I am 41 years and I have a big problem that I have been struggling against all my life. My problem or sickness is LUST OF THE FLESH - I am easily attracted to women and everytime I see a beautiful one I am always tempted.
orisi, for many years i struggled with that very same problem. to the point that it was getting addictive. i realized that i needed to stop. jesus said in the gospel of matthew "it was said of old thou shalt not committe adultery, but i say whosoever looks at a women to lust after her has committed adultery in his heart towards her" so i knew i was committing adultery. i asked myself, what is most important to me. my relationship with the LORD, or gratifying the desires of the flesh. i decided to make a covenant with my eyes that i would not look at another girl.as job said. i knew that my relationship with the LORD was hurting because i kept giving in to the lust of the flesh. do you read your bible daily, do you pray, if your not doing that please descipline yourself in that area. another thing i want to point out, seek a godly man so that you can speak to him when ever these temptation come about, or your mind is filled with lustful thoughts. you need another man in your life to hold you accountable, and allow him to impart wisdom, and speak truth in to your life. trust me brother you wont regret it. jesus further said it would be better for a man to go into heaven with 1 eye than with both ending up in hell. where the fire is not quenched. GOD bless you
Hi! Thank you for sharing one of the difficult issues we Christians have to take care of.
At first, I intoduce some Scripture verses
"I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a girl. " Job 31:1 NIV
"3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false. " Psalm 24:4 NIV
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
What I can say is it is impossible for us to practice these commandments. Whenever I was defeated by lustfulness, I repent. Lustfulness is natural desire of body. We ourselves can't do anything to overcome it.Only Holy spirit power help this issue. Whenever I lost relationship with Holy spirit, I totally was defeated by lustfulness. It was terrible, ashamed. I was full of guilty whenever I turned to God to repent after I was defeated by lustfulness with knowing it was sin against God. Actually, only several days before, I was totally defeated by lustfulness. What helped me out of the temptation was just Holy spirit filling. When I have gratitude to Jesus and lustfulness came to my mind, I can't help telling to myself " I don't want to be trapped by lustfulness, how I can lose relationship with Him by submitting to lustfulness",and I can overcome it. It's very important to counter temptation such as,lustfulness with Words as Jesus did when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. but it is very,very difficult. Only joy of Holy spirit, gratitude to Jesus helps as far as I know. One of the most useful way to defeat lustfulness is fasting. During fasting, lustfulness dramatically loses its power. I don't know at next moment whether I am defeated by lustfulness or I defeat it. Lustfulness always come to me. I can't avoid it. I want to know if there is way lustfulness never come to me for the rest of my life. But I have to overcome it by gratitude to Him. I never want lustfulness to control myself. Once I am defeated, it takes many days to take myself out of sinful life. Thank you for giving me time to reflect myself.
Lastly, I introduce you one of famous verses, I greatly was comforted last night.
"1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."
Psalm 23 NIV
He is our shepered. He guide us, give us rest, and provides food for both our bodies and souls.
Without him, we end up falling over cliff or devouring by Wolf.
I pray for you. May God protect you in every way. In Christ, Masaaki