crackerjake
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« on: July 22, 2011, 02:18:05 AM » |
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I'm not sure how to go about this, so I'll be blunt: I've been struggling with masturbation. I can put up a resistance to it, but I eventually give in. I'm frustrated with myself, and I feel as if I am testing God's patience by continually asking for forgiveness over one thing. I've been questioning my own desire to repent and cease this habit, considering that I must not feel too sorry if I can't stop. This makes me worry that God won't forgive me since I may not truly be sincere when I ask for His forgiveness. I fear that repenting may turn into as much a 'habit' as my sin.
I feel greedy asking this, but please pray for me.
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Gebre Menfes Kidus
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« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2011, 06:24:31 AM » |
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The human sex drive is the strongest human desire, perhaps even stronger than the appetite for food. This desire is given to us by God, but since the fall of man we often fail to control it. Continue to struggle, and do not despair of the mercy of God. If anyone condemns you for your failures in this area, then they reveal that they do not have the spirit of Christ. For even the Saints who have conquered the passions would point you to the grace of Our Lord, and they would tell you to trust in His unfailing love and mercy. The intercessions of St. Mary of Egypt have helped me greatly: Selam |
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"Salvation is free, but not easy. It is completely dependent upon the grace of God, and yet we must work it out with fear and trembling. It is given to all, but only a few find it. We are saved only by His Cross, and yet not without taking up our own." +GMK+
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Nero
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« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2011, 08:05:23 AM » |
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I agree - this drive was also the hardest thing for me to control, and it has taken many years even to make a small advancement.
Remember not to rely on your own effort alone - if you do, you may be able to resist for a little while, but not forever. The adversary is stronger than the most strong-willed human, but God is stronger than everyone and he forgives an infinite number of times. Perhaps more dangerous than the sin itself is the thought that God won't forgive, which is simply and absolutely untrue: Remember "Not seven times, but seventy times seven" and "In Him redemption is plentiful."
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy.
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Achronos
What's so good about Cincinnati? You like it? You think Cincinnati is cool? I've never heard anyone say, 'I'm going to Cincinnati on vacation.'
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And we gave him the Rolling Stone cover?!
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« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2011, 11:56:57 AM » |
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God's mercy knows no bounds! His forgiveness transcends our understanding of forgiveness. Do not despair in your sins but focus on the grace of God.
Lord, have mercy!
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“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
“The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope.”
"Face the facts of being what you are, for that is what changes what you are."
"We see at once that the words absolute, divine, eternal, and so on do not express what is implied in them.
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crackerjake
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« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2011, 01:04:56 AM » |
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Thankyou for the replies, they are helpful  |
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« Last Edit: July 25, 2011, 01:05:13 AM by crackerjake »
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Robb
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« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2011, 02:30:40 AM » |
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Have you talked to your priest yet? I did and it was very helpful for me.
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Men may dislike truth, men may find truth offensive and inconvenient, men may persecute the truth, subvert it, try by law to suppress it. But to maintain that men have the final power over truth is blasphemy, and the last delusion. Truth lives forever, men do not.
-- Gustave Flaubert
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crackerjake
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« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2011, 03:12:56 PM » |
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I'm not a full convert yet, I'm still in the catechesis. I find the topic to be a bit embarrassing to talk about :|
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zekarja
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Papa Abba St Cyril, of Alexandria, pray for us!
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« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2011, 05:14:07 PM » |
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I'm not a full convert yet, I'm still in the catechesis. I find the topic to be a bit embarrassing to talk about :|
Most men (I can't speak for the women) struggle with this. Either the priest has already heard men confess this a lot or the men are lying. I understand the embarrassment, however, when it's all said and done your burden will be lifted. |
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CBGardner
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Ask w/ tears, seek w/ obedience, knock w/ patience
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« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2011, 05:40:37 PM » |
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The human sex drive is the strongest human desire, perhaps even stronger than the appetite for food. This desire is given to us by God, but since the fall of man we often fail to control it. Continue to struggle, and do not despair of the mercy of God. If anyone condemns you for your failures in this area, then they reveal that they do not have the spirit of Christ. For even the Saints who have conquered the passions would point you to the grace of Our Lord, and they would tell you to trust in His unfailing love and mercy. The intercessions of St. Mary of Egypt have helped me greatly: Selam Since it has been posted, I've tried Gebre's suggestion and I have to say it has been such a blessing to me. I was always very drawn to Saint Mary of Egypt's story (because of my sinful background) but I got an icon of her and started asking for her intercessions and I fully believe there has been relief in my life because of her prayers. Every time I see something that makes that fire in me start to burn I say the above prayer while crossing myself a few times. Sometimes it goes right away, sometimes I have to spend more time with the prayer. But if I stay faithful to the prayer in the end I reconnect with her story and am drawn to compunction. That puts out the fire for me, until next time anyway (which is about 5 minutes later  ) |
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Authentic zeal is not directed towards anything but union in Christ, or against anything but our own fallenness.
"Beardliness is next to Godliness."- Asteriktos
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