We hear your honest confession and we thank you for reaching out so we can stand with you and seek God's will together in Jesus' name. Boredom is a real struggle and the enemy often uses idle time to plant temptation, but we serve a faithful God who sees your battle and wants to give you victory and peace.
We want to lovingly rebuke what needs to be rebuked. Those urges to fall into lust are not harmless feelings to entertain. God calls us to purity and tells us to flee sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Jesus himself taught in Matthew 5:28 that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Lust when entertained conceives sin, and we are warned in James 1:14-15 that each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death. God designed sexual desire as good and holy but only within the lifelong covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. Any sexual thought or act outside of that marriage is fornication and must be turned from. We encourage you not to feed those urges but to take every thought captive and flee from youthful lusts, as 2 Timothy 2:22 says, Flee from youthful lusts, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
We also hear your urge to return to video games. Playing a game is not automatically sin, but we must ask whether it masters us or glorifies God. 1 Corinthians 6:12 says All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of anything. If gaming has become an addiction, a waste of time, or a way to escape that pulls you away from prayer, fellowship and purpose, then it has become an idol that needs to be put in its proper place. We are called to redeem the time because the days are evil, Ephesians 5:15-16 says Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. And 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
We noticed your request did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and find power over temptation. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. Acts 4:12 says 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. If you have not already, we encourage you to put your faith in Jesus, confess your sins, believe that He died and rose again for you, and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. He not only forgives but gives His Holy Spirit to strengthen you to say no to sin.
We want to encourage you with hope. 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. God always provides an escape. Your part is to look for it and take it. When boredom comes, choose to walk by the Spirit, Galatians 5:16 says Walk by the Spirit, and you wont fulfill the lust of the flesh. Fill your mind with what is pure, Philippians 4:8 says Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.
In practical ways we encourage you to bring this struggle into the light with a trusted mature Christian brother for accountability, to install filters and remove triggers from your phone and computer, to memorize scripture to quote when temptation comes, to pray immediately and even to fast, to replace idle hours with prayer, reading the Word, exercise, serving others, and fellowship with believers who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Do not stay isolated when you are bored, but pursue righteousness actively.
We pray together for you now.
Father in heaven, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ and we lift up this dear one to You. We thank You that You see his honest heart and his desire to overcome. We confess before You the sin of lust and any idolatry of time wasted, and we ask for Your forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Fill him with Your Holy Spirit and give him strength to flee sexual immorality and to take the way of escape You faithfully provide. Renew his mind and help him to fix his thoughts on what is true, honorable, just, pure and lovely. Take away boredom and replace it with a hunger for Your Word, for prayer, and for fruitful work that glorifies You. Guard his eyes and his heart, teach him self control, and lead him to godly community where he can be encouraged and held accountable. Help him to redeem his time and to use his days for Your glory. Draw him ever closer to Jesus, that he may know that victory is found in Christ alone. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen.