Hey nofap Christian!

I hope everything is well; I'll keep it short.

About me:

1. Hitting 4 years 5 months of hardmode nofap!!! (On the 16th)
2. Doing better than ever
3. Gotta a wave of exam to prepare so I'll be very busy

This is the monthly reminder that if I can do it, you can too!!! Jesus is with you !!!!

God bless

I've been on this journey to quit porn and masturbation, and something clicked when I realized it's okay to close that tab. Initially, I was hesitant—almost like giving up a part of me. But I've learned that real freedom comes when we make the conscious choice to turn away.

Christ offers a peace and fulfillment that no temporary high can match. It's been about 30 days since I last watched any porn. During this time, I've felt more at peace, and my relationship with God has deepened.

For anyone struggling, just know it's not simply about resisting temptation; it's about opening yourself to Christ's love, which fills the void we sometimes mistakenly think can be filled by porn.

I’ve been talking to other people on subreddits like these and might cross post this later but I have some advice for a lot of the young guys here that are struggling with this particular vice and temptation.

(This guide has some mild religious references, in these cases where you are secular just replace sin with relapsing and God with whatever higher power you believe in, even if it’s just your own willpower.)

###Preface

I spent most of my adult life in the US military. As you can imagine an environment that extols the virtues of self control and discipline is also a place rife with binge seeking behavior when the people in charge are not looking. As a young 19 year old in great shape with disposable income sex became very easy to obtain especially amongst those women who frequented the off post bars, and street corners. Unfortunately I hadn’t found God at that point and did spend a good amount of my free time binging on casual sex and pron when I got the chance. Those days did teach me something however, that casual sex and masturbation ruins the uniqueness and sanctity of human pair bonding.

I have found a great way to combat this, and it’s actually super easy once you understand the principles of it. Even if you aren’t religious I think you will find value in what I have to say.

##Vectors of Temptation

One of the easiest ways I’ve found to eliminate a habit is to remove the vector of that habit.

All the time from religious subs and books we hear about the “power” of prayer and willpower. If you feel tempted just pray and god will help you persevere. With all due respect to people who this works for, this advice is at best minimally effective and at worst reductive and dismissive. This section is more geared towards men, but if you are a woman and reading this it might give you a good understanding about how men view sex and sexual content.

I have found it exceedingly harder to play video games recently… because I sold every device that can play one. I have a work computer and an IPad but neither can play the games I like to play. I have not found it hard to resist the temptation to play video games because I’ve removed the vector for the activity.

Likewise, I’ve cancelled my high speed internet, and exclusively consume content through the hotspot on my phone. I have just enough bandwidth to work and answer emails but in order for me to watch porn I have to 1. Turn on the hotspot, 2. Leash my iPad to the phone WiFi, 3. And watch a grainy buffering video to wack it too that might not even play. All the while during these steps I have to consciously give in to these temptations and inconvenience myself to undo all my hard work.

Will power and prayer can help, but relying on willpower and faith is definitely the harder way to do things. And I’m lazy.

I know that this sounds like SAGE advice and that I’m living a monk like existence but really it’s very easy for me now to resist temptation. Every once in a while I’ll accidentally scroll past some TikTok with a girl in a skimpy dress, but after a few months its a mild temptation compared to having access to high quality porn all the time.

Men were designed to be hunters. We are visually much more stimulated because our brains have built in prey drive and sex drive linked directly to the part of the brain that processes visual information. And that part of the brain is very old. It’s the oldest parts of our nervous system. We are talking foundational neuro-pathways.

Don’t buy pet birds, if you already own a cat.

###The easiest way to stop any habit or addiction is to remove yourself from it, or it from you. Don’t just rely on willpower. It’s honestly a cheat code.

