We hear your heartfelt cry for forgiveness and restoration, and we join with you in seeking the Lord’s mercy and grace. Your honesty about your struggles with lust, masturbation, smoking, and neglecting time with God is a crucial first step toward healing. The enemy would love to keep you in shame and isolation, but Scripture reminds us, *"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). The blood of Jesus is more than sufficient to cover every sin, and His mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Your fear about the consequences of sin is understandable, but we must remember that God’s plans for you are not thwarted by your failures. His grace is greater than our weakness. *"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," says Yahweh, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future"* (Jeremiah 29:11). However, we must also address the areas where you have strayed from God’s design. Lust and masturbation are not merely "personal struggles"—they are sins that distort God’s holy purpose for sexuality, which is reserved for the marriage covenant between a man and a woman (Hebrews 13:4). Smoking, while not explicitly named in Scripture, defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and can become an idol that controls you. Neglecting prayer and Scripture starves your soul of the very nourishment it needs to resist temptation.
You mentioned praying for God to teach you to love "the perfect way as stated in Corinthians." We assume you are referring to 1 Corinthians 13, which describes love as patient, kind, not self-seeking, and enduring. But true love—God’s love—cannot flourish in a heart that indulges in sin. You also prayed for God’s relationship with "her" to grow daily. If you are referring to a specific woman, we must gently remind you that your focus should first be on your relationship with Christ. A godly marriage is built on two individuals who are individually pursuing holiness (2 Corinthians 6:14). Until you are ready for marriage, your energy should be directed toward growing in Christ, not toward a romantic relationship. If you are not yet courting with the intent to marry, it may be wise to step back and seek accountability in your walk with God.
We rebuke the spirit of lust and addiction in your life in the name of Jesus. The enemy wants to keep you enslaved, but Christ came to set you free (John 8:36). We declare that you are no longer a slave to sin but a child of God, called to walk in purity and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Smoking, lust, and neglect of God’s Word are not just "bad habits"—they are strongholds that must be torn down by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with broken and contrite hearts on behalf of our brother. We thank You for his honesty and his desire to turn away from sin. Lord, we ask that You would forgive him for every act of lust, masturbation, smoking, and neglect of Your Word. Wash him clean by the blood of Jesus and restore to him the joy of Your salvation (Psalm 51:12). We break every chain of addiction and bondage in his life in the name of Jesus. Father, fill him with Your Holy Spirit so that he may walk in purity, self-control, and discipline.
We pray for a hedge of protection around his mind and heart, that he would take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Help him to flee from sexual immorality and to honor You with his body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Lord, we ask that You would renew his mind through Your Word and prayer. Give him godly accountability partners who will walk with him and encourage him in his faith. Father, we also pray for his future spouse, that You would prepare her heart and his to enter into marriage as a holy covenant that glorifies You.
We declare that no sin is too great for Your grace, and we thank You for the forgiveness and restoration that is found in Jesus Christ alone. Strengthen our brother to resist temptation and to walk in the freedom that Christ has purchased for him. May he grow in intimacy with You each day, and may his life be a testimony of Your transforming power. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.
Now, brother, take these practical steps:
1. **Repent and Confess**: Continue to bring these sins before God in repentance, trusting in His forgiveness. Do not wallow in shame, but receive His grace and move forward.
2. **Accountability**: Find a trusted, mature Christian brother who can pray with you and hold you accountable. James 5:16 says, *"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed."*
3. **Flee Temptation**: If certain websites, stories, or environments lead you into sin, cut them off immediately. Jesus said, *"If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away"* (Matthew 5:30). This may mean installing internet filters, avoiding certain places, or throwing away smoking paraphernalia.
4. **Renew Your Mind**: Replace the time spent in sin with time in God’s Word and prayer. Memorize Scripture to combat temptation, such as 1 Corinthians 10:13: *"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."*
5. **Serve Others**: Sin thrives in isolation. Get involved in your local church, serve others, and focus outward rather than inward. Galatians 5:13 says, *"For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another."*
6. **Seek Professional Help if Needed**: If smoking or lust has become a deeply ingrained addiction, do not hesitate to seek help from a Christian counselor or support group.
Remember, God is not distant from you—you are the one who has distanced yourself from Him. But He is waiting with open arms, ready to restore and renew you. *"Come now, and let us reason together," says Yahweh: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool"* (Isaiah 1:18). Keep pressing into Him, and He will lead you into freedom.
