“Don’t touch. Don’t taste. Don’t handle”. We hear these three “rules” often when learning how to fight—and overcome—lust.
The problem is, mere rule-keeping does not itself get to the heart of lust. This is one of the great lessons Paul teaches in Scripture. Merely knowing the law only aggravates our lusts (Romans 7:7-12), and following rigid ascetic regulations—don’t touch, don’t taste, don’t handle—is “of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23).
If the “law” itself is not able to turn our hearts away from temptation, then how exactly do we fight against a spirit of lust? And how can we finally overcome it?
Editor’s Note: Are you a teenager struggling with lust? Before reading this post, I encourage you to check out this article we wrote especially for teens, How to Overcome Lust: 4 Tips for Teens.
How the Bible Teaches Us to Fight Lust
In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul offers some of the best, most concise bits of Biblical advice on how to overcome lust: “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Commit it to memory. Chew on it daily. Let your mind marinate in it, for in it lies three biblical strategies for fighting lust.
See related: What is Lust in the Bible?
1. Run From Lust
“So flee youthful passions”
“Passions” refer to our cravings, our longings, and our desires. More specifically, the passage speaks of “youthful passions.” These fleshly lusts are said to “wage war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). On the surface, these cravings are anchored in the members of our body (Romans 6:12), but as we look deeper, we find they stem from our sinful hearts (Romans 7:7). Ultimately, these passions are forms of idolatry (Colossians 3:5), revolving our lives and desires around created things rather than the Creator.
See related: For singles: How to Handle Strong Sex Drive in a God-Honoring Way
We must run from these things. Every Christian, even though he or she is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, still lives in a mortal body surrounded by worldly amusements. These youthful lusts stubbornly cling to our heels. As we see these passions stirred in us, we must habitually flee from them.
- This might mean mentally fleeing: bouncing our thoughts away from lustful imaginations.
- This might mean visually fleeing: bouncing our eyes away from lustful images.
- This might mean physically fleeing: walking (or running) away from tempting situations.
See related: Overcoming Temptation: Bible Verses and Principles to Help You Resist Sin
2. Run to Christ
“. . . pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace”
It is not enough to flee from youthful lusts. We must run toward a new passion. We are to “pursue,” that is, eagerly and swiftly run toward Christlikeness.
Christ promises His people a heart of:
- Righteousness (real integrity, a passion for justice, and a life pleasing to God)
- Faith (strong and welcome conviction and trust in God)
- Love (benevolent affection toward God and others)
- Peace (tranquility in the heart and harmony with God and others)
We are to run hard after these things each day knowing these character qualities are how we were created to live. We pursue these things knowing it is our destiny to live this way. A billion years from now, when sin is a distant memory, we will be living lives of love, peace, and righteousness in the kingdom of God. Having this hope we purify ourselves, just as He is pure (1 John 3:3).
3. Run With Godly Friends
“. . . along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
We must not only run from lust and toward God’s vision for our lives, but we must also run with our brothers and sisters with the same vision. We must all find companions for this stretch of the road, those who share our faith and convictions, those in the common struggle for holiness.
These friends should be those who “call on the Lord,” an expression for those who are saved (Acts 22:16; Romans 10:13). These are other men and women who have also cried out to God for the forgiveness of their sins from a “pure” (genuine) heart.
Running with others involves a certain level of intentionality. It is not enough to simply know others around us are on the same journey because they profess the Christian faith. We must have real running companions, those who actually help us flee youthful passions and pursue a Christlike heart.
James 5:16 and Hebrews 10:24-25 offer four key building blocks that give structure to how Christian accountability should look. These building blocks are: meeting together, confession of sin, prayer, and encouragement.
Meeting together is the foundation. This includes all the basic methods of communication and conversation: meeting for coffee, talking on the phone, texting, writing emails, or anything that involves a meeting of minds. The central pillar in the room is confession of sin: getting honest with God and one another about what we are doing that we shouldn’t do or not doing what we should. The outer walls that support and protect this relationship are prayer and encouragement.
Why Can’t I Just Stop Lusting?