##Asceticism and the power of mindfulness. (A handmade cultivated life)

The thing that attracted me to Catholicism and to a lesser extend Orthodox Christianity was its ascetic lifestyle. Before going on this journey of self improvement I was severely depressed and angry. I had trauma from my childhood and military service that I had not resolved and am still working on. I felt like my life was not going well or anywhere for that matter.

Something in me snapped one day. I had an explosive melt down at work. I wasn’t fired but everyone after that day was scared of me. They knew something was wrong.

When I went home I looked around at all my stuff, my books, my electronics, my video games, that big TV, and all that furniture that was just collecting dust. The dirty dishes in the sink, the fast food packages, the miscellaneous stuff I never used.

It was all too much.

I’ve started to really eliminate unnecessary things in my life. My friends thought I was suicidal but quite the opposite. I was trying desperately to save my life. I’ve sold mostly everything, or given it away. I sleep on a single twin wooden folding futon frame with just a blanket as a mattress. Partly because of my back pain but mostly because I’m committed to abstaining from sex until I’m married.

Why do I need a soft queen sized bed then?

It was like I just realized that some garden viper had coiled around my spinal cord and whispered sweet temptations into my ear. I was finally crushing it beneath my heel.

For the first time in my life I’m painting again. I’m a classically trained artist who was burnt out in art school. I thought it was a part of me that died, but after giving up the things that weren’t important to me I’ve since found solace in the meditative and mindful act of painting again. I’m now studying how to create religious icons in oils. I’m cooking all of my meals now and that too can be deeply meditative and mindful. Most of my meals are vegetarian and healthy. The energy and time involved means I also eat less. I’ve lost 20 lbs in a month. Days I go to Mass I fast and drink only water.

Working out has become my refuge. It’s the only activity available to me besides reading, and painting, and prayer. It also has the double effect of making me too tired to masturbate, as well as done wonders for my insomnia. I’m sleeping without medication now.

I am living a handmade life. A purposeful life. An intentional life. I am building myself up by denying myself. Jesus was right. Denial of the self can strip away all that is not necessary and show us who we are really meant to be. When we paint we don’t use every color on the pallet, else the painting turns brown and gray. We restrict our selves not to punish or to cultivate willpower, but to CREATE a better picture.

It was during this time of deep boredom, reflection, and stillness that I finally found God

##An argument for asceticism in your life

I’m not telling you that you need to give up everything and be a monk on Mt. Athos. But injecting some asceticism into your life is both morally good and healthy. Every religion in the world save for those misguided ones that are inherently hedonistic knows the power of asceticism. Even just a little can go a long way. When the mind and body are denied God draws closer to us. God loves sacrifice. The stillness and contemplative mindfulness opens us up to who we should be and not who we are.

Eliminating sin and temptation is very hard. Don’t make it harder than it has to be. Saints and Sages the world over eliminate things that bring them sorrow rather than just tolerating temptation. Are you greater than the Saints? Eliminating the vectors for sins is by far, in my opinion, the easiest way to conquer them. We do not lower the bridge for the invading army. We do not tolerate evil. We let it crash into the water and hardly give it any mind.

##Sanctity of relationships (An argument for waiting)

If you are in a relationship, and are trying to resist temptation I want you to listen to me. I wish now as an older man I had waited. I know if you are young sex sounds very enticing and it might be hard if you have a significant other.

I know this next part might be hard to understand but there is a sort of mild pleasure and fun in waiting for marriage with another person. Being around them and being very present and mindful is sort of pleasurable. Feeling the longing and warm attraction to the person. Kissing them good bye and going no further. Talking about what you both will do once you are married.

There is a sort of pleasure in it. Over the course of your engagement there will be this tension, and longing, and lust.

The days leading up to the wedding a painful and almost torturous nearly sinful time when all you can think about is the night of the wedding after the guests go home.

Then the time finally comes. The stillness in the air. Candles and incense and prayer.

Then the act itself when suddenly months if not years of longing and lust comes crashing into each other like a tidal wave of love. The furious and almost pyrotechnic fusion of two souls who have longed for each other for so long.

