Pornographic addiction and struggle of faith

[Catherine_S]

Hello,

I keep falling for the temptation of looking at pornography and masturbation, and I can’t seem to break free. I fended it off for two weeks this time, and I actually thought it would be over, but yesterday and today I fell into it again.

I need prayer and advice. I pray to be freed frequently, I have an accountability partner… I try to do what I can. I dont want this anymore, I want to live according to the Christian faith!

Also I struggle very hard with what faith to follow. Both the Catholic and the Orthodox churches claim to be the original church. I am afraid of choosing the wrong thing, and it seems that no matter how long you have studied, there are people in both camps. For the present I am evangelical - though with moderations.

It is a real dilemma, because neither intuition nor intellect are flawless and those are the tools I have to decide what to believe. I want to be close to God, and I want to be in the Church that he started. It seems that the decision will be more or less random, and I dont like that! I could use a revelation, but those are not flawless either (of course as far as they are genuine and from God, they are).

Please pray for these two things.

• CB

These websites may be of help to you…
http://www.pornnomore.com/
http://www.trueknights.org/
http://www.shelleylubben.com/index.php?truth=home
Will remember you in prayer.
.

 

[randomguy0187]

Praying for you as well Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen

 

[hmblsrvnt]

I know what you are going through. Remember that you are not alone in this. I will pray for you. One thing that has helped me is a book of meditations dealing with this struggle called Clean of Heart and can be purchased from RAGE Media.www.dyinglight.com/store/
You might also want to check out this web site trueknights.org/ Also try to find a good confessor and go to confession at least monthly even if you have not committed a mortal sin.

 

[gigageek]

I keep falling for the temptation of looking at pornography and masturbation, and I can’t seem to break free. I fended it off for two weeks this time, and I actually thought it would be over, but yesterday and today I fell into it again.

What has helped me is the confessional. As I have established a relationship with my priest and God I have developed a desire to please my Father in heaven and to grow in love for him.

When I have been tempted by this very sin I often felt an overwhelming loss of grace from God, immediately. After numerous failings and repentance in the confessional I am now well on my way to being recovered and staying away from that sin.

I know how difficult it can be to avoid this sin and as I am also an ex-smoker I often liken it to my numerous efforts to quit smoking. Every failure seemed like I should just throw in the towel and stop trying to quit. But I wanted to quit for the sake of my children, wife, and of course myself. My point is that even after years of being quit I have faltered and ended up smoking again. The last time I quit was more than 8 years ago and I regularly remind myself of how hard it is to quit and easy it is to start.

This will likely be the case for the sin that you and I share, but as I have managed to overcome it so shall you. Seek God like you would your own earthly father. Seek to please God like you would your own earthly mother. Forget that you addiction is done in private and surround yourself with the Truth that God is always watching. I have pictures of Jesus and Mary hanging on the walls near my computer to help remind me of His presence.

Also I struggle very hard with what faith to follow. Both the Catholic and the Orthodox churches claim to be the original church. I am afraid of choosing the wrong thing, and it seems that no matter how long you have studied, there are people in both camps. For the present I am evangelical - though with moderations.

I was a non-Catholic for most of my life and more than that not a participant in any faith.

What helped me was the reading of Scott Hahn’s books (The Lambs Supper, specifically) and the Surprised by Truth books by Patrick Madrid.

 

[Diana_Lynn]

Keeping you in my daily prayers. May God grant you the strength and courage to overcome this addiction.