People ask me all the time, “Why can’t I just stop lusting?” I share my response to these people in this video below, which happens to include references to 2 Timothy 2:22. We believe so strongly that this verse contains the best strategy for how to overcome lust and quit porn that we actually used it as the foundation for a 40-day challenge called Overcome Porn. This challenge walks you through these three strategies and equips you with some of our best resources to put porn in your past for good. So watch this video, and give Overcome Porn: The 40-Day Challenge a try today.
Fighting against lust isn’t easy, but it’s also not something that you need to do alone. Through prayer, Scripture, accountability, and a heartfelt desire to flee from lustful passions, you can resist temptation and overcome lust.
We’d love to hear from you. What has God taught you about breaking free from lust? Comment below!
Thank GOD 4 MY LIFE.I feel and I KNOW STRONGLY THAT BY THY GRACE I WOULD BREAK FREE FROM PORN.Itz always tragic seeing myself watchin porn.After the deedz done.Then i feel sober.Bt NOT AGAIN WITH CHRIST
Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:16 – 17v
See not alone but with one another two or more.
To Adilo: Im glad i saw a recent comment…I know that what Im dealing with as far as lust is concerned is that I had given into temptation with sum1 even after knowing that its wrong(i have the holy spirit as well) and i opened the doors to lust with that person. I BELIEVE the Holy Spirit is helping to combat b/c I have willing and repentful heart Now more than ever esp. since my sanity depends on my obedience to stop. I have stopped fornicating and committing adultery phys. Im curently renewing my mind on the thigs of Christ. Im running to Him before Satan takes me out…believers:pray for me, ill b prayin for yall and for the nonbelievers to start believing and to get on board with knowing that VICTORY IS POSSIBLE!!! Amen
I found that it helped me to have communion daily and try to hear the Holy spirit’s guidance. Psalms 31 helped because It showed me God rescues me. Also John A. Clark has
a great site on google called the Christ mind. From reading his info
about who God is I found my intellect
was happily satisfied. God was not
mad at me for my quest of deep spiritual knowledge from a man well
Versed in psychology and science
and promises to draw you closer to
God. Understanding God and his love better covers many ills. Hope
This helps brothers and sisters. I think pursuing this quest will make
my desire to see nakedness diminish.
My prayers are with all of us who struggle. Barry
Hi, Barry, I wonder if you might benefit from watching this movie when it comes out on 9/14: https://www.covenanteyes.com/2017/08/29/heart-of-man-freedom-from-shame/
huum, am in this situation! i really need help. i stop and go in again, stop and fail in again. this is only the challenges i have in my christian journey and am married
From Chris a fellow sojourner in the same problem, but recovering from same. From your name you will be a Nigerian. I am a Nigerian based in Lagos and would like to offer you content that will help. With respect to this and in addition with what you have on this blog you could visit Mary’s GirlGoneWise. The site offers useful video blogs relevant to women. An example is http://www.girlsgonewise.com/boy-crazy-girl/, but there are more.
So please go check it out!
Thanks for the link!
Fall in means you not doing something with someone but alone.gets helper.
This is where I come in. I resist for a while but the resistance soon gets broken. It can be very frustrating at times. I love God sincerely but ths fire of lust is something else. It has led me into adultery and threatened my marriage a number of times. I really seriously need help.
What have you done to seek help?
being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, man that’s my struggle. i go along just fine for awhile then the urge comes along, ‘the lust mode’ creaps in, & i end up giving in instead of resisting. get my fix & i’m ok for awhile, until it starts all over again. what a vicious cycle
@hermann – Is is a vicious cycle. I know that all too well. I did a webinar a while back where I talked about the cycle of addiction. Perhaps you should listen to it. It is called “Practical and Spiritual Resources for the Porn Addict.”
Get married read my post youobviously are not one to be single God will make a way out.but find her his way.
I’m going through the exact same struggle of feeling in control for awhile and then some days the temptation seems almost UNBEARABLE! I just wish I could find a woman and get married so I can fulfill my sexual urges and not feel the strong sense of guilt that comes after looking at porn.
we must be a full rounded christian so that we could fight the lust of this world. must be bounded to the word of God in our lives.
not been fighting. signed up for covenant eyes last night. need help
J. Sidlow Baxter wrote a very biblical, scholarly, and practical book on holiness: A NEW CALL TO HOLINESS. It is out of print now but I once found a pdf version free online. If anyone can find it would you please post a reply with a link? I once heard this dear man of God in person, speaking on this topic. He said “Don’t try to live a holy life. You’ll never do it. Live a holy minute. After that live another holy minute. Eventually you will find yourself living a holy life. But always focus on living a holy minute right now.” I think this is the best advice on the topic I ever heard. I recommend taking all these biblical pieces of advice and applying them one minute at a time. It has worked for me, but I also have failed, when I took my eyes off Christ. Live a holy minute my friends.
