Permanently getting rid of impure thoughts... possible?

[JChapel]

I’m a young adult who has been battling impure thoughts for several years now, and with the help and patience of God, have largely been “clean” (of impure thoughts and actions) for about six months.

I guess my only problem is that, despite me not giving these thoughts an inch, they always keep coming back. Granted, I have gotten better at resisting them, but I guess it would be nice if I could just rid myself of these thoughts for good.

…and so I ask: must this be a lifelong battle or is there some way to rid myself of impure thoughts, and if so, how?

 

[Waiting]

I’m a young adult who has been battling impure thoughts for several years now, and with the help and patience of God, have largely been “clean” (of impure thoughts and actions) for about six months.

I guess my only problem is that, despite me not giving these thoughts an inch, they always keep coming back. Granted, I have gotten better at resisting them, but I guess it would be nice if I could just rid myself of these thoughts for good.

…and so I ask: must this be a lifelong battle or is there some way to rid myself of impure thoughts, and if so, how?

Probably not, but getting another picture in your mind fast, or saying the St. Michael the Archangel prayer immediately, can sweep out the impure thought before it can take hold.

 

[benidict]

I’m a young adult who has been battling impure thoughts for several years now, and with the help and patience of God, have largely been “clean” (of impure thoughts and actions) for about six months.

I guess my only problem is that, despite me not giving these thoughts an inch, they always keep coming back. Granted, I have gotten better at resisting them, but I guess it would be nice if I could just rid myself of these thoughts for good.

…and so I ask: must this be a lifelong battle or is there some way to rid myself of impure thoughts, and if so, how?

Yes. When you die. However you can limit them thru spiritual exercise. They are an unfortunate part of our existence, but natural. Peace.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

SEVERAL senior priests from different religious orders, in different locations, when I confessed this stuff, said these thoughts would go away about 15 minutes after they hammer the last nail in my coffin.

Another senior priest said that if it really really really bothered me … he could arrange to have me medicated.

And, by senior priest, I mean priests who are over 80 years old, who have been priests for 50+ years.

It is part of the human condition.

Develop a strong and vigorous and continuous prayer life.

Several senior priests have independently told me to pray the Rosary.

 

[benidict]

SEVERAL senior priests from different religious orders, in different locations, when I confessed this stuff, said these thoughts would go away about 15 minutes after they hammer the last nail in my coffin.

Another senior priest said that if it really really really bothered me … he could arrange to have me medicated.

And, by senior priest, I mean priests who are over 80 years old, who have been priests for 50+ years.

It is part of the human condition.

Develop a strong and vigorous and continuous prayer life.

Several senior priests have independently told me to pray the Rosary.

This is also a very good reason for purgatory. No joke. we all have things we need to be purified of. Peace and prayers.

 

[wild_thing]

I’m a young adult who has been battling impure thoughts for several years now, and with the help and patience of God, have largely been “clean” (of impure thoughts and actions) for about six months.

I guess my only problem is that, despite me not giving these thoughts an inch, they always keep coming back. Granted, I have gotten better at resisting them, but I guess it would be nice if I could just rid myself of these thoughts for good.

…and so I ask: must this be a lifelong battle or is there some way to rid myself of impure thoughts, and if so, how?

Only if God decides to give you the grace never to have an impure thought again. But oftentimes God permits us to continually be tempted to show our merit, keep us humble, and keep us turning to Him for help, realizing without Him we can do nothing. St. Paul asked for the thorn in his side to be removed: he asked three times. God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Do not ever rely on yourself to avoid temptation nor congratulate yourself when you have resisted, but always give credit and thanks to God that He was with you, strengthening you for your inner battle.

 

[Bookcat]

(from previous posts of mine)

Regarding thoughts

while Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…just cause some lustful thought happens does not mean that one sinned…

(and one can have a sufficiently good reason to think about sexual matters…for instance studying moral theology…but care must be taken to avoid things that would be a problem…but that is another question)

What should we do with* unwanted* sexual thoughts or other bad thoughts…thoughts against God etc? Those pesky temptations that can come …even though we are not seeking them etc…

(there are of course some things we should avoid that cause them…and there can be sin if it is something one should reasonably avoid…but often they come uninvited)

First…Relax. Do not worry.

Now are they mortal sins?

For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent!!!

A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: it can be a sign actually that you did not give consent or do not give full consent.

B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it —but rejected it and maybe even turned to God : again a sign not full consent.

C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin? : it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.

D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented! so worry not…even it they go on for a long time…

remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!

What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.

Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person seeks to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them. (but do not worry about this either!)

for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.

tick tock …

tick tock…

Ok what did you think of? Most likely an apple.

So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing. Simply do not consent and move on. and do not worry

another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. and just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.

they can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …

(Now difficulties with thoughts can happen to anyone…and has for centuries…nothing new!..but I will note too that “some” have a condition known as OCD (I knew someone with this once…it was a painful experience)…and thus should seek further professional help to work at overcoming it and to live a more peaceful life)

---

Another help…is the distinction between “first thoughts and emotions” (as Baur calls em) what they call the prima of the prima…“the first of the first” (as one of my Professors called em…he was a Dominican)…these are involuntary things that just come up…such are not sins. They can tempt one of course to sin…or one can then proceed to some sin…but they are the stuff of the mind and emotions which “happen to one” …and really the are opportunities for growing in virtue etc as well…

How to deal with these? First of relax…don’t scruple…don’t fear them…to try to swat them all as the come…just simply turn to other things…or the thing you are doing…or to God…(of course do not consent)…but if you are too defensive against them…they may get worse actually…and confuse you more…instead turn to God or again other good things…accept that hey…somethings wild thoughts will come to you…

(and these can happen to all of us by the way…)

There is a story from the desert of the early Centuries of the Church where a younger hermit when to an older one with the problems of thoughts happening to him all the time…the older hermit told him to go outside open his cloak and catch the wind.

