This Wednesday will be ash Wednesday so I've been thinking about what to do for Lent. I usually give up sugar and I won't change that since it does help me focus but I also thought I'd give up Facebook since that wastes away most of my day. It's also one thing that sends triggers in me to fap and I'm hoping this year is the year I'll give that up too. I also have a few books I'm going to try to read to keep my mind focused and I will try to post on here regularly
I'm at day 9 so I'm starting ahead of the game. The hardest times are mornings and evenings when I'm in bed but if I read before bed and get up as early as I can, I will be able to get through this
I was reading the Bible this morning and this caught my eye "After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, ‘The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you." Deuteronomy 9:4 I need to remember that if I'm ever going to stop this, it won't be me that does it and it it won't be because I'm such a good person but it will be through God and because of His glory that I'll stop
God is so forgiving. I'm reading through the old testament at the moment and the rebellion of the Israelites keeps coming up but when we read it, we must realise that we are no better than them. God is still the same graceful God though
Sometimes when you're tempted, you just need to remind yourself of the basics. I'm listening to a podcast where someone is just witnessing to different people and the message is hitting me all over again
I'm reading a book on sexual detox by Tim Challies and each chapter ends with questions and one question got me thinking "Do you believe that Christ is willing to forgive you for this sin and that through His Holy Spirit He is both willing and able to free you from it?" The answer must be yes and I need to remind myself of this over and over
I've been thinking about sovereignty and how much is us to how much is God. Believing that God is sovereign doesn't mean we just sit back and do nothing but if we try to do it in our own strength, we will fail so I started to think about Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." If we truly believe this then even when we are tempted, we can be sure it is for our good and since 1 Corinthians 10:13 says "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" we can be sure God has given us the way out and this is through His sovereignty. If we cling to the fact that God is in control and this temptation is for our good then the good that can come from this is that we can actively think on the power of God and how He is the one doing the fighting even through our fighting and so we grow in faith and knowledge of Him. The last passage that I'll put here is Philippians 2:13-14 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose." We fight because it is God who works in us and sitting back doing nothing is unfaithful because we can't think that it is God working
Trials and Temptations as Preparation The 40 days of Lent are designed to mirror Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the wilderness. Following after Jesus, we too must confront temptations and trials that may derail our commitment to God. From an Africa Study Bible application note: Christians are real people living real lives in a real world and often suffer loss, pain, or failure like everyone else. It could be a time of physical loss or season of spiritual dryness. How do we respond to trials and temptations? What is God doing when He allows us to suffer? Jesus also went through trials and temptations. All three of Satan’s temptations were to get Jesus to use His divine powers for selfish purposes (Luke 4:3). Jesus was tempted to use His power in a self-centred manner for physical gratification (1 John 2:16), to acquire material wealth and power (Luke 4:6-7), and third, and probably more common to people in public leadership, He was tempted to perform a dazzling feat to attract crowds of amazed and attentive onlookers (Luke 4:9-11). This is pride (1 John 2:15). Satan behaved as if everyone has a price. His temptations implied that this world is what matters most. Are these not the very temptations we face as Christians? In Romans 5:3-5, Paul wrote, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” All of us will face times in the wilderness of temptation, but Jesus showed us we can overcome. Today: In these first few days of Lent, what inner desires or external pressures have you noticed distracting you? Using a concordance or index or online tools, look up the words “temptation”, “trial”, or “test” and you will learn how people in the Bible withstood different trials and temptations.
I gave in to m last night. The fantasies were just too much but it's the first time in a while I've reached the two week mark. I was able to stay away from p so I'm getting better
Continue to resist them, replacing every lie with Christ's truth, and their allure will grow faint and weak until they do indeed go away altogether.
Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-12 I might try to study this. Someone used it on the main page and it got me thinking about what each one meant
Tao Jones wrote something recently about how when tempted he used to sit quietly and let the temptations wash over him while asking Jesus to fight them on his behalf. I have tried this and found it to be very helpful. Calling on my friend, our friend, Jesus to fight on my behalf is not only effective but it leaves me with a peacefulness and closeness to Our Lord. I hope you will try it and have the same great experience.
When you fall, fall forward. What can you learn from this mistake to prevent it happening again? Consider how much time you spent in silent, heartfelt, fervent prayer yesterday, can you increase that? Turn this failure into a success. Others have done it, so can you. May God bless you and your efforts today.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24
When you say, "I need to start taking this seriously", it implies there are actions you could take that you are not. Here are some uncomfortable questions but I pray they may lead you to action: What actions are you taking to fight these temptations? Do you let your thoughts or your eyes dwell on tempting things or do you immediately change your focus to something else? Is your prayer and bible study from your heart or is it more perfunctory? Do you make God the focus of your life with daily prayer seeking help to do His will or are you asking God to bend to your will? A goal without actions is like a ship lying in the desert. I am praying for your success, please pray for mine and everyone else's here. May God bless you and your efforts today.