That is some very good advice. That’s exactly what making a resolution is all about: cut it up into very manageable time slots. We must do this every minute of the day.
For all those who have full control of themselves you are special and have no need of a mate .if you don’..t .get married .so go and date but stay pure get to know the i.nner person first before you go discover the flesh why should you save yourself, simple if you do you never have to compare your mate to another.being in love is just a starting point., to knowing who’s inside.if you do get married be warned all works are tested.like Paul aside wished everyone was like him .but if you can’t control yourself get married. But not maybe but you will have trouble.give me trouble Paul.for I believe in a two fold cord tied up in love bound in faith can’t be broken .so go out , date, find someone your heart feels for, stay pured by faith in your pure actions see if you both.believe inJesus.the same.take some time to discover each other .you’ll know when it that game must stop.and it time to marry.
What may be small to me may not be
Small to God. The key is to keep fellowship with Him at all cost. Keep confessing and repenting. The one minute holiness idea sounds good.
Thanks Ben
Verses that the Lord has used to transform my thinking as of late comes from the ‘other’ Timothy, 5:1-2 to be exact.
“Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
Morality isn’t the central theme here, but I think it goes hand in hand with encouraging everyone, believers AND unbelievers, to do the right thing. However, I wish to focus squarely on the “women…purity” aspect.
I think a weapon that many (not just men) sadly fail to use in the war on lust is considering all human beings as members of their own family. When faced with temptation…the idea of using someone as a sexual object, why not realize that these people are mothers, daughters….fathers, sons….etc?
Take it one step further. Consider how you would react if your OWN blood was presenting the members of their bodies as tools of unrighteousness? Let’s be frank; if you found out your mother, sister, daughter, etc, was engaged in pornographic behavior…wouldn’t that just be nauseating?
We can use the same approach in our own battles. Men are the glory of God (1 Cor 11:7), but that doesn’t make everyone else any less created in His image as well.
The main idea: don’t promote the unrighteous exploitation of God’s creations, and ultimately rob Him of His glory. Regardless of spiritual condition, love is to abound, and immorality does anything but. Don’t be deceived; God is not mocked. We will sow what we reap.
Agreed. A good point to remind us if we did everything out of true love for God, for others and for ourselves, we will fight off sins and win. I often forget that I myself am a created image of God. I am loved and it is grieving the Father to see me abused myself with sins.
I joined a web purity class a few years ago. I also was in counseling. These things did not work. I still have a problem with lust and I don’t understand how if I asked for prayer in this area and did these things why did I end up looking at porn? It’s not fair. I’ve been struggling with so many things & I used to try to fight it yet even tho I tried not to look at porn and Prayed w my aunt daily I still ended up looking at it. Please reply to:leahbmac@gmail.com
Hi Leah,
I know the feeling. It is terrible feeling out of control.
When you say these things “didn’t work,” what do you mean? Do you mean you ended up looking at porn anyway? I think what is important is learning what progress in this area looks like. Victory in this area is not a “cure” where you no longer are tempted, no longer feel the urge, or never falling to temptation again. Victory is not “never struggling.” Victory is learning to hate your sin as sin (that is, as something offensive to God). Victory is in how quickly to run to the grace of God in the midst of the struggle (either while you are being tempted or after succumbing to temptation). Victory is pursuing accountability in your life and being honest and transparent with others. Victory is any instance where you said no where you might have said yes before (and hopefully doing that more and more as time goes).
It is also important to remember that porn addiction is a lot like drug addiction. In fact, brain scans of porn addicts look a lot like the brains scans of alcoholics: there is a decreased ability in both brains to resist urges and make moral decisions. I say this not to discourage you but to encourage you. Just as an alcoholic has to go through a period of withdrawal (which admittedly feels terrible physically and emotionally), there is hope in knowing that your brain was created by God to rewire itself. Just in saying no to sin, you can know that in that moment you are training your brain. You can know that you are building a new habit. You can know that in time you will find the ability to more easily fight the craving.
