My Brothers,
I also know exactly the damaging effects of pornography and masturbation, it is sin plain and simple and is a fallacy of satisfaction that hold you in bondage.
I have watched porn/masturbated since I was 15 (I'm 25 now) ,10 years in the making. I know the wave of guilt, disapointment, despair for knowing God's commandments, but losing the ability to stop it. Asking for forgiveness, then falling face flat, pinning myself with worthlessness, lowering my self esteem further. I've fallen on all occassions from the most stressful days, as a way to get away from it all, to when I'm happy just sitting on my bed in front of my laptop, then trigging a sudden onset. I've gone without porn for couple days, and feeling the widthdrawl symptoms, the restlessness of needing release, the constant unyielding temptation driving me nuts to the point I couldn't sleep at night. My self worth has been completly diminished.
I testify to you my brothers there is a way out, but this requires determination and persistance. A friend once told me the more you have deviated from the path, thats the distance (or effort) that you will need to get back on track. I find this to be very true.
In finding way to change and breaking the cycle of guilt, bondage, and uncontrolled wants, my senior pastor once said, "Our challenges, including those we created by our own decisions, are part of our test in mortality. Let me assure you that your situation is not beyond the reach of your Savior. Through Him, every struggle can be our experience and our good. Each temptation we overcome is to strenghen us, not destroy us. The Lord will never allow us to suffer beyond what we can endure (1 Corinthians 10:13)" The hopeful solution is always the same. We must turn to the Lord and strive to obey his commandments
But in lieu of this remember, we still have our freedom of choice and we need to put in our effort, remember this important concept. "Work as if everything depended on you and pray as if everything depended on God". Here is some of the work that really worked well for me:
1) First part is always toughest with any addiction, you have to really push yourself with a unwiedling, forceful effort and force your self to create a habit (21 days), once you pass this mark, things become like gravy
2) Fill yourself with the Spirit. Think of this is putting the armor of righteousness, the more you do this the thicker your armor will be (this is order that worked best for me), but strive for all of the following:
a) Attend Sunday service
b) Prayer and bible study, I feel the spirit more when I do it with others
c) Prayer (and daily devotion) in the morning
d) Prayer and mediation on scriptures as soon as you wake up, this is very important. (from a logical standpoint, I believe you're in mind is at a
sleep state within first 10-20 min, prayer at this time really is effective in hitting your subconcious)
Always pray sincerely humbly to God for repetanace to give you strength, seek him in faith. Truly, truly ask our savior for forgiveness. I believe until you are at the point of tears and kneeling in front of Heavenly Father, asking him for forgiveness, you are really taking things seriously. Crying (earnestly calling) to the Lord is the natural culmination and consummation of three qualities: humility, faith, and repentance. It is the prerequisite of redemption.
2) Law of Substitution: Substitution is key to breaking bad habits, you can't just focus on stopping a habit, this will only cause you to think about it more, you must come up with a more constructive incompatibile habit or behavior to replace it
a) replace it with a habit so that you'll never be close to the computer don’t put yourself at risk, frankly I don't go even stay in the house that
long when I feel like I'm at risk, otherwise I blast my favorite tunes to drown out imaginations, keep tempting thoughts at bay
b) stay busy with extracirrcular activities or keep your mind preoccupied. At minimum, if you are thinking about something you love to do, that
requires "thinking" our mind cannot even think about watching porn/masturbating. What worked best for me was to stay physically active,
run lift weights, play sports, mma anything that you get exited about, ride the endorphins to get you out of poor emotional state. Any
hobbies you enjoy – guitar, singing, art classes, salsa, etc
c) For me when the temptation is overwhelming and I'm at point of no return I do the following:
-Create an emotional state change & focus your attention that : -Yelling aloud to stop, say “NO” forcefully, tell yourself they’re lies, you will
never feel fulfilled, it a lie that it’s worth it, or it won’t hurt this time
d) call someone! anybody! it will get you out of the mood.
3) Set goals to shoot for, eg. no porn masterubation for 1 day--> 1 week, --> 3 weeks. Keep someone accountable for you eg. pastor or best friend, and reward yourself when you meet your goal, but at the same time don't pound yourself to the ground if you miss it, get right back on the horse and start over
3) Educate yourself
a) Make sure you visit
www.no-porn.com and check out the forums
b)How to Remember Everything in the Old Testament by David Larsen (has a good, insightful pornography addiction section)
c) Putting on the Armor of God by Seven Cramer is an indept look at fighting temptation, you'll be surpised how Satan will keep you in temptation
Please contact me also
nuram.lee@gmail.com for any support/advice. I can help with accountability, advice, feedback, etc, I will be there for you.
In the world we live in today, I believe sexual immortaility will be the top reason why people fall from grace.
Remember that Heavenly Father loves you, and will forgive your sins completely, no matter how many times you have fallen. But the act of repentance does not necessarily involve perfection from sin (which is impossible) but continual progression and asking for forgiveness evertime we fall and trying 100% to not fall again. I pray and hope that you'll fight to the end. There is nothing more greater than the love of our Father and the utlimate joy, peace, sense of security of living a righteous life as his children. I pray that you know nothing is impossible through him. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
![Nairaland [Nigerian Forum] Home](http://www.nairaland.com/Themes/default/images/english/home.gif)
Author
Be involved in the work of God. As an idle hand is the devil`s workshop.
but please pray for me because am going trough the same problem , but I want to put a stop trought it . This addiction leave me nothing but with tears and sadness , so if you could please just pray for me I will I apreciate it . I read some of the discussion on how stop watching porn so I will do and give my best , thank you ! 
