Resisting temptation - my story and advice.


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I'm happy to hear the change in your life and the forsaking of these sins. The steps you made in trying to avoid temptation are very good.

Where as right now stormy skies have cleared and sunlight streams down, know that the adversary has not given up. He will attack again and will test your defenses and seek for a way to break through them.

In regards to freedom from the chains of sin there are two types of changes. There are behavioral changes and there are changes in our very nature. The first can be accomplished through will and avoiding temptation. The second can only be accomplished by the power of God working through the atonement of Christ to remake us anew.

While I hope that it was receiving the second change which lead you to the first, if it was not, remember the taste of freedom and know that should the storms of these sins overcome you anew that true freedom comes through yielding our heart unto Christ through sincere repentance.

With a prayer for your happiness,

Brother M.

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I think this is great you've found a way to reduce these temptations in your life! For me I always found regular temple attendance to be of great help, when I do this the temptations simply seem to arise less.

One thing I thought I'd share (I've had struggles with this issue at times, not major, but some) is something I read once from an Indian teacher named Osho (he passed away years ago). Osho stated that whatever we repress will eventually return with the same force with which we resisted it. In specific regards to sexuality, he stated that it can indeed be transcended and replaced with true love (or charity), but this only comes about when one sees sexuality in it's true light and purpose. However, he explained, because we we often repress the sexuality within ourselves (due to shame, etc), we never get to the point where we have seen the utter futility and worthlessness in base sexuality (pornography, sexual excess, etc) - and as such, we cannot transcend it.

In my own life I have seen this is true. On an outward level, putting in external controls (filter on computer, etc) will keep us from these acts, but we have not reached true transcendence. True transcendence is when we see firsthand that there is nothing to be desired in these sexual/etc indulgences, when we literally lose all desire for them. If this occurs, there is nothing left to "resist", as we see the emptiness and futility of it all. We are no longer a house divided fighting against ourselves.

To get to such a state is a long road to hoe! I have found that making mistakes, even allowing ourselves to make mistakes, it a critical part of the process. Because it is only through the making of mistakes (similar to Adam/Eve partaking of the fruit to know firsthand of the bitter) that we will eventually lose the desire to sin, as we will see firsthand it is truly empty. To do this requires great honesty, you cannot hide from your weaknesses, nor demand more from yourself than you are currently capable of. You must walk the long path of making mistakes/learning from them/etc, there are no shortcuts, no secrets, no tricks.

If you ever would like to I would recommend reading some of Osho writings on sexuality - I really think he had some great insights. Reading what he said on the matter was of more help to me personally than any other advice I had received before.

Edited by jb789
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I credit your change of heart, but warn you that recovery from addiction is a life long pursuit. There may come a time in your life that severe emotional stress may tempt you back into those addictive behaviours. A support system of friends and family, as well as constant vigilant improvement will prevent regression. Create new habits, don't just quit old ones.

Experience has taught me the above.

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