Don’t give up. God has given us means to fight this, and you’re already using some of those means. You are running to Him in prayer. You are talking with others about this.
I recommend you watch these free videos by Brad Hambrick, a Christian counselor. They do a great job helping people peel away the layers of this problem to get to the root of them.
Amen. God bless you brother.
Very insightful I never took this idea that far before thank you
Justin, how encouraging brother!
I will bring to a minimal degree the temptation that the enemy uses on me. I think that stress absolutely is a trigger and depression is too.
satan does not hold back in the depraved ways he tempts us. He’s put images of brothers and sisters in the Faith in my head MANY times and bodily it has caused ungodly passions. Please brethren, pray for me.
How difficult it can be when you’re trying to fellowship with Agape love in your heart and the enemy comes along and tempts you to look at them in an unclean, immoral way. Self-pleasure is not “pleasure” at all. I went 3 years without giving in to the temptation and then last month I gave in just one time. I must confess brothers and sisters, it was NOT WORTH it. When you abstain–at least for me–it gets easier over time. Remember this Verse “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” The Lord Jesus is Truth and He is protecting us. He was tempted in all ways and He absolutely understands, and He was guilty of no sin whatsoever when He died on that cross for us, then raised by God on the third day. He wants us spotless. I like the analogy of imagining a loved one being tempted or sinning with porn. It would absolutely be nauseous indeed and worrisome to me.
We must remind ourselves that we were made in God’s image. I believe that is why shame, disgust and many other emotions flood in if one falls into sexual immorality from passion or whatever fiery dart the enemy uses. Don’t know any of you guys. I’m new here. I’ve been a born again believer since 2011. I’ve failed the Lord Jesus Christ so many times but I always get back up because He’s never failed me and I love Him. Proverbs 7 is an excellent warning against youthful passion and sexual immorality. Please read in the King James Version.
Agape love to all of you my brothers and sisters.
Great response Justin. Thanks for being salty and a light!
In Christ Jesus, Chris
Praise Jesus ! I must thank you for your inspiration it have been ofgreat help me. Sexual sin have been a challenge to me for many years and have been difficult for me to stay strong in the lord there are times when I am going on fine and then it pops up again but I must fight the good fight of faith to be saved ,thanks again and may the good lord bless you in inspiring the soul of men to be saved.
Amen n thats exactly the fact…..I thank God for this message
May God be with u n bless u for this
I have used pretending scenarios to help me go to sleep since puberty, so I don’t even need to watch porn to get stirred up to maturbate. But as I fight it there are now triggers like beautiful women on the TV that send me down the road. Recently I didn’t have any TV to watch and didn’t pretend to get to sleep and it worked but the side-effect has been poor sleep, culminating in me watching porn for the first time in months and masturbating. This video is very helpful for me, Gid bless you
Guys I have found the weapons of mass destruction to any legion of devils that deceive you! It’s 2nd cornintians 5:10 ( CAST DOWN IMAGINATIONS AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALT ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND BRING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEIDENCE OF CHRIST ) ponder on that verse let it marinate and be branded into thy heart and mind and whatever the mind does the body follows if your hand causes you to sin cut it off if your phone causes you to sin break it if your computer causes you sin throw it out the window! God is good! Jesus heals and most of all restores! Behold he makes all things new again!
Man this Situation has been avoided for a while. Can’t keep running. Its time to be honest with yourself and God…. He’s been wayyyy to Good man. Jus too Good. I wanna be pleasing to him…. I know he loves me. Forreal. I ready to Love him with my whole heart. And Its gone take sum efforts. Well never know why he love us so much….
Run from…run to…run with. Excellent way of remembering some very important truths. Thanks Luke!
True indeed. I come up against heavy lust attacks time and again. My flesh is too weak to fight. But thanks for the powerful message on how to combat lust and temptation. I need really need to practice living a victorious Christian life and that’s only possible by depending on God’s grace.
Being a good christian requires GODs word to be IN you…
Afta abstainin 4 so long n pretendin to be a good a christian the spirit of lust overtook me n it bcame a habit of mastarbatin,watching porn n all kinds of lustiful things bt i thank GOD 4 wat he has done..
