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I normally try not to start these kinds of threads because they're typically a little too personal for my taste, but I'm dealing with a lot of guilt right now and could use many of your prayers...
I should come right out and say that I'm alone and single, and am an ex-porn addict. It's been many months since I've been free of the addiction, and have never felt closer to the Lord. (I think you know where I'm going with this...)
Unfortunately Pornography is a monstrous disease that has been growing and infecting our modern society like never before. Now, everyone has incredibly easy access to it 24/7, even on the go. Many disregard it as being a more harmless sexual sin, but let me assure you it is one of the worst. It's disgusting and vile. I find it odd saying that despite my former addiction.
I was only a child when I was first introduced to it. I was 13. I wasn't a true Christian at the time it was introduced to me, and despite Christ saving me from my sins the moment I believed, I still hadn't overcome them. I've had many ups and downs since giving my life to the Lord, and he's had a lot to fix due to the incredibly high level of brokenness I've had in my life. I've been a complete wreck for so long, possibly with a predisposition for sexual sins due to the fact I was sexually abused by my father in early childhood.
I've had a very rough start in life, though I don't wish to go into my whole life story and I'm certainly not asking for a woe is me sympathy card. The point is despite the fact that I'm incredibly weak, God is incredibly strong; no, he is strength itself. He has helped me overcome obstacle after obstacle, struggle after struggle. It's a big job fixing a mess like me, especially when I'm all alone in it all, but he has.
God has freed me from feelings of guilt and condemnation due to the abuse in my childhood, my loneliness in lack of a father, my sexual sins of porn addiction, my anger and strife towards everyone, my selfishness and my pride, everything. I still have a long way to go, but if only you could see how far I've come...
My point is brothers and sisters, I am angry today but for a good reason. I am tired of sin holding us down. I know I'm not the only one who has struggled with sins, fleshly or spiritual, no matter what they may be, but sin never gives us what God only can. Sin binds us in chains, Christ sets us free. I am tired of Satan constantly holding me, and everyone else back from fulfilling God's great and wonderful righteous plan he has for each and every one of our lives. I have lived in a world of sin my whole life, from me, my family, my "friends", my community, everyone. Sin has always been overflowing around me, but today I say I am done with it. I'm not saying You and I will never make another mistake, but I am saying that we should decide today to never give up!
I spent years addicted to pornography (as well as other sins) and when I thought after months I was finally free, I messed up just now today... Yet today I see that I'm not the man I was. The old me would wallow in my shame, repeating the same phrases in my mind over and over again: "You'll never overcome this sin", "See, you're just the same as before", "You want a wife, but what kind of wife could want a wretch like you", "You're too dirty, you can't do anything", "You're too weak", etc, etc...
Now I know these are out right lies. These aren't just lies from me, they are lies from Satan. He wants me, and everyone else to believe that there are some sins you just cannot overcome. Well I'm here to say no. There are sins you can overcome. You can overcome whatever sins you're dealing with right now. I believe it whole heartedly because when I look back to where I've been, I can tell you all today brothers and sisters, I may not be where I need to be but I'm sure not where I once was!
I've overcome my hatred for my father. I've overcome my shame and guilt of abuse. I've overcome my feelings of worthlessness. I've overcome my financial woes. I've overcome many things that hindered me in the past, and now I'm headed to Evangelism School to preach the gospel to the world. I'm here to tell you that I have overcome, and to those things I haven't yet overcome, I sure will!
I ask you all to pray for me, as well as for yourselves right now brothers and sisters. I take full responsibility for the sin I just committed today, but don't let Satan tear you down every time you sin. It's okay to fall down, but it's never okay to not get back up. I ask that you all pray not just for the deliverance of sins, but for the perseverance to overcome them no matter how many times you fall. I've fallen today, but for the first time in my life I'm not letting it keep me down! Don't let you're sins keep you down brothers and sisters! Don't continue in them, don't except them, but don't let them prevent you from believing you can overcome them! You CAN overcome them, and if you'll pray for me to overcome mine, I'll prove to you and the rest of the world that no matter the circumstances YOU CAN OVERCOME!!! Just believe it...
