Overcoming Lust...how?

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But malice has to do with intention. People don’t look at porn to intentionally hurt. They are deriving sexual gratification
 
RC - love the name by the way. Back in the day, we used to drink RC Cola - it was really , really good stuff. But I digress.

Ah yes - intentions. Setting aside Romans 1 for the moment - a Christian has no excuse, no? A Christian who looks at porn KNOWS it is devaluing our King’s creation. A Christian who goes to a prostitute has no excuse. A Christian who lusts in his heart has no excuse in terms of intentions, no?

I would argue that any adult who looks at porn knows that they are furthering the industry - your point earlier about externalities from the RCC notwithstanding.

In any case - I admire and appreciate your point of view. I especially appreciate where your heart is coming from. I’m an old, totally depraved Calvinist, and perhaps tend to be too militant - perhaps even puritanical? - when it comes to topics like this. Thank you for our discussion.

And again - I really like the name! 🙂
 
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Just repeating this because if you believe it, I mean actually think about this and believe it then it I should be quite a anaphrodisiac no? It’s actually I keep in mind myself and it helps, especially when you consider how God is aware of our acts and thoughts. Naturally his could lead to scrupulosity which is maybe why we aren’t more aware of it and it’s not so easy to be constantly aware of.
 
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Thanks about the name!

I’m not arguing that a Christian doesn’t have an excuse of sinning with lust! And it can be mortal for sure!

But malicious is it’s own level of sin, which carries an intention to hurt. Not simply use, or objectify, as awful as that is in God’s sight.
 
Yes! This is why marriage is such an awesome thing - or at least one of the reasons (it’s my favorite if I’m honest)! In marriage we get to honor not only our own bodies - but that of our spouses AND we please and honor the King of Kings too!!! What a great deal!
 
Actually, @Catholicwife32 went on to express how many sexual sins are not mortal and diminished on account of certain things.

We happened to argue about descriptions of Chastity, but I agreed with a lot of what she had to say. 😉

Malice is the opposite of diminished culpability.
 
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Thank you so much for sharing these passages from the Catechism…and your own wisdom!
 
Knight said:
Not sure how to start this topic so I guess just jumping right to it works.

How have you overcome the temptations of lust?

I feel like I struggle with it a great deal but I want to be rid of it. Sins of the flesh are the most common reason of lost souls, and I really don’t want that to happen to me. Or any of my brothers and sisters for that matter.

So, what tips and suggestions do you have on mastering this sin?

Thank you and God bless!
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Pray the Rosary and pray in general on a consistent basis, including talking to God intimately as a friend. Immerse yourself in the joy of Scripture and other spiritual reading. Give yourself silence. Let God talk to you. Go to Adoration. Plead with God for a humble and pure and contrite heart. You must come to understand that God alone suffices.

Our physical minds and our souls are both malleable.

The difference from my formal self is amazing. Am I immune to temptation? No, I am not. But the difference now? When I see a women dressed in a way to draw attention, the first feelings I have for her is compassion and sadness. I feel sorry for her. It is amazing how my perspective has changed, and God has made this possible. Trust in God.
 
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I struggle with porn a lot. Started when I was a teen, didn’t really try to stop until about 2 years ago. So normally I make it a week or two and then fall again. Frustrating. Monday will be 2 weeks for me. Longest I’ve gone since June. When I do it, I fall into despair and I don’t see the use for anything, I stop praying and get depressed. Last two times I ended up doing it about 5 days after confession, I feel too despaired and embarrassed to go back less than a week later. It’s so frustrating, longest streak I had was around 80 days (end of last year), why can’t I get there again?(When I say watch porn, I masturbate with it. Apparently some people just watch it and that doesn’t make much sense to me. Normally I always associate the two, I have no desire to masturbate without porn.)

Visited a friend last night and we ended up drinking a bit too much, I puked. So I’ve been questioning whether I’ve committed a mortal sin or not. Isn’t drunkenness a sin? I start drinking and it’s easy to reach for another drink and next thing I know I’m nauseated. Felt a little sick-ish this morning, got a solid 7hrs of sleep. I feel alright now. Feeling crummy teaches me to be more careful next time.

Right now I’m alone and this thought is playing in my mind “Well, if you already screwed up, then you might as well watch porn now. You’re going to goto confession anyways”. I have had that same mentality whenever I fall with porn though. “Oh, you’ve already done it, why try to abstain? Just do it again”. Then I fall back in addiction and I do it daily until I finally make it to confession. I wish I can escape this cycle. Any advice? Some people recommend filters but for me that is so easy to undo. If I really wanted to watch it I would find a way, I guess it would help filter images so one isn’t tempted. Though with how sex-crazed this culture is I feel like you can’t avoid it. Not sure if I would say I ever feel “horny”. I mainly do it because I want to escape reality and if I feel depressed and alone then I’m more prone to doing it.
 
Learn how the addicted mind works. It’s not all your fault.
 
Overcoming Lust. I overcomed lust by praying and asking for Saint Micheal’s help and when you wage war against this temptation of lust with Saint Micheal and the almighty Father it will sure stop. It worked for me may be this is your answer
 
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I don’t know if you read my posts earlier in this thread?

Boredom doesn’t help, so be busy doing something that is consuming, chess, praying the rosary?
Dopamine plays its part too, excercise releases endorphins which give us the physical feel good factor?
If you have been and confessed this sin reminding yourself of having to do that again should help you put the brakes on but this depends on how strong your faith is. The stronger your faith the greater you feel the need to confess and become reconciled with God once more. It might help if you remember that God really is omnipresent, He is our entirety and knows all things. That’s a reality we try to forget I think, because it suits us too.

Lust seems to be a fundamental challenge to most, overcoming it then must lead to great spiritual development, providing graces The Father needs us to attain for our salvation.

This is your body, your small kingdom, how it behaves depends on the quality of your kingship. Why not ask the King of Kings to help you with your rule.

I found praying the little office helps. God bless.
 
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