Exothermic is the only way it can be described in a secular sense.

I’ve been celibate for 7 years. I’m committed to being celibate until I’ married. Let me tell you. It’s worth waiting. And when you finally start seeing someone worth waiting for, there is a sort of pleasure in it. the build up is so intense and when it finally is released after your committed to each other forever is crushingly beautiful.

Next time you do start dating someone long term be present in their company. Let yourself feel that tension and longing. Deny the lust of it, and you will find you both become extremely more attracted to each other. And when the day finally happens you can both say to each other that you are mine and mine alone. That you belong to each other, to the exclusion of everyone else.

##Let not evil take root. It’s worth it in the end.

EDIT: Side note for you married Catholic / Orthodox couples practicing NFP.

During those waiting periods when the woman is fertile you can also feel this sort of “ sexual tension” in waiting. It’s actually quite pleasurable. The touching, and flirting, and talking about what you are gonna do when you can have sex again is actually very pleasurable. Toeing the line with your wife as it were. Then when she isn’t fertile during those periods. It’s intoxicating and will make you closer to your husband or wife.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Abstaining from the act for a while when you really want to then giving in when it’s appropriate can make you relive the first time with your wife or husband over and over. Trust me. If you are married try it out.

I’m looking to start (or join) a men’s accountability group. What is the best place to do so without paying for programs?

With the help of Christ and the support of like-minded individuals, I’m purging my life of pornography and keeping it that way.

From past experiences with accountability or growth groups for other areas of life and business I believe a small group of 4-8, with regular messages and a weekly group check-in call, is an effective way to keep the group together. Text only groups seem to fade away.

I’m a man, early 40s, married, USA. My interests are my family, men’s groups, fitness, outdoors, and cigars, & business.

Not all people are created equal, and some sexual desires are fulfilled with a simple google image search or youtube video rather than a specific website that you can easily block. What should I do?

Are you willing to join a pre-prepared, free NF challenge this Advent?

Starting December 1st, and helping each other right through Advent and past Christmas.

The method is 5R (Relax, Rethink, Reduce/Remove, Reward, Replace).

It will be explained a little bit at the start, then each week we will focus on one "R" together, helping each other to think flexibly and make progress.

If you're interested, message me for the Discord server.

I am posting this in the Christian version of the sub because it's smaller, and so we have a common basis. However, note that the 5R are not explicitly Christian and can benefit anyone.

I have done multiple 90 day challenges and I am offering this small group to help the community, and to learn to take my own journey further in the long term.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a therapist, medical doctor, or any kind of professional expert. 5R is literally only based on my experience and the learnings I got from this sub and the main NF sub. I make no guarantees and I am not asking for money.

I'm a very easily anxious person, and that has caused me to depend on masturbation to help me forget how stressful the situation is

Ironically, becoming religious has made this slightly worst

I always feel stressed about heaven, hell and how God is disasapointed in me so I masturbate to get an easy stress reliever. Its been pretty detrimental to my health as I'm in a constant loop of masturbation, shame, masturbation, and forgiveness

I'm kind of at the end of my rope and just want to be happy. Any tips?

Sin will take you further than you want to go

it'll keep you longer than you want to say

and it'll cost you more than you want to pay – Ravi Zaccharias

I don't know where to start this post. I've haven't posted anything in a very long time. I'm surprised this accounts still exists.

I used to be extremely active back in the day. Porn utterly demolished my life for long period of time and I wanted to cleanse myself and every single human I come across from this vampire of life. I wanted to fight back.

I can't put my finger on what happened in my life that took me away from the fight. It... just faded. I was much better. I thought 'I had it' and I can't lose it. Famous last words.

But, we all know how the story goes. And the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Temptation came for me. It came for me with vengeance in its eyes.

Funny enough, its not porn that took me down. It knew my weakness well. Loneliness. It kept hammering at it until it hurt. Really hurt. I found myself ending up in all kinds of weird chat rooms.

