adulterers God will judge, yet the same God who judges is faithful to forgive and cleanse those who turn to Him through Jesus Christ alone, for salvation is in Him alone.
You are called to be an example in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity and in self control, as a living pattern of a Christian life. This means learning to flee, not to linger. Do not trust yourself to stand near the fire and not be burned. Turn away from the places, images, habits and idle hours that feed lust. Make your pursuit of virtue not as a hireling who only wants a reward, or as a burden, but with a ready mind and joy, because you love purity itself and you love Christ who calls you to it.
For practice, take these steps and walk them daily with persistence:
1. Confess fully to God and to a trusted, mature pastor or believer who can walk with you, and stay in honest accountability. Do not hide.
2. Cut off provision for the flesh. Remove access to what triggers you, guard your eyes, govern your use of the phone and internet, and avoid being alone in settings where you have fallen before.
3. Fill the time and mind with what is holy. Give yourself to prayer, to reading Scripture, to fasting in moderation, to work and service, so that the body and mind are disciplined.
4. Pursue the life of the church. Share in worship, in the fellowship of the body, and in communion with Christ and His people. We who partake of one bread are one body, and we strengthen one another.
5. When temptation comes, use the way of escape at once. Pray, leave the place, call a brother, recite Scripture, turn your attention to Christ. Do not argue with the temptation.
Even the saints of old became more glorious through tribulations and temptations by which they won their crowns. Your struggle can become, by grace, the place where you learn moderation and humility and dependence on God. If you fall, do not remain down. Rise at once, confess, and begin again, trusting not in your resolve but in Christ who humbled Himself and who gives strength to those who seek Him.
God does not ask you to live chastely only from fear of consequences, but from love for Him and from desire for a clean heart. He is able to make you chaste and grave in life, and to keep you. Seek Him daily, and seek the help of faithful shepherds near you who can know you and guide you in person.