The younger hermit said such is not possible…

the older hermit replied --neither is it possible to stop all the thoughts that can come to you…your choice is to say “yes” or “no”.

So relax about “unwanted thoughts”…sometimes they just come…you know like unwanted phone calls from politicitians and salepersons etc…but you can always say “no thank you” or just ignore the call and go about your business

 

[Shin]

May I suggest avoiding all sources and materials for their cause, combined with praying for the grace of forgetfulness, and replacing any habitual mental triggers with pure habitual remembrances instead?

 

[EmeraldWings]

I’m a young adult who has been battling impure thoughts for several years now, and with the help and patience of God, have largely been “clean” (of impure thoughts and actions) for about six months.

I guess my only problem is that, despite me not giving these thoughts an inch, they always keep coming back. Granted, I have gotten better at resisting them, but I guess it would be nice if I could just rid myself of these thoughts for good.

…and so I ask: must this be a lifelong battle or is there some way to rid myself of impure thoughts, and if so, how?

well, if God saw it better to rid you of those thoughts completely, then it would be possible, if you asked Him,
but more often than not, God sees it best to allow us to be tempted, to both try us and strengthen us,
even though the temptations of impure thoughts plague us in a very gut wrenching way, yet we still have alot to gain by resisting them(or fleeing from them).

but there are ways lessen your impure thoughts, and to be less effected by them,
for one, always confess your temptations to impure thoughts in the confessional, because by that you will receive the necessary graces you need to better overcome them, and by that you just really knock the wind out of it’s sales,
also, holy oil, bless yourself with the sign of the cross on your forehead with holy oil, and say something like “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, please take away these impure images from my mind” or something similar.

and of course prayer, especially the rosary, and always having instant recourse to prayer at the times of temptation will help and strengthen you, such as praying “Precious blood of Jesus Christ, wash over me, protect me from the wickedness and snares of the devil.” and right after that pray, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Saint Maria Goretti, Guardian Angel, help me” and after praying for help that way, from Jesus and His mother and the saints and your Guardian angel, then just change your thoughts to something else, something you enjoy very much that is not immoral, and with heavens help and your effort, it will become much easier to avoid those impure thoughts, especially after keeping that practice for awhile,

and of course the best time to ask for help is during Holy Communion, at that time you should really poor your heart out to Jesus, and ask for His grace and strength in helping you to overcome these temptations.

i know you said you’ve been “largely clean” of these things, but i thought it wouldn’t hurt to throw some advice in there anyways…

but for your actual question, you can try asking God to remove the thoughts completely from you, such as the way Jesus asked in His agony in the garden “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done.”
so that way, you know if they stay, then that’s what best for you, and you should accept that joyfully, because if God sees it as best, then you must have great spiritual gain to merit from resisting those temptations.
we should always be happy and thankful for whatever God sends us, although we should ask God to take things from us or to give things to us that we think would be good or necessary, but after praying and things not going as we wanted, we should be just as thankful then as if we did get what we prayed for, because what God has granted is always what’s best, and if we are praying and working to do the will of God, then we should regard it as more and better than we hoped for.

here are a few books i think will help you very much in this regard -
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tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/113
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/218
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/827

alright, hope this helps, take care.

 

[Rock_Happy]

I’m a young adult who has been battling impure thoughts for several years now, and with the help and patience of God, have largely been “clean” (of impure thoughts and actions) for about six months.

I guess my only problem is that, despite me not giving these thoughts an inch, they always keep coming back. Granted, I have gotten better at resisting them, but I guess it would be nice if I could just rid myself of these thoughts for good.

…and so I ask: must this be a lifelong battle or is there some way to rid myself of impure thoughts, and if so, how?

I don’t know what sort of thoughts you are referring to, but I can share my own story. I struggled with sex/love addiction (more love addiction than sexual addiction). At my lowest point, I was so horribly infatuated with a lover who had dumped me that I was in spiritual and emotional agony. True withdrawal. I discovered a “12-step” program which helped. Now I am able to lead a celibate life and enjoy it. It is not likely that I will ever be married. I am at peace with all of it now. The first step is simply to admit that you are powerless over your impulses or thoughts. Doesn’t sound like much, but for me it was huge. The next step is to turn it over to God. You can’t do that, until you have done the first step, which is why it is so important. I found that remembering those two steps, and using them was a great help with my own struggles.

 

[Love_Divine]

It doesn’t become a sin unless you entertain your impure thoughts. I’ve heard numerous priests say that as reproducing humans it’s normal to have impure thoughts. We are just not supposed to dwell on them or entertain them. They’re going to pop into your head, especially if you’re younger when your hormone levels are up. You can’t completely close yourself off from the world and expect them to go away because they won’t. Avoid the near occasion of sin, especially if you’re morally weak, but you won’t get rid of them completely. Go to regular confession to receive graces to help you tonot entertain them.

 

[Bookcat]

Remember …lots of thoughts could come to one uninvited…

But as I noted in the long post above…on must distinguish between temptation

and “consent” (of the will)

(or even just some passing thought that one did not give consent to…or want …but just popped in there uninvited…)

 

[Captain_America]

One thing I’ve noticed as I get older is that my impure thoughts seem to have changed; rather than being just sexually graphic, I’m more caught by seeing something I think is physically aesthetic about a woman. Or, in the case of good, thick hair, in men. It’s just kind of an impersonal admiring of sorts; hard to describe.