Thanks for dis forum
These strategies are very enlightening. Currently I have a trigger… stress. I have found this out because of my current situation. I was recently diagnosed with heart disease, my beautiful wife is pregnant, friends have passed away, another killed his wife and due to my condition I am being medically discharged from the military. I have a family and I find myself praying for the next step or guidance to get there but I don’t see His plan. Long ago I had a port problem and it was like immediately I ran to it. Something I hadn’t done in years thought I was passed. I am fighting it now through scripture and the prayer. I still fall short but I repent and like now I am searching for verse that you gave me to memorize. His word will protect me from myself. As scared and apprehensive about the future I know God will take care of me. I feel everything I slip is my faith slipping as well. God bless and that kind you for your video and message. One episode has been nullified and more will be in the future from this post.
@Brett Barnes, I commend you for keeping the issue in the light, where it will have less control over you. Press on! And, as we march towards eternity, covered in the saving sacrifice of Jesus, know that God’s grace is fresh every day.
Peace,
Chris
Im 16 & This is helping me out a bit, Because the type of mind set I have is for love, faith, and peace, and reminiscing, but lust interfered with it, Everytime I go on Instagram or watch TV I see women with most of there clothes of and the gorgeous body and the way they move is just so mesmerizing to me, and I want to do is have a good time knowing Jesus has my back because I will always have his. This is my first day trying this out, it won’t be easy but I trust God. Thank you guys?
I’ve been saved for 4 months and have had sex for 3 years but lately I’m having trouble staying away from porn. I’m so happy and blessed that I’ve given my life to Jesus, and I’m praying every day for this lust to leave my life. Any advice for me. I’m fasting and praying for God’s forgiveness every time I stray.
Hi Gale, I’m so sorry to hear about your struggle. After reading the blog post that you commented on, what have you tried? I’ve found those strategies, especially the “run with,” to be incredibly helpful.
Peace, Chris
Covenant Eyes
I do not know when this all started and I am disgusted with how far it has gotten, I am a female, I shouldn’t be struggling with this at all. I think it all originally started from young aged “masterbation” when I really had no clue what I was doing other than it felt good. But then as I got older I was able to put a name on it and then later was able to determine that it was a sin. But my cravings and need had become so great for it that I started to watch porn. I am digusted in myself and I do not know what to do, I have tried so many times to overcome it and so many strategies (including these) but my love for this sin ends up surpassing my love for God. I do not want that, I want to give my all. But this sin makes me feel unworthy and unloved. I need prayer, I do not feel worthy to even serve God as I struggle with this. I am the biggest hypocrite ever.
Hey Emma,
We’ve got lots of resources for women who struggle with porn, HERE. Find community! Find healing! And know that you are always, always, always loved and safe and chosen. God is never, ever disgusted with you. You are always his Beloved.
Peace to you,
Kay
I want to run from lustful thoughts and actions I have tried many times before to quit but I just kept coming back to it. Finally, I am starting over again and just as I was losing hope I found this site. I decided to download the app then and there. I am hoping that this habit die. I have had this bad habit for over 8 years and I’m ready to let go and focus on God. Focus on being a better Christian
After struggling with porn for over 40 years, i have come to this conclusion, he who has died is free from sin. Sin only has power over you while you live. Some sins I believe you must take to the grave to be truly free from them. It’s not much of a consolation, but it’s better than nothing. The battle will someday be over for good.
Hey, I just thought it would be helpful to know that it’s 2 Timothy 2:22, not chapter 2 verse 2.
I like reading it in my own Bible so it stays with me.
Great! Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 7 years and you’re the first one to point that out. Thank you for that! We’ll get that fixed right away!
