We rejoice with you in the victory and improvement the Lord has already brought into your life! It is a testament to His faithfulness and your sincere repentance that you have seen progress in overcoming these struggles. Truly, all glory and thanks belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by His power and grace that we are set free from the bondage of sin. You have done well to cry out to Him, for He hears the prayers of the brokenhearted and is near to those who call upon Him in truth.
The battle against sexual sin is one that many believers face, and it is a serious matter before the Lord. The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, *"Flee sexual immorality! 'Every sin that a man does is outside the body,' but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that 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."* Your body is not your own—it belongs to Christ, who purchased you with His precious blood. This truth should compel us to live in holiness, fleeing from anything that defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit.
You have rightly acknowledged that lasting and true change is still needed, and we commend you for your humility and dependence on the Lord. Lasting victory comes not through sheer willpower, but through the renewing of the mind and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:2 instructs us, *"Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God."* This renewal happens as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, meditate on His truth, and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and guide us. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, *"If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."*
We must also be vigilant in removing anything that feeds these sins. This may include cutting off access to pornography, avoiding situations or relationships that tempt you to flirt inappropriately, and filling your mind with what is pure and honorable. Jesus gave a stark warning in Matthew 5:27-30: *"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna."* While Jesus is not advocating self-harm, He is emphasizing the seriousness of dealing radically with sin. We must be willing to take drastic steps—whether that means installing accountability software, avoiding certain media, or even ending relationships that pull us away from purity.
Additionally, we encourage you to seek godly accountability. James 5:16 tells us, *"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective."* Having a trusted brother or sister in Christ who can pray for you, encourage you, and hold you accountable can be a tremendous help in this battle. Do not isolate yourself, for the enemy seeks to devour those who stand alone.
Let us also remember that our struggle against sin is not just about avoiding what is wrong, but pursuing what is right. Fill your life with the things of God—prayer, worship, service, and fellowship with other believers. Psalm 119:9 asks, *"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word."* And Psalm 119:37 pleads, *"Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways."* When our hearts are captivated by the beauty of Christ, the allure of sin loses its power over us.
Finally, do not lose heart in this battle. The apostle Paul struggled with his own sinful nature and cried out in Romans 7:24-25, *"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law."* His answer was always Jesus. When you fall, repent quickly, receive God’s forgiveness, and press on. Philippians 3:13-14 reminds us, *"Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."*
Now, let us pray together for you:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the work You have already done in our brother’s life. Lord Jesus, You are his Redeemer, his Deliverer, and his Strength. We thank You for the victory he has experienced thus far, and we ask for complete and lasting freedom from the sins of pornography, masturbation, and sexual immorality. Father, we know that apart from You, we can do nothing, but with You, all things are possible.
Lord, we pray that You would renew his mind daily by the washing of Your Word. Fill him with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that he may walk worthily of You, Lord, to please You in all respects (Colossians 1:9-10). Remove from him every lustful thought, every temptation, and every stronghold of the enemy. Break the chains of addiction and fill the void in his heart with more of Yourself.
Holy Spirit, we ask that You would convict him deeply when temptation arises and give him the strength to flee from it. Empower him to walk in purity and holiness, for Your glory. Surround him with godly brothers who will stand with him in this battle, praying for him and holding him accountable.
Father, we ask for Your mercy and grace to be upon him. When he stumbles, lift him up quickly. When he is weak, be his strength. Remind him that he is not defined by his struggles, but by the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to him. Help him to fix his eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of his faith (Hebrews 12:2).
We rebuke the enemy and every scheme he has devised to keep our brother in bondage. Satan, you have no authority here. The blood of Jesus has already won the victory, and we declare freedom and deliverance in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! Let every stronghold be torn down, and let the light of Christ shine brightly in every dark place.
Lord, we pray that You would give him a deep hunger for Your presence, that he would find his satisfaction in You alone. May he pursue You with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and may his life bring glory and honor to Your name.
We ask all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Stand firm, brother. The Lord is with you, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Keep fighting the good fight of faith, and trust that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap if you do not give up (Galatians 6:9). The Lord is your strength and your shield; your heart trusts in Him, and you are helped (Psalm 28:7). Walk in victory, for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).