Must crucify the Old Man

edited October 2012 in Faith Issues
I am not a little child. I was the one whom St John says "I have written to you young men because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and have overcome the wicked one"

Well I was that one

For some reason though I have started looking at pornography sometimes.
I used to fall 4 times a year now I am falling often but once a day.

I feel I owe it to myself to repent of these sins because they produce death and judgement

"There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk after the flesh"

"Those who are christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires"

I thought I must make a confession to all in hopes that I will leave these sins forever

It is very likely if I do not change immediately I never will

Comments

  • going to confession and taking communion is perhaps very important but it can not be the only way to overcome these sins. If it was then I do not think of myself as having done any big sin because I am not very disobedient because I do not have the power over these sins just by reading the word

    However monks did not use to take holy communion frequently but were compensated by being in the word often
  • I guess I am looking to be a little chastised by you but not too much
  • Have I done the right thing by letting you people know?
    OR IS THERE NO WAY OUT

  • Mike,

    Don't despair. God is opening His arms and He is ready to accept me and you despite out shamful sins.

    Best way is to keep yourself busy, try to keep yourself busy with praying, reading the bible, going to church, serving, studying, listening to your favorite hymns and spiritual songs and so on. Just stay away from the computer as much as you can. This will help greatly.

    Always remember how much this saddends God. Rememeber that this doesn't affect you only but your family and friends. Think of the people that you serve at church and how much this affects them because you stopped praying for them and you stopped telling them about our Lord.

    Also think about the reason behind this. Is it a relationship that ended or is it a gab that you are trying to fill, sometimes it is much better to eliminate the cause rather than treat the symptoms.

    May God help us to repend and confess.

    Ebnyasoo3

    " You have created us for Yourself O Lord and our hearts are resltess until they rest in You" St Augustine
  • this is good advice.
    :)
    also go to confession. your priest can guide you how often to go.
    you don't need to go every day, as you can pray to God by yourself every day.
    but you should go sometimes to talk to the priest as well as he knows you,
    and he can give advice from God.

    this doesn't mean the priest is always right, but he is right more often than i am,
    or than anyone on a website who doesn't really know you.
  • Thanks for your advice my dear friends :)
  • Unfortunately I am being all talk and no action but I am not sure if you guys are even on my side because you don't think I am one of you. Not that you are my enemies but you would like to say my beliefs are wrong because of my sins. For this reason God so help me I will leave my sins forever
  • [quote author=mikeforjesus link=topic=13757.msg160678#msg160678 date=1351228444]
    Unfortunately I am being all talk and no action but I am not sure if you guys are even on my side because you don't think I am one of you. Not that you are my enemies but you would like to say my beliefs are wrong because of my sins. For this reason God so help me I will leave my sins forever


    We all sin.  This does not make our Orthodox beliefs wrong.  Rather, we must strive all the more to follow our faith.

    God indeed will help you, as will your confession father.  I don't think you are all talk no action, but if you want to do more "action" PLEASE see your confession father once a month.
  • Thanks qawe but I said that because yesterday I did a sin and I completely forget the other days when I sinned I give myself excuses
  • Hello mikeforjesus,
    I too have struggled in such a sin, and continue to. Try hard brother, perservere against the
    evil one! There must be a way, and I am no one to talk, just one who is with you on this boat.
    My FOC once told me to stay away from media for 21 days, and he told me that the sin will die.
    I had faith in this, and I did stop for about 2 weeks, then have fallen again recently. It is very hard
    for us because, at least for me, it has stuck with me for over 4 years now!
    You are in my prayers, and I ask that you pray for me aswell.
    FirstChuch
  • Thanks FirstChurch

    surely God will remember us when we put our faith in Him and wait for Him. The problem with me is I am not struggling anymore for some reason. But I am planning on doing so from now on

    27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
    And speak, O Israel:
    “My way is hidden from the Lord,
    And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
    28 Have you not known?
    Have you not heard?
    The everlasting God, the Lord,
    The Creator of the ends of the earth,
    Neither faints nor is weary.
    His understanding is unsearchable.
    29 He gives power to the weak,
    And to those who have no might He increases strength.
    30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
    And the young men shall utterly fall,
    31 But those who wait on the Lord
    Shall renew their strength;
    They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
    They shall run and not be weary,
    They shall walk and not faint.
  • Sex is a beautiful expression of love and should not be shared with a sinner even in thought
    "Shall I make the members of Christ members of a harlot?"
    Sinners were called in the bible daughters of belial
    I am cheating my wife of compassion and the feeling of specialness
    Not meaning to be harsh I know once a person is cleansed by the blood of Jesus he is a new person. People can in fact change to the best just like St Paul and David the Prophet.
    If it was not for certain issues and then /as a result faith issues I do not mind marrying a non virgin who I love and who has in fact changed. Also issues as I am not wiser than God

    I want to experience it.. but heaven and the glory of God is supposed to far surpass all of it and the best use of sex is to have a posterity
    "Eye has not seen.."

    But I will marry noone I do not love

    Every disobedience caused God not to answer prayer towards other sinners and their veil is still intact.. the final outcome I do not know
  • Mike,
    you are not alone!!
    i too strugle with such a sin.....so really what is to follow is something of what my father of confession has told me.....

    "what you fill your time with is really where you are wanting to go. for example if you want to reach the kingdom you will read and watch things pertaining to the kingdom.....best advice is to avoide going on the internet after a certain time around 10pm....spend from around 10pm to whenever you get to sleep with Christ. if you must go on the internet make sure you have someone around because you can never  watch this stuff out in public so you will always feel imbarassed to watch this when people are around" and always rememeber this
    "Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light".
    and
    "where sin has abounded grace abounds in much more.......

    i will confess right here, i used to watch this stuff at night just before i go to bed when noone is there and i used to feel really guilty......so now no matter what i have done just before i go to sleep, i get out of bed and do 2 matanias and say "our father"

    sorry for the long reply....
    God bless you and strengthen you in your struggle!!
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