seven_wants_ten;715860 said:
Stop thinking about it, and just do it. Of course ���� is the problem. The reward pathways and dopamine receptors in your brain are fucked up.
The only caveat I would offer is to not think of it as a "no ���� challenge". It's not something you can do for 30 days and go back to once you've "completed the challenge". It's now your lifestyle. You don't get to look at ���� anymore, for the same reasons that an alcoholic don't get to drink anymore. Your brain cannot handle it the way most people's brains can.
I know all of this because I struggled with the exact same problem.
����������� is something that most men will struggle with and in almost every case, when someone wants to quit they eventually fall flat on their faces and end up with a worse habit than before. I would like to say a few things that are important in this area. If you are married or have a girlfriend ����������� should be a no no. You have a women and you should get your sexual joy from your partner, not ����. This is cheating and this is adultery when you are married. If you are single this is not the case. Single men need some kind of outlet or they will simply end up doing something far worse than viewing ����. In my case, I am celibate so I do not have sex. I also try not to lust at anyone during the day. I see a pretty girl, I notice her and turn my head and pray
This type of commitment (in my case to avoid getting into a relationship) is a difficult one. So after a few days I need a release at which time I will use ����, I find whatever will get me off the quickest and turn it off. I would completely avoid it if I could get off without it. But I can't, when I try I truly end up coveting things I should not. Objectification is the worst part of ���� as it can lead to objectification of people we see day in and out, but there needs to be something explained here that I think many men get wrong and for good reason, the internet says ten thousand different things.
I would like to bring GOD into this to help clear up some of the confusion of language used in the Bible that may cause many undue guilt in this area. There is a site I follow called the Word of God. This man, who has no name (or none that can be found) but the words he hears and writes are very good, especially with this issue.
"Once and for all I will settle this struggle, an ongoing ignorance of something so simple. I will permit this and explain that which you have asked.
Lust
Gluttony
Greed
Sloth
Wrath
Envy
Pride
These are NOT sins by any standard and if someone has interpreted them that way, you are completely incorrect and are teaching false doctrine. These are things that belong to bringing carnal pleasures to your self in one way or the next. Easily I say Gluttony sums up all of these deadly sins but let me first explain what these deadly sins mean. These are actions that if are done compulsively become sinful. I would never expect you to never feel pride for yourself but you can see, if you become too proud you are now looking down upon your brothers. Pride should be shown with humbleness. This is this sentiment in it's perfect form.
But what most say is what about Lust? Is it a sin to gaze upon something of beauty and to give all praise to ME? Even if you dwell on this beauty, you still have not violated any law that is written. Where Lust brings you to sin is in the long line of steps that you take from seeing to doing. Where have you crossed the line? The second you had an objective, a moment where you have decided to intentionally go after something that does not belong to you. If it were sinful in planning a murder, many novels would never have been written. It is not sinful in the planning, nor the dwelling, it is in the action. Understand that if you dwell too long in these pretending scenarios you will be driven to sin. Thus the meaning behind the deadly nature of these actions. You were taught this today before I even came to you!
My Commandments are much different! These are written laws that are complete violations of MY Law. There is no bending on these Commandments, they were carved in stone! I will cavort to the last of the commandments because that is where you, and many other brothers, become puzzled. Coveting something is planning and taking action on that which is not yours. Is there confusion here? There is no bending to this Commandment. This is a Law, do not lust over something that is not yours and make an attempt to take it like a thief. I grow tired and anger with those who twist my words and the meaning behind them.
I hope these words have help you understand that which you are struggling with, I am a Kind GOD, a Patient GOD, a Loving GOD, I want you to have an imagination, your ability to pretend is the beauty of your creations. I keep you small and renew this cup every day, you will never be great. But now you can see what I have always meant, from the start of creation till this very, fleeting moment.
Shalom"
So as we can see, even if we do not agree on the source of his prophesy, there is a very, very, very big difference between Lust and Coveting. Now this is not giving an excuse to go out and lust you ass off, as the man said, this will bring you to sin. But lust, not acted upon, is simply admiration. Let me say it this way; If you are married and you se a beautiful women, there is nothing wrong with admiring the beauty, whether it is her face, her ass, or any other part of her body. Where you step from lust into sin is when you covet. This is the step talked about above. So the second you catch eyes and make an attempt to capture her attention, you have now crossed the line. A single man does not need to worry on these things but he still needs to keep himself in check with coveting because anyone can covet. I should also state that is was an intentional doing of the church to change the world from coveting to lust in the deadly sins, the Greek definitely made it clear that coveting was the proper word, not lust.
In closing, sexual urges are natural, just like hunger and thirst, depriving ourselves of these things can lead to a much more volatile situation. Be disciplined with yourself, if you are single do not spend your days lusting and watching ����, this will bring you to just as bad as a place as the earlier. Taste from all things in life, never taking any of it for granted. If you need to use iron in your routines, use the most innocent images you can find or get some Viagra.