Best, Chris
I was raped by my stepfather, and stepbrothers, another man who comes in contact with me. I hated myself. I was beaten, mentally, physically, spiritually. God healed my mind. I began to read the word of God. I play worship all the time to set an atmosphere where ever I go. in your car, at work you set the atmosphere. Sing worship, quote scriptures in your mind. This keeps me sane and in love with Jesus. I have been celibate for 14 years. I have been through 2 divorces both spouses cheated on me. I am happy, and I have a lover who will never cheat on me, Jesus Christ. He is the Lover of my Soul. I am writing about Called Daddy” dark Hidden Secrets. It’s about how God delivered me from being child abuse, Molested, Incest, Prostitution, Homeless, Depression, Suicide, How he came in and heal and taught me the levels of each thing I experienced in my life to help other who feel they are helpless which is a lie from the devil. The Bible says he has given us power over the devil, spirit, sickness, and diseases, we can raise the dead also. M y faith Level is a place I can do all things through Christ only he can only strengthen me. I can not do it myself. There is nothing wonderful, or righteous about me but Jesus Christ and his shedding of his blood for me.
Will I find what I’m thinking about lustful thinking about women I think about the goodness of God has shown me, I think about the grace as he picked me up from falling the consequences and feeling bad after a sinful Act and I think about speaking to God asking for strength and being devoted to prayer with a special attention of praise
im going to try this, as its a huge habit of my life, and i need to break this within me, i need God to save me form myself, I need God to deliver me from myself, and i need God to rescue me form myself, I gave up smoking 11 years ago, something I didn’t think i could do,,
Two things I needed to conquer in myself, smoking, normal smokes, and lust, and the greatest battle is lust,, it consume me, and I know the Holy spirit is with me, in me, and I will do the 40 days, I will commit the next 40 days, to doing what I am lead to do, through these emails, they say it takes 3 weeks to kick a habit, and this is my final battle I promise God I would do,,, God be with me, and give me strength, give guidance to me, and holy spirit, guide me through the temptations of lust,,
I seek God company…
Luke
I recently was looking up on google overcoming childhood trauma concerning nakedness. I have always been modest but secretly I enjoy looking at my own body daily. I have
Always according to my wife had trouble keeping an errection even though we had 2 girls now 33 and
35 the problem still remains. I do not
look at porn but from time to time
Usually under stress I create my own
thinking there must be some answer there to my obsession. R.C Sproull
has a book about Holiness I was reading. He began telling the story about Isaiah commanded by God to
walk around naked for 3 years. I began to research this unbelievable
Story and drew Isaiah naked front and back. Sinse then I threw it out.
Then I try to move on but I see a problem that I can not shake on my own. Every day I am temped with
male nakedness or my own nakedness. I fight wanting to pray naked. The harder I try to stay pure
the more hopeless it seems. My desires are too strong am too
embarrassed to tell my wife. She already says I am unstable. I am
Out of work right now but I believe
God is telling me to tighten up my act. Thanks for all your good Biblcal
advice. I am taking this seriously and
have some guys I can be accountable to then hopefully I can
Confess my secrecy to my wife.
Thanks sir for that wonderful message
Hello. My name is Vincent and I have been struggling with pornography since around high school. I do have a relationship with Jesus Christ and I have started to open up to my family about the issue but the habit has been very difficult to shake and I need a lot of prayer. Thank you for posting this video as it has encouraged me in my battle against lust. I know that that we all will overcome this by the grace of God.
the app is 4 bucks bruh, do you want more people to stop sinning or for more money in your pockets?
My name is Aureona Shaw since I’ve been 9 I️ was exposed to sex at a young age . The seed was planted and it grew big and now I️ have these sexual urges. I️ never had sex before and I️ tried all the things I️ could but it didn’t work this my first time seeing this , pray for me
Hey Aureona, it sounds to me like it would be helpful for you to find a therapist who can help you work through the sexual abuse you have suffered. Acting things out is the way that children make sense of the world, so it is really normal for victims of sexual abuse to act out what’s happened. You would have had sexual urges anyway, because sexual urges are normal! Therapy can help you figure out how to be healthy with your sexuality and emotions. Look for a therapist who has training and experience in treating the trauma that comes with sexual abuse. Peace to you, Kay
Why do you think it is only from sex. Lust of the flesh is a sin of doing. It can be derived from faith by works. Doing works to satisfying with the gradisfaction of knowing I am better with the works which increases my importance.
Luke,
First of all, thank you for being obedient and having this ministry. Your video was a great help. I have a group of guys I am running with. One of them talked about dropping (running from) and picking up (running to). I have really focused on running from and have had limited success and have gotten down on myself for not being able to quit porn.
