How to pray after I've mortally sinned?

[scapularkid8]

I struggle with masturbation and lust, which I am slowly getting past Praise God.

However, I still feel really discouraged after I’ve done these things and I can’t seem to continue after I fall. I can’t pray to God because I think I’m dirty or He doesn’t want me, or won’t hear me or something.

I know this is what satan wants me to feel, but I just have a hard time getting past this. Can anyone offer any insight or advice for a way to keep developing a spiritual life even while not in a state of grace?..does God hear me?

 

[LilyM]

Read up on Perfect Contrition. Make an Act of Perfect Contrition whenever you are aware of mortal sin (that’s your regular Act of Contrition, plus a resolution to confess as soon as you are able).

As long as you are sincerely sorry for your sins, out of love for God and because they offend Him, and not just fear of Hell for example, that Act alone will restore you to a state of soul where you can be sure you’re praying effectively.

It will, in the event of you not being able to get to confession prior to death, even get you to purgatory/heaven on its own. The only thing that it will NOT do is enable you to receive Communion without confession, danger of death and no available confessor being pretty much the only exception.

 

[SoulRebel777]

hey scap boy , get over yourself man. your little sins are nothing compared to Gods Mercy. Gods Mercy is greater then any sin. and so you sinned and watched some internet porn or whatever. cut the stuff out man and stop playing with your pickle. buy some filter software first off. look up truevine internet filter to block the porn. and throw away all your vaseline jars too .

start a regime man. make a schedule of the things you need to do . heres an example

I will go to Mass 3days a week.
Ill go to confession Monthly.
Ill make a holy hour once a week
I’ll read the bible every day.
Ill fast once a month.
Ill help the poor once a month.
Ill only hang out with those who help me grow in my faith walk.
Ill pray 30 minutes each day

etc etc

these are your spiritual; weights.

 

[Joysong]

All sins begin in the mind with thoughts of desire, and possibly in your case, it begins with bodily arousal that screams for relief.

I know a person who struggled with this problem, and learned that he used a process called ‘sublimation.’

sub·li·mate 1. Psychology. to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.

As an example, whenever the thought to commit the sin arose, he sublimated it with a higher thought of Christ. He began a litany of thanksgiving for all the wonderful gifts God gave him, and through mentally recounting the litany, could not continue on his design to offend this gracious Lord. Eventually, through using continual sublimation in the face of temptation, the desires left him.

This is one of the keenest temptations that man struggles with. The battle being great, the victory and blessings will be greater.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Because males are aroused through visual stimulation, its difficult to shut out thoughts of sex, especially in the day and age we live in, where merely watching television will give you a multitude of sexual images. A young male with raging hormones, is going to have a very difficult time, avoiding temptations.

Also, unless the reason to avoid the sin becomes greater than the desire, your more often than not, going to give in to the desire.

So, it takes a great deal of prayer and especially vigilance, to avoid sexually stimulating sites. Its going to require that you prayer for the gift of understanding why the sin is wrong. Just being told that masturbation is a sin, isn’t going to work. The evil one can easily give you reasons that will make you doubt the seriousness of the sin.

So, pray and ask Christ to give you the understanding.

Then, don’t give into despair when you’ve failed. God knows the difficulty you’re going through. Mere;y turn to Christ and pray the Jesus Prayer, " Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

Also, as you get older, the temptations come less and are weaker, and easier to overcome.

God Bless
Jim

 

[moosears]

This is the prayer of a wounded soldier,

" Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

Try to get in the habit of saying this prayer many times daily. When you fall to temptation make the act of contrition and do not lose a step in your prayer life. Make it to confession as soon as you possibly can. The graces received in confession are so powerful that I would suggest going once a week, mortal sin or not. Be careful also not to try to follow too much advice that does not fit into your state in life or you will overburden yourself. You are not alone in your struggle.

Let’s pray for one another.

 

[moosears]

…does God hear me?

God does not ignore the prayers of the penitent. His mercy is boundless and He certainly loves you just as much as He did before the fall so you should have great confidence in God hearing your prayers even if you have sinned mortally. If you are truly contrite, God knows it, so make your act of contrition and keep offering your petitions before the throne of God.

Last week at Mass our priest offered this advice for overcoming impurity: say three Hail Mary’s first thing every morning and the last thing before bed every night for purity.