This message is so powerful! We’re set free from addictions when we don’t put our trust in the flesh (our strength); only when we recognize that we’re weak (no willpower), will we be able to overcome.
You might have read the title and said to yourself, I’m not going to waste my time reading an article that isn’t going to make a difference in my life, because it probably won’t deliver as promised. Obviously, if the author didn’t think it would benefit the reader, he wouldn’t have invested hours in editing it. I have studied this topic extensively, read many books and viewed countless videos; this is the best description of a complex problem and the simplest solution, I have discovered to date. However, if you would rather just see the video, than read my summary (I won’t be offended), please click on the link below.
Temptation: We all have a cross to bear. It might range from a bad habit, all the way up to a full-blown addiction. So, what do you do when you’re tempted? The only way, to get out of the prompting, is to flee from it! Running away from temptation, also goes hand-in-hand with not placing yourself in that predicament next time, because you can’t fight the urge forever, eventually your resistance will wear down. Always beware of your surroundings and the people you interact with, because the path you take, might lead you to a confrontation.
Confidence: The fact of the matter is that the forces of attraction are very strong. Don’t trust yourself or anyone else in this arena, after all you’re a mere mortal. Don’t place your confidence in the flesh, because it will always surrender the fort. Realize that it’s a vicious cycle: First–you’re triggered (a thought, curiosity, appetite, loneliness, craving…), Second–you become over-confident by believing you can resist, Third–you give-in to the temptation (here we go again). The best thing to do—is seek help from a partner, someone you trust, who you can be accountable to. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help; it will turn your world around.
Sin And Guilt: In conclusion, when you fail (because you will), do not condemn yourself for your over-indulgences. Don’t try to change, how you will overcome your addictions, by reverting to old willpower tactics or by implementing new extreme measures. Nothing else works, just forgive yourself and return to your original plan (flee from temptation). Eventually, you will get better at it (the more you practice running), and one day soon you’ll become empowered and leave it (addictions) far behind.
Excerpts from a video by: Joseph Prince – Breaking Porn Addiction Through Grace – 29 May 2011 (Edited and condensed for context and clarity by: ElRoyPoet, 2020)
Let God Guide You: From Weakness to Strength
Commentary: “Desire for pleasure is much more powerful, than the memory of pain.” When we’re feeling exhausted and our resistance levels are down, we can deceive ourselves into believing that we deserve a little illicit fun in our lives. But there’s a reason, why it’s called a guilty pleasure–you will be punished for it–it could be immediately or become a long-term addiction that haunts you and your loved ones.
While we can’t control the feelings and thoughts that pop into our heads, we can control what we do with them. Bricker’s work using acceptance and commitment therapy in smoking cessation programs suggests we shouldn’t keep telling ourselves to stop thinking about an urge; instead, we must learn better ways to cope. The same applies to other distractions like checking our phones too much, eating junk food, or excessive shopping. Rather than trying to fight the urge, we need new methods to handle intrusive thoughts.
Use this 4-step method to handle unwanted thoughts that can derail your focus.
Step 1: Look for the Discomfort That Precedes the Distraction, Focusing In on the Internal Trigger
Step 2: Write Down the Trigger
Step 3: Explore Your Sensations
Step 4: Beware of Liminal Moments
Excerpt from How to Disarm Internal Triggers of Distractions
“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and unlawful.” By: Oscar Wilde
“’JUST SAY NO’ to taboo experimentation, because just like illicit drugs, after you try it for the first time, you might like it, but by then it’s too late to go back, because you’re already addicted.” By: B. Bondsman
elroypoet.blog 