So I am going to download the app. Also, I tend to rush through things and want the quick “fix” as it were. You pointing out at the end of the video that this will take time and needs to be unpacked. That the tangled wires need to be untangled (by my choices and by Christ’ strength). The video was very encouraging and has given me renewed hope.
Hello I have struggled with porn for about 7 years I know from the scripture read that it only through the potency in the word of God that can deliver me from this habit God bless you.
Thank you although very simplistic but powerful. I did some of the run from. I left a job of 20 years because of a married man that was after me. The devil used my loneliness and the man’s flirtatious ways to get at me. Also I ended up lusting for him and fantasizing about him. So I had to leave. Now I am running to Him please pray for me I am also in need of a job. Thank you so much
Hello. My name is DJ: I’m 18 years old and I’ve been struggling with Lust for about 4 years. Although this thread has been around for some time I’ve seen the comments from over the years and can’t think but say that I’m so blessed to have found this website when I did. So many people with stories similar to mine reminds that i’m not the only one that struggles with lust. It’s beautiful. I’ve confessed this to God. And my next step is to say something here. I’m DJ and I struggle with Lust. I want to get better I want to be better and lastly I want to grow better. I’m taking the steps to Flee, Run to, then Run with.
Thank you so much for your amazing thread and to all the comments here posted, thank you for sharing part of your story with me.
Very helpful!! I am a widowed Christian woman who was almost ashamed to admit that I actually struggled with this!! I don’t have a problem with the “run with” strategy, as I have a great group of Christian friends that I can share my struggle with in confidentiality. Sometimes, mainly though, I struggle when I’m all alone and the sinful thoughts come back!! But I’m working on it everyday and realize that this won’t be an overnight process. One thing I do know is when everytime I give into the sinful pleasure, I feel dirty and unworthy and I just don’t want to keep feeling that way. I will continue to pray that I begin to put my trust in God that he will deliver me and that I receive TOTAL freedom that can only come where the spirit of the Lord is!!! Thanks for sharing your advice!! Please keep me lifted!!
Hello all, I wanted to say that fighting lust is something that I have lived with since I was 14. I am now 35 and still struggle daily. Some days are harder than others. My mind has been poisoned with images over the years of pornography, strip clubs and random sexual encounters. At a younger age I thought nothing of the consequences of those actions. Now, basically I feel that I’m like a recovering alcoholic that from time to time relapses. I have turned to God for help because I was a slave to this life and I was not strong enough to fight this alone. Now, I have been in a faithful relation with my wife for the past 5 and a half years. I have 3 children all under the age of 9. Pornography is more addictive than any drug out their. It destroys lifes and families. I fight the impure thoughts and I pray for myself and others with this addiction. Once you have dived into pornography you will carry the weight of these sins until you ask forgiveness from Christ Jesus.
i am pastor , of a mess,,, i have been, lusting since very early childhood, i was married for 42 years ti a Godly wife, She died at age 59, dec 2014, i have always seemed to struggle with lust,, after , now, the death of my wife, is now, more inflamed with lust/i have tried to , break this cycle, but, still remain, in them, seeking to finally be ,,, set free, but, still not .
Hi I have an attraction to woman, problem is woman seem more perverted than men in the way they dress and show off the flesh, I am a man, it’s Gods will to be attracted but the way women go on it’s difficult, I only want God in my life to give me strength, please help me find God
I am a woman who has been addicted to porn. Deliverance from demons of lust and perversion is important. And focusing the light of Jesus on soul wounds to heal. It is possible to break this terrible habit! We must have the Lord’s help. I cried out to the Lord in 2011 and woke up the next day healed. I just didnt have the desire for it anymore…not only that…but the thing I was so addicted to actually made me vomit I thought porn was so gross now. Just recently I have been struggling again. I keep crying out to God…..I am doing well today. I need Jesus desperately. I dont understand all the facets of this problem. But I will tell you….being free and pure is infinitely better. God gave me the grace and ability to focus solely on my partner and to get as much pleasure from that as I got from porn. Ultimately porn is so empty….I loathe it. Cling to Jesus….talk to him openly.
I am 16 years old and I have been having a problem with lustful thoughts for a while and this passage has offered me how to overcome lust and live the way God wants me to live. I give thanks to God and Jesus Christ.
Long fasting and persistent prayers
Also helps in breaking Lust, pride, anger