Its one thing to just be exposed to porn, but its quite another to talk to people who nearly worship it. I lost myself in those places. I kept trying to talk to girls, >!to get them to .. say and maybe do things!< . I was nearly obsessed by >!getting them to do something I've seen in porn. !<Somehow I told myself that it would fulfill me in someway. Just like the old days, if I just see this or that, I'll be happy.

And of course, we all know the ending. It never satisfies. Its the same old trick since the beginning of time. That never stopped me from going back. I was desperate for some kind of companionship. Only to meet more and more broken people like me. What hurt even more, is that I could see how much Christ could help them. Seeing that and not saying anything... just blending in as part of the crowd... it felt like denying Christ.. and the rooster kept crowing and I kept ignoring it.

This.. is my confession. Its been festering on my heart for too long. I've spent too many nights staying up later and later trying to find what I'm looking for. Chasing after the wind... Until the last time it hit me, just like the prodigal son. If companionship is what I want, I can go back to my Father's house.

Please forgive me and pray for me.

_____________________________________________________________

I would love to rebuild the accountability community that I had here. If anyone wants to chat or if anyone recognises my username, send me a dm.

I’ve tried to fight the good fight but I can’t seem to shake this addiction. Confiding in close friends, accountability partners, blockers, prayer, etc the urge still overcomes me a lot of the time and I don’t know what else to do.

I need someone my age to talk to anytime I have these urges. I know this works for me because my best friend was my accountability person, but o feel bad and don’t want to burden her with my problem. I came here because, I , being a Christian know that nobody else can help me fight it and assure me when I slip than another Christian. I would like someone between the age of 17 and 25. Thank you.

Is there anywhere on Reddit that discusses the hurt caused to women who have consented to pornography, or who have had their private content leaked online? I see r/PornIsMisogyny but that's not a place friendly to men to discuss weaning off porn as it appears all about bashing rather than supporting change for the good.

Is there a subreddits dedicated to discussing and reading about how our use of porn isn't just neutral toward but unintentionally preys on the vulnerabilities of the women. I say unintentional because for the majority of us we simply put aside any thought for the women's emotional health, just block it out at the time so as decouple it from what we are viewing. We look at the girl thinking "she's loving this" and not "she regrets ever doing this", "she's high in the scene and will feel shame later on post-shoot" or "this video was made to be sent to her bf and she's humiliated it went online to the public and in constant low-key panic that someone who knows her will see it".

I think becoming more and more cognitively aware of these negative effects on the girls will effectively make masturbating to content less and less thrilling as we'll start to struggle to block out that side as it becomes harder to neutralise and decouple it.

If there isn't such a subreddit, would anyone be interested in getting involved with me in making one about this topic?

Well, this is convenient. If you’ve read any of my rantings for any length of time, you know that I have a thing for Biblical Numerology. I don’t know if that’s a thing, but I find it interesting that certain numbers occur over and over in the Bible and have meaning. Five is the number of grace. Five porches around the pool of Bethesda, where that dude waited for 38 years for healing (why 38? There’s a story there too). But we must talk about the Spirit today as promised.

With a caveat.

The Holy Spirit has one purpose, as far as we are concerned, that is, to point us to Jesus Christ. And if we get sidetracked from Jesus and start chasing after a “Holy Ghost high” or something similar, we lose sight of Jesus. And perhaps this is just my pet peeve, but I don’t care for songs and such where the focus is on the Holy Spirit. I think they mislead and get us off track. So with that, let’s dig in.

Hopefully you read Joshua 1-4 yesterday so this will be familiar to you. Moses is dead. He couldn’t take the Israelites in because the Law (Moses is the law giver) can’t take you into the Promised Land. But Joshua — Jesus — can and will. But before we enter in, we must purify ourselves. The Israelites had all sorts of rituals to symbolize this, we New Covenant-ers don’t have to concern ourselves with them, but it is a good study to read them and look for Jesus.

