Sep 9, 2023
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Hello, I need some advice. I keep giving into the sin of masturbation. I have been able to end what was a really bad habit/addiction all except at night when I am in that weird not quite awake or asleep and I succumb to it. I don't really know how to prevent or find a remedy to it. I was wondering if you or any of your followers would have some advice on how to prevent this, because I feel like I'm constantly going to confession for this and it is so tiring. My behavior is tiring.
Go to sleep earlier is one way I have found personally helps. Also if you meditate before going to bed, either praying a rosary or doing a very short Lectio Divina, with just 2-3 verses. Just something to steady the mind and turn things to God. I love the Night Office for the Little Office of the BVM. It is short and the second reading is this, by St. Bede:
By meditating upon the Incarnation our devotion is kindled. And by remembering the example of God's Mother, we are encouraged to live a life of virtue. Such virtues are best achieved in the evening, we are weary after a days work and worn out by our distractions. The time for rest is near and our minds are ready for contemplation.
I understand the behavior is tiring. Also having a "buddy" that will check on you once a week or every day, depending on how often you need it. Work it out with them, someone you trust and knows your struggle. Maybe they can't offer you advice but will pray for you and help you through it.
God bless, anon!
P.S. because it's obvious but I forgot to say it, make sure to go to confession and bring it up to the priest that you are frustrated by it. Actual spiritual guidance from a priest is worth so much more than from a nobody on tumblr like myself.
No Habitual Sinning
by J. C. Ryle
First of all, John wrote: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin” (1Jo 3:9). “Whosoever is born of God sinneth not” (5:18). A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it. Sin no longer pleases him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.
If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying (1Jo 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appearing in both his words and his actions. He knows that “in many things we offend all” (Jam 3:2). But he can truly say, in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow, and that his whole nature does not consent to them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
Same-Sex Love Isn’t Love; It’s Lust
God Bless you if you can follow the link and actually read the article. I'm not vested enough to actually make a payment to gain access.
What I can say is that lines in the sand like this obfuscate what really needs to happen in the mind of someone who struggles. I'm an unabashed heterosexual with more socially acceptable problems of my own - anger, for instance, and pride - I think higher of myself then I ought. These are just off the top of my head. I don't have a confessor Priest, so this is it; as far as I'm willing to go in a public space.
What I can say is that the desire for sinlessness counts for a lot, in spite of actions on the ground...
51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. -- Psalms 51
Incidentally, I think this Psalm is sung at every Orthodox Vespers service, without exception. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
And remember - this is a song written by a man deemed to be, "after God's own heart". (1 Samuel 13:14) After he has been confronted by his sins of adultery and murder.
Now, I don't know anything about the Homosexual community. Nothing. At all. And, honestly, I don't care to. That is the least interesting aspect of your personality. That is identifying you by your sin instead of by all the other many things you could identify as - an artist, a poet, or a scholar.
"I love my son. He's masculine. Does that make me lustful? Maybe a pedophile?"
"Don't confuse the issue!"
I'm not.
Protestants love to play games with the Greek words agape, eros, philia, and storge - assigning very specific definitions to each use. I heard once that the only use of agape outside the Bible was between a man and a prostitute. I do not know what some of these word games mean, if anything.
If I am attracted to others, but do not act on some of the baser desires that I might want to act on, does that still condemn me? Can I not have a non-sexual, emotional fulfilling relationship with a same sex companion? Is that not theoretically possible?
Do I not still love my son?
One must always be careful to not tempt fate. Sometimes the structured life of a monastic life might be what's required to temper the emotions; the voices; the Logismoi.
Obviously, monasticism and Protestantism mix like oil and water. Avoid Protestants. They don't even want to understand.
At the end of the day, we are not our thoughts.
We are not the Logismoi that harass and assault us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can say, "no" to them. Thinking in this way has been liberating in a manner that I cannot express. It makes the struggle easier knowing that it's not the thought that condemns; but rather my attitude towards that thought - "Thinking about thinking", and the resulting action....
My hope for myself is that the, "no", gets easier with time.
Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a Sinner.
"How to Break Habitual Sin (& Gain Freedom) | LITTLE BY LITTLE | Fr Columba Jordan CFR"
Called to more, little by little.
"I Don't Go to Church. Too Many Hypocrites!"
“I Don’t Go to Church. Too Many Hypocrites!”
Steven Barto, B.S. Psy., M.A. Theology MY FATHER DECIDED TO quit going to church “cold turkey” just about a year after I had accepted Christ as my Savior and received water baptism.* I was fourteen and was considering becoming a pastor. My father’s choice was based on his opinion that church leaders wanted more of his time and money, and the congregation was “full of a bunch of hypocrites.” This…
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Habitual Sin: 10 Best Ways to Overcome Customary Sin!
Habitual Sin: 10 Best Ways to Overcome Customary Sin!
Habitual sin means a specific transgression that seems to be impossible to stop! A customary sin is common among people who prefer to get happiness from the usual sin than to patiently wait on to the LORD for eternal joy. Are you going through some tough situations to stop a habitual sin in your life and you gave up? Hope you did not negotiate with the LORD by giving money to the church so that…
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The Lies We Believe About God: Day 2 | Shame On You
Here is the devotional: Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humankind has been coated in shame. God has done all He can to cleanse us of our shame, the greatest expression being Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. No one pays a price that high for something unlovable, unworthy, and undesirable. Beyond cleansing our shame by His death on the cross, God made us in His…
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