Let's Be Pure this Lent...together

[jeanne71350]

Hi everyone,

As you all know, Lent is approaching. I am making a sincere effort to give up masturbation. For those of you who have battled it, you know how difficult it is to stop. I’m sure if I can break the habit for 40 days, I will be free of it for life. I truly hate it, and I know it upsets Our Lord. I want to free myself of it so I will be closer to Him.

Being truly pure is a great gift from God. It means every action, every movement, is full of Grace. Sure, we are human and we sin, but we are called as Christians and Catholics to be as pure as possible. I want people to look in my heart and soul, and only see God. Not sin, hate, or impurity.

I challenge all of you to dump the junk this Lent. Stop anything you may be doing that is keeping you away from God, whatever it may be. Sure, it is easy to give up candy or soda…but where will that get you in your relationship with Christ? It is not going to be easy, but it’s going to be so worth it.

I want to get together people on these forms who are like me, who are struggling with a sin…and who want to get rid of it. It dosen’t matter what you are doing, I won’t judge and I’m sure others won’t either. You just have to seriously want to give this up to get closer to God. I’m going to create a group where we will send each other encouragement and prayers every day. If you feel tempted, get on the comptuer, click on the group, and give yourself a holy and healthy distraction instead of sinning.

If you are not in my position, please pray for us! We need every prayer we can get.

Who’s with me?

-Jeanne

 

[Arianna09]

Great! Once you break free of it you will feel so good. I had done it for years and then converted. After my first confession I didn’t want to slip again b/c it was so akward confessing it. However, I slipped a few times. But, I now have been free and clear for probably about a year. But the thing I don’t like is that I still have dreams about it. Hopefully, someday my dreams won’t haunt me.
Something that I have heard recommended is to put sacred images where you would normally do it (computer, by the bed, wear a saint bracelet…). That way, hopefully you second guess what you are doing just long enough to stop. Good luck. Great thing to give up for Lent!

 

[jeanne71350]

Great! Once you break free of it you will feel so good. I had done it for years and then converted. After my first confession I didn’t want to slip again b/c it was so akward confessing it. However, I slipped a few times. But, I now have been free and clear for probably about a year. But the thing I don’t like is that I still have dreams about it. Hopefully, someday my dreams won’t haunt me.
Something that I have heard recommended is to put sacred images where you would normally do it (computer, by the bed, wear a saint bracelet…). That way, hopefully you second guess what you are doing just long enough to stop. Good luck. Great thing to give up for Lent!

Thank you for the encouragement. I actually taped holy cards to my celiling fan which is right above my bed…but that didn’t last very long

I’m going to start sleeping with my rosary in my hands…kinda creepy…but the saints did it.

-Jeanne

 

[bpbasilphx]

Don’t attempt this for 40 day.

Rather, do it ONE day at the time.

 

[JaredR]

Don’t attempt this for 40 day.

Rather, do it ONE day at the time.

I agree with this. I am trying to be rid of this habit for life, and the most effective way I’ve found is to say, “OK, Lord, I am going to be chaste just for today. I don’t care about tomorrow. I’m just going to be chaste TODAY.” It is easier to manage when you think of it that way.

 

[david_friol]

Purity is very important in our day and we all must strive to live holy lives. I have had battles with a severe pornography addiction, suicide, murderous desires, masturbation…etc. I tried every thing I could think of for many years. I want to encourage any of you who struggle with any sin. Because I have been set free by the power and Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ though the sacraments of confession and the Eucharist. You can not do it on your own, you will only fall back again. You must put your lives totally and completely in his hands and in the care of the most Holy and Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph too! One day I decided to try and start living the sacraments. My thought was that if Jesus really is present in the Eucharist then he would help me to really overcome these things, especially impurity. So I said I would start going to Mass every morning and I said that if I had even one of these sins on my conscience I would not receive until I went to confession. Well, at first, I struggled terribly but I did my best to stay with it. I took to heart the words of Jesus when he said to even look at a woman with lust is adultery. And St. Paul’s words that no fornicator or adulterer shall enter heaven. I went to confession almost daily at first because it was to me mortal sin. On one occassion I went to confession twice in the same day. You should have seen the look on the priest’s face when I told him my last confession was about 3-4 hours ago. I begged God to help me, I pleaded with our Lady to teach me purity. I shed many tears in frustration at myself because I kept falling back. I faced anger and punching walls, I told my wife to help break me of my fearful pride, I began speaking honestly and openly about my sinfulness whenever the situation allowed, I began reading God’s Word in Sacred Scipture often throughout the day, at first a little but now I try to read a few chapters each day, in the morning on my knees to read and pray with my wife and at night prayer before bed. Rosary, Catechism(couple of paragraghs) and a couple(2-3) chapters from Scripture. I knew that the Lord wanted to set me free but he wanted me to strive to form better habits and to become more disciplined in the faith. Praise be to Jesus for the great work that he has done in me. Daily communion and weekly confessions have helped me to remain pure in my life. I confess now even an unholy glance because I know where it has led me before. The priest that I go to now regularly has helped tremendously and he doesn’t mind that I go every week even though I have been Mortal sin-free for quite some time. But I must be on guard because of my pride so I do not become to over confident in myself. So again I say Praise be to Jesus truly present in the Eucharist and for his holy sacraments. And thank you Blessed Mother, you truly are my Mother!

God blessyou and you families!

 

[Arianna09]

One day at a time is great advice. We should always live like there may not be tomorrow…but in a good way! I like the idea of taking a rosary to bed. Maybe, when you feel the desire, you should pray a rosary. Plus or minus 20 minutes later with good prayer, you probably won’t feel like committing a grave sin!