Names Nathan...

Hello everyone, glad to be make it here. Hope all is well on your end!

I'm 25, lost my virginity a year ago. A lot has happened in 2016 that dramatically changed my life. I feel God has a plan for me and part of this plan is me being sexually pure.

Sexually pure as in no masturbation, thoughts, no sex before marriage, the whole enchilada.

My question to you guys out there- how do / did you do it? And let me be clear- I'm not talking about physically, I'm talking about having an honestly pure mind, the kind of mind that isn't running on guilt if I mess up. I'm looking for a totally different mindset- I'm not looking to practice abstinence just because the Lord says so. He says it for a reason and I want to own that reason with my whole heart because that is the only healthy way I see myself getting through this.

I would love to hear your opinions guys- please! And have a fantastic Monday!

Welcome to CC. You may want to start a thread in the Family forum, where the rest of the threads on this subject are.. This forum here is only for introducing yourself.

Welcome dude

Seeing how you have lost your virginity you will never be sexually pure again.

I agree with you that it is not good to have your mind running on guilt. Instead of striving to have pure thoughts just put your mind on loving and serving God and the pure thoughts in your mind would take care of itself.

God does indeed have a plan for you.

Glad to have you join us and I'm looking forward to your thoughts on any responses you may receive on the thread you have started. Welcome to CC.

Hey Nathan, hope you like it here

I think it's natural for people to have thoights such as the kind most of us have encountered (and I think it's rare if no one has ever had a lustful thought in their life, that'd be just as crazy to be as someone saying they've never sinned since they've been saved). I'm not saying it's impossible to not actually ever lust, but it is uncommon.

God made us to be human. He made us to make mistakes and have flaws. We're supposed to grow and learn self control. But some things we can't control by ourselves. Prayer does it, but so does a set mind.

Don't feel guilty if a thought accidentally pops into your head becuase accidents happen and it's not a sin anyways. If you continue to dwell on that thought though, that would be sin. Ask God to cleanse your mind and help you make it through another day with a pure thoughts and tell him you'll do your part so long as you have a little help. Or whatever. (You don't have to be formal)

I think it is nearly impossible to have an entirely pure mind, no matter how much of a Christian oneay be. Becuase your mind is part of your flesh and your mind will occasionally do what it wants with no consent from you lol. It's just something like when a mom has a "spirited child" and the kid just did something really bad and embarrassing in front of company and the mom goes, "Oh! Ahahaaaa, you'll have to excuse him..." and then pulls him aside and gives him a stern talking to and a quick swat on the butt and sends him on his way. You get what I'm saying here? Your brain is the kid. Sometimes things happen and you feel embarrassed and even guilty but unless it was an actual sin, it wasn't entirely your fault. Just get some help from God to control your "kid" and you're set.

Sorry I ramble but I'm bad at summarizing

Again, hope you like it here

Thanks for the replies! Here's the new thread over in singles forum-

http://christianchat.com/christian-singles-forum/146647-names-nathan.html#post2935961