There’s an interesting story of two guys who were sent to spy out the city of Jericho. Except they really didn’t spy. They were witnesses. Joshua sent them out two by two — just like Jesus would do later, just like the two witnesses in the book of Revelation.

See God had a plan for a harlot. And God has a plan for you.

But Fred… God can’t use me. I’m a miserable sex sinner.

Me too.

You don’t know what I’ve done.

Good. I don’t want to know what you’ve done. And you don’t know what I’ve done. I keep that vague because if you knew, you’d run for the exits and never listen to me again. And if I knew what you’ve done, I’d stop writing. (And let’s keep this that way, lest we give some of the younger ones ideas).

God can and will use you. Just as He used Rahab. She’s one of only four women named in the genealogy of Jesus. She hung a scarlet rope from her window, across her window sill — which, in those days, was painted red to indicate that her house was a house of prostitution. Which makes the sign of the cross. In scarlet. Hmmm… this Bible thing really IS all about Jesus.

So… again I’ve veered off course and ended up where I didn’t intend to go. I’ll see about getting closer tomorrow.

I have been struggling with lustful thoughts and porn. Any prayer is much apricated. I will provide an update post if I relapse if not then God has delivered me from my porn addiction.

Copying this comment from elsewhere hoping it helps someone.

From what I have personally learned and discerned on my Christian journey, actively seeking the face of God and actively participating in my own sanctification, as best I can tell today, the answer to sexual temptation, as it is to any sin (concupiscence), is:

Closeness to God through spiritual practices - reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. + Cooperation with God's will through worldly choices such as - encouraging in myself virtues such as chastity, temperance, diligence, mercy, humility, meekness, generosity, and patience through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving - while discouraging the vices of lust, gluttony, sloth, envy, pride, anger, avarice, and sorrow. Also cooperating more generally speaking through avoidance of sin and the near occasion of sin in my thoughts and in my words, in what I do and what I fail to do. In repenting of my sins and confessing my sins to another person. Through the removal of obstacles in my path to God's face through nutritional eating, fitness habits, wise financial choices. Through Godly service to others. Through finding a tribe of iron to live out the Proverb "iron sharpens iron".

In nearness to God and cooperation with his will, I find extraordinary relief from sexual temptations, compulsions, and obsession. I also find a deepening attraction to virtue and desire to live a holy life whether in direct service or through responsible lay life.

In all of this, sin has less presence in me and God fills me.

37 male with same sex and opposite sex attractions, United States, 975 days chaste

More on what has helped me here: http://saunter.net/introduction-to-the-chaste-life/

Completed ✅ Now I'm feeling Stable

Hey Reddit! I AM still alive! I've been super busy, and tiered, and haven't posted as much as I should have!

I'm still going strong on my streak! This should be 1 week! Only 3 more to go before a month has passed! 👍

The past few days have been harder than smooth waters. But I'm hanging in there. I need to spend more time with Jesus. I'm pretty sure, what he's trying to teach me through my whole porn addiction (which no longer has a hold of me! Praise God!) Is that I need to lean into him. That I don't have the strength to do this on my own. So praise him for that!

Stay strong everyone! Keep The Fight! -R

I lost my dad a couple weeks ago, and truthfully it’s broken me spiritually and mentally. I was doing great not falling into sin, reached a new record of a week and now every time I can’t sleep and start thinking about my dad I try to avoid it by lusting. Some days are better than others, but I’ve been feeling really depressed too. I don’t want to leave my bed some days. I’m trying to do things that make me happy and help me like working out or basketball but I get mixed results. I’m trying to pray 3 times a day and always wear my cross necklace but it’s still so hard. Maybe I just need someone to talk to sometimes, I have friends and a girlfriend but I don’t want them to feel bad or judge me. A part of me knows I’m dealing or at least was dealing with negative spirits too and I don’t know what to do. Some days I feel just completely lost.

