Ministries for women porn addicts

[DaveC519]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I keep hearing "pray pray pray" and "fast fast fast" but have NEVER had luck overcoming a bad habit by doing either. In fact with the issue being discussed I would think that doing both specifically to fight an "urge" would not help, but hurt since your not replacing the urge but trying to fight it head on. The best thing to do (and this goes for other things such as smoking) is to find something ELSE to do. "Whatever your hands find to do" as the saying goes. Build a boat in your basement like Jethro Gibbs. Work out -a lot! Find something to do that occupies your time! Idol hands truly is the devils work shop and simply closing your eyes, while your hands and forehead are sweating, and praying as the sole means of fighting an urge will do little to curb anything.

Mizpeh said:

Going out to build a boat or taking a cold shower may take your mind off the habit momentarily, but does it give victory over it?

The praying and fasting are directed toward God. It's His Spirit in us that helps us to crucify the flesh. Paul stated that he "dies daily". What do you think he is dying to? Certainly he is still breathing while he says that he is dying daily.

Mizpeh, I think you've hit the nail on the head here. John the Baptist said: "He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30). This must take place in the life of every child of God. And this is what prayer and fasting accomplishes. It causes the will of the flesh and the will of self to diminish, and causes the will of the Spirit to become more pronounced in us. It is more than simply temporarily deflecting the focus of our will, it is crucifying it.

Here's what God has to say about fasting, when done for the right reasons:

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
11 And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. (Isa 58:6-12)

I realize this is but a portion of the entire passage, but I wanted to specifically focus on these verses. My goodness, just look at all that takes place when fasting is done as God directs, and for the right reasons: the bands of wickedness are loosed, the heavy burdens are lifted, the oppressed are set free, and the yokes are broken. Sin (wickedness) does bind us and lays upon us a heavy burden. This is why individuals, even believers, many times describe it as being under oppression and being bound under a yoke from which they cannot free themselves. But through fasting (what has been described as "God's Chosen Fast") and prayer, God himself looses these bonds, burdens and yokes and brings deliverance to the captives. We could easily dedicate an entire thread to exegeting the remainder of the verses, but I think people will get the picture reading it for themselves. Just look at all the promises contained in this short passage!

If I could recommend any book to a believer besides the Bible itself, it would be "Power Through Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. It was written over a century ago by a preacher for preachers, but its truths are applicable to all. It stresses the need for true intercessory prayer. Once someone reads this book and allows its truths to sink deep into their heart, they will forever understand and value the power of prayer, and put into practice its precepts. When THIS type of prayer is coupled with fasting, there is no yoke from which God will not deliver!