I've been struggling with lust. The trouble with this sin is that it is one that has haunted me for some time, and it deceives me more than any other sin I've faced. I remember when I was first converted, I would barely drive up to the church and suddenly my thoughts would become great iniquities. I try to "take captive" these thoughts, but I'm not really sure what that even means. I wish I could just physically grab them and burn them in unquenchable fire for all eternity. All of our sins are deceitful. The flesh cries out for them. My flesh enjoys lusting, but my nature in Christ hates it. The only comfort is knowing that I am battling the temptations to lust, rather than sit and enjoy my thoughts. Remember that part in the last movie of Lord of the Rings, when Frodo is about to throw the ring into the fire, but then the temptation to keep it starts to overcome him? We wonder, "After all he's been through, how could fail now?" And I wonder that same thought myself. After all that Christ has redeemed me for, how can I so easily fall? How can I so easily decide to desire my sin more than Christ?
The only thing that is getting me through this trial is constant confession. But I'm starting to feel that overcoming this sin is hopeless. I'm opening my comments back up for any insight on how to battle this sin. Of course, I've been praying about it, but I know that God has a way of answering prayers through the brethren. So if you have any wisdom, please do share.
7 comments:
Insights ... funny. Like I'd have insights. But I have found a helpful hint. I suspect that we (Christians) are missing out on a huge resource by hiding our sins under a bushel, so to speak. We are told to "confess your sins one to another". Instead we try to appear "Christian" and never let on that we are suffering from temptation. It's not Christian to suffer from, say, lust or the like. Good Christians don't have that problem. It's a lie!!!
Find someone you trust, someone you believe loves you, and tell them. Find more than one if possible. Ask them to keep you accountable. Ask them to check up on you. Ask them to share the burden with you. (Tell you what ... just knowing that someone is going to ask you face to face really has an impact.)
Try it! You may not like it, but try it.
I have confided in a friend already, but I am quite ashamed to tell too many people...but for my own good, I will be finding someone that will really hold me accountable to this, so that I can overcome it.
It is really shameful, but so is lying, coveting, sloth, arrogance....they are all gross sins. Unfortunately we've made lust into the worst of them all. Even though in God's eyes, they are all horrible.
Thank you for your insight Stan :D
Hey, I lurk your blog a lot, but this post brought me out.
I agree with Stan and will add the suggestion of committing to memory Romans 6 if you haven't already. Committing it so well that you can personalize it. For example:
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning, so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Ro 6:1-2 NIV)
becomes:
“What shall I say, then? Shall I go on sinning, so that grace may increase? By no means! I died to [name your sin]; how can I live in it any longer? ” (Ro 6:1-2 NIV)
And whenever you find yourself being tempted start quoting this chapter.
I'll tell you what, for me it's a very difficult chapter to memorize for some reason.
Hope it helps.
Thank you Hal. :)
A lead pastor friend of mine, has a quarterly retreat with all of the underpastors and staff. In the beginning of each meeting, they start by confessing to one another. Every single one of them, say always, lust and pride. Because of they do not give in to lust, they become pround about that they have overcome it, and then fall back into it.
Lust is the nature of the flesh, I want this, that, or the other is the drive to immediate satisfaction. Overcoming would be perfection, but managing it would be more practical. The longer it is managed, the easier it is to overcome. But it will take years. Sorry no quick fixes.
I didn't think there was a quick fix ;)
Here is something that may help. Saw an old movie with Lucy (of I love Lucy) where the moral (story) involved was people asleep in a boat. When the boat hit some rocks it woke them up in time to avoid the waterfall.
Let the temptation wake you up to pray for that person.
I don't know why God made us desire other people and taught us to focus on one, but He did and maybe this will help.
May Jesus continue to empower you.
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