I don’t know where to start. Porn is destroying my life. I always have urges and I can’t focus on anything. Few weeks ago, something happened that really changed my mind: I failed my exam in college. I knew it was because of my addiction and I had to study more instead of wasting my time. I had a breaking feeling of regret and guilt. However, God helped me and opened many closed doors for me once I acknowledged my mistakes. After one week and 3 days of no fap (the best week of my life), I had the strongest temptation ever! It felt like there was a war waging in my head and heart, and I lost it… I feel like I disappointed God and failed myself. I repented but I relapsed again, again and again. I haven’t studied anything since last week and final exams are coming. I feel so weak and bad and that there’s no way I can get rid of that addiction. It’s so hard to fight it and it does indeed affect my life, study, and relations. I’ve been addicted for as long as I remember. Tried many ways to stop it but I fail everytime.

Hi brothers, I am currently on day 22 from last relapse, and feeling great! In three weeks I have read:

Your Brain on Porn by Gary Wilson

Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke

The Molecule of More by Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman and Dr. Michael E. Long

I’ve been fighting to be porn free for 17 years with progressively longer streaks and these books have been game changers for me. They have shown me what I am actually up against and how porn and excessive dopamine impacts the brain, how addiction works, what we experience during withdrawal, and how to fight against it. I highly recommend reading at least Your Brain on Porn. I know longer feel like I’m fighting phantoms or shadows, I feel like I can see rightly, I feel empowered and a sense of control, triggers no longer overwhelm me, I feel so much more mindful when temptation comes, I feel more present with others, I know the difference between wanting and liking. It’s very strange feeling, but I’m loving this. I’m not saying I have beat the addiction, but I feel like the tide has turned big time. I also have active accountability with two guys and we text everyday and support each other in this so huge thanks to them. A huge thanks to all of you and your vulnerability and sharing your experience. Above all, I give glory to Jesus who has helped me the most in this long journey. His Grace is truly sufficient and power is perfected in our weakness.

What books would you guys recommend that have helped you?

Thanks!

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

Hi hope you guys are doing well with your life. I have posted earlier about my problem with masturbating to a celebrity. Some guys tried to help me but again, i failed miserably. Today I have done it twice back to back.

I want to solve my problem fast, but apparently its not that easy and it may take time more than i could think of.

Again, if anybody reads this, i appreciate your kindness if you share your thoughts and maybe your ways of handling such situations. That would be great.

Thank you

I have to come back, I'm getting worse and worse, faith has moves out of the center and I need to get back. You all have helped me in the past and now I need help again. Open to chat

• Open Settings
• Open Screen Time
• Open Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content
• Open Web Content
• Adjust settings as needed (note: changing your app age restriction will disable most social media apps, including Reddit)

I literally can’t talk to women without getting an arousal it’s fucking disgusting. What should I do

I’ve always seen myself as an introvert, which made it difficult to ask for help, even when I knew I needed it. I kept setting goals on my own, but I still struggle and relapse frequently. My longest streak was 3 months, but that’s been rare. I feel like it’s time to lean on faith and the support of others. Have you found strength in your faith community or prayer? Are there any resources, like apps or methods, that have helped you stay strong? Any advice or spiritual guidance would mean a lot.

Time is the most valuable commodity we have in this world. No one knows how long we have, only the Lord Himself knows.

We spend a lot of time mourning over the past: What could have been.. What should have been… What I wish would’ve happened….

The past is something we have no control over, though at times we desperately wish we could turn back the clock and undo one thing or another.

What do we do about things we have no control over? Things we are powerless against?

We pray, we worship the Lord our God, and we rest in His mercy and the age-abiding life that He gives.

Lust is something that takes away your time. It ages a man or woman. I know all of us here regret the day we ever stumbled upon it.