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.
James 1:4 - Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking in anything.
I should come right out and say that I'm alone and single, and am an ex-porn addict. It's been many months since I've been free of the addiction, and have never felt closer to the Lord. (I think you know where I'm going with this...)
Unfortunately Pornography is a monstrous disease that has been growing and infecting our modern society like never before. Now, everyone has incredibly easy access to it 24/7, even on the go. Many disregard it as being a more harmless sexual sin, but let me assure you it is one of the worst. It's disgusting and vile. I find it odd saying that despite my former addiction.
I was only a child when I was first introduced to it. I was 13. I wasn't a true Christian at the time it was introduced to me, and despite Christ saving me from my sins the moment I believed, I still hadn't overcome them. I've had many ups and downs since giving my life to the Lord, and he's had a lot to fix due to the incredibly high level of brokenness I've had in my life. I've been a complete wreck for so long, possibly with a predisposition for sexual sins due to the fact I was sexually abused by my father in early childhood.
I've had a very rough start in life, though I don't wish to go into my whole life story and I'm certainly not asking for a woe is me sympathy card. The point is despite the fact that I'm incredibly weak, God is incredibly strong; no, he is strength itself. He has helped me overcome obstacle after obstacle, struggle after struggle. It's a big job fixing a mess like me, especially when I'm all alone in it all, but he has.
God has freed me from feelings of guilt and condemnation due to the abuse in my childhood, my loneliness in lack of a father, my sexual sins of porn addiction, my anger and strife towards everyone, my selfishness and my pride, everything. I still have a long way to go, but if only you could see how far I've come...
My point is brothers and sisters, I am angry today but for a good reason. I am tired of sin holding us down. I know I'm not the only one who has struggled with sins, fleshly or spiritual, no matter what they may be, but sin never gives us what God only can. Sin binds us in chains, Christ sets us free. I am tired of Satan constantly holding me, and everyone else back from fulfilling God's great and wonderful righteous plan he has for each and every one of our lives. I have lived in a world of sin my whole life, from me, my family, my "friends", my community, everyone. Sin has always been overflowing around me, but today I say I am done with it. I'm not saying You and I will never make another mistake, but I am saying that we should decide today to never give up!
I spent years addicted to pornography (as well as other sins) and when I thought after months I was finally free, I messed up just now today... Yet today I see that I'm not the man I was. The old me would wallow in my shame, repeating the same phrases in my mind over and over again: "You'll never overcome this sin", "See, you're just the same as before", "You want a wife, but what kind of wife could want a wretch like you", "You're too dirty, you can't do anything", "You're too weak", etc, etc...
Now I know these are out right lies. These aren't just lies from me, they are lies from Satan. He wants me, and everyone else to believe that there are some sins you just cannot overcome. Well I'm here to say no. There are sins you can overcome. You can overcome whatever sins you're dealing with right now. I believe it whole heartedly because when I look back to where I've been, I can tell you all today brothers and sisters, I may not be where I need to be but I'm sure not where I once was!
I've overcome my hatred for my father. I've overcome my shame and guilt of abuse. I've overcome my feelings of worthlessness. I've overcome my financial woes. I've overcome many things that hindered me in the past, and now I'm headed to Evangelism School to preach the gospel to the world. I'm here to tell you that I have overcome, and to those things I haven't yet overcome, I sure will!
I ask you all to pray for me, as well as for yourselves right now brothers and sisters. I take full responsibility for the sin I just committed today, but don't let Satan tear you down every time you sin. It's okay to fall down, but it's never okay to not get back up. I ask that you all pray not just for the deliverance of sins, but for the perseverance to overcome them no matter how many times you fall. I've fallen today, but for the first time in my life I'm not letting it keep me down! Don't let you're sins keep you down brothers and sisters! Don't continue in them, don't except them, but don't let them prevent you from believing you can overcome them! You CAN overcome them, and if you'll pray for me to overcome mine, I'll prove to you and the rest of the world that no matter the circumstances YOU CAN OVERCOME!!! Just believe it...
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.
James 1:4 - Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking in anything.