Idolatry, the pursuing of meaningless things of this world, is something that takes away your time. It will age you like lust does.

Why live with regret of the past? You have no control over it. Let the Gospel speak, and let it breathe life back into you. Let Jesus’ death be enough.

The Gospel brings with it the fountain of youth. It is the life-breathing Spirit of God strengthening the mortal bodies of all who believe - per Romans 8:11.

Let Jesus and His Word speak. Let Him have the final say, and give to Him this battle of time that is out of your control.

Trust that in Him, you will live and never see death, nor will you come to corruption. This is the great and steadfast love of God: His Son died so we could live.

Fighting this sin, really makes you realize and understand that Christ isn't some fairy tale.. He's real.. His power is real, and it can help.. Maybe that's why God has given us a cross like this. So that we'll acknowledge that He is truly capable of freeing us from sin. And that His power is still working and is still ever present..

Maybe like Paul.. We had to go so far away from God, to get so close.. Even like Jesus.. Who first descended into earth, to ascend higher than the Heavens..

Grace, be with you always.

I feel like I have tried everything to get overcome pornography, I’ve been addicted to pornography for 3.5 years now watching pornography so much made me develop a foot fetish im disgusted , I feel depressed and isolated

Still More Samson

Last one, I promise.

If you watch the movie Samson and Delilah, it’s an oldie, Samson is portrayed as the muscle bound Hulk Hogan or the Rock sort of figure.

And I don’t think that’s accurate.

Why?

Because God doesn’t work that way.

God uses the weak to confound the strong. He uses the simple to confound the worldly wise. Why would God use a Charles Atlas type to demonstrate feats of strength?

Instead, I believe we should change our mental picture of Samson to a 98 lb weakling.

Which reminds me of when Paul tells the Philippians that Jesus emptied Himself when He came to earth as a man.

For a long time, I read the gospels and sorta shrugged at the miracles Jesus did — give sight to the blind? Cool, but so what, He’s Jesus. Walk on water? Neato, but hey, He’s Jesus. Feed 5000? Heal a leper or ten? Deafness? Dumbness? Death? Of course… He’s Jesus.

But Paul tells us He came as you and me. And He was filled with the Spirit — that same Spirit that is available to you and me. Jesus left His apostles so that the Spirit could come. The Spirit couldn’t come until Jesus was off the scene, so to speak.

And here we are, wandering around in the wilderness of porn and sexual sin, afraid to enter into the Promised Land, kicking rocks, swatting flies, eating dust.

All that to say this.

The Spirit is available to you and me. And it isn’t earned or deserved. You don’t have to “clean up your act” before He will enter in. All you must do is

Believe.

The Israelites wandered for 38 years because they didn’t believe the could enter in.

And I’m gonna go out on a limb here and surmise that most of you are in that same boat.

Now I see that, as is my custom, I’ve veered way off course again. Some day perhaps I’ll publish some of my more wilder tangent trips. And this is getting pretty long as well, so I’ll assign you to read the first three or four chapters of Joshua to get ready for tomorrow.

I've been on this journey of quitting pornography and masturbation for some time now, and I've noticed a profound sense of peace in my life that I never thought possible. Before, there was always this lingering anxiety and dissatisfaction that seemed to cloud my days, no matter what I was doing. A few weeks into self-control, I realized that the peace I was seeking wasn't something that the world could offer—it was through Christ.

In moments of weakness, I've found myself turning more towards prayer and scripture. This habit has reshaped my evenings from being idle and isolated to feeling connected and nourished by the word of God. Surprisingly, the more I delve deeper into this faith-based path, the more my urge to relapse diminishes, almost as if the spiritual fulfillment compensates for the old habits.

For anyone struggling with similar challenges, I encourage you to find solace in prayer and community. Share your struggles and triumphs with others, as this connection can be incredibly supportive. These changes in my life have truly drawn me closer to God, and I'm grateful to have found a community where I can share these experiences and learn from others.