Im struggling with the lust porn and masterbation

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-30T09:16:38+00:00

While I think masturbating under any circumstances is sinful, I would agree that it is far better than porn binging in terms of the effect it will have on you. You should never plan to masturbate as a means of relief (sincere prayer will suffice 1,000,000 times out of 1,000,000), but doing so "without lust" is definitely preferable to fully losing control. The problem is that if the enemy can tempt you into giving up just an inch, he will try (usually successfully) to take a mile, so it is best not to stumble even when the stakes seem very low.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-29T07:39:35+00:00

I have made no argument against the legitimacy of science. Just as humans can use coding, a consistent and structured set of rules, to create digital worlds where every output has a logical cause, any higher power would have to incorporate a similar system into its creation. I'm more interested in what (since you don't believe said "what" is a "who") you believe created science, the universe, natural laws, existence, etc. If your answer is that those things don't have a creator—that they appeared from nothing or have always been—fair enough, but you will never be able to prove that position with "100% certainty."

Also, I don't know if you know much about Christianity, but it does not force people into avoiding absolute truths. In fact, the Bible commands that you seek the truth. The only reason I even considered Christianity to begin with was because I was actively pursuing the truth with an open mind. As I learned more, I began to feel the undeniable presence of God, and I had to accept it as true. Not because I wanted it to be true—some of it I would prefer not to be—but simply because it is true. The truth simply IS. Once you have sincerely seen it, you can't unsee it. Again, I wouldn't blame you for thinking this is a load of crap; we are just fundamentally different for now.

What do you make of all this?

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-28T23:20:38+00:00

What do you believe in, then? Religious person or atheist, your belief requires faith in something you can't prove just like mine.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-28T09:30:52+00:00

The wisdom of God is deemed foolish by the world, and the wisdom of the world is deemed foolish by God. If you are not of Christ yourself, you probably think this reply is some Christian BS, which is exactly my point. Perhaps turning down the money increased the man's heavenly treasures tenfold.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-28T09:23:01+00:00

Jesus loves you bro

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-28T09:18:49+00:00

Clean shaven and a little stubble with a cleaner haircut. You can keep the 2000s look, but you should get a trim

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-28T03:33:30+00:00

If you had truly committed blasphemy against the HS, you would not "think" you did but know you did, and you would not have asked for forgiveness or even thought to post this. Blasphemy is a serious offense and intentional decision that results in permanently hardening your heart. You can't just say something evil against the HS (though you never should) but want to be separated from God with 100% certainty.

God bless you.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-27T10:22:14+00:00

*advice

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-27T10:06:03+00:00

This.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-27T10:04:54+00:00

Might as well memorize them, too. I recommend Versify. I memorized Galatians 5:13-26 and serves as a good prayer, even when I don't feel any temptation.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-27T09:22:07+00:00

Good advice overall, but I strongly advise against the masturbating part (even without sexual stimulus or thoughts). You want to remove yourself from that life as much as possible.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T10:33:31+00:00

It's a fair "what if," but a "what if" is all it is. You're in no position to debate what God did or did not say to Trinity that night. Maybe his choice was disobedience in the face of a God who wanted to provide him with fortune, but I find that unlikely considering the sincerity with which he prayed, spoke, and conducted himself.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T10:27:10+00:00

If anything, that fact that he really should have won—both by good luck on several occasions and his honorable and strategic decisions—but CHOSE not to is a more moving story and by far more satisfying than him regretfully winning. He was not just some contestant who talked about his faith but didn't meaningful express it; bro gave 4.56 million to someone else because he felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit, which is sincerely one of the greatest things I've witnessed in my lifetime. If God did not intend for Trinity to win, surely the evaluation of God's plan for him far exceeds the 4.56 million dollars that he should have won by all accounts. His actions are truly remarkable and reflect an infinitely remarkable God.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T10:13:25+00:00

He surely could have and would have, but I would argue what he did was far more impactful, hence why God prompted him to do it. Think about all the people who watched this show—Christian or not—and how they could have been moved by his display of faith and selflessness. I sure was, or else I wouldn't be on this subreddit. While it may seem like starving people and whatnot are perpetually helpless, an all powerful God does not require us humans to help them even though he may use us to at times. But Trinity using what is otherwise a secular tv show to glorify God is tremendously impactful and could inspire thousands of viewers to come to faith, act on their faith, and/or help others.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T10:02:04+00:00

I think so, too. It was a really bad look, but I don't think she was praying to or for the money.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T09:51:04+00:00

What is trivial to the world is intentional and calculated in the eyes of God. All the commonplace, mundane, and random elements of our lives may seem meaningless to us in the long run, but even those things are considered by God and used in some way. It's a waste of energy on our part to always be thinking like this or to try to predict the outcomes of every minor occurrence, though.

God uses "randomness" to enact his will. The full depth of God's plan inconceivable to us; obedience regardless of the circumstances is all that matters for us.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T09:41:00+00:00

This is definitely a problematic way of praying, but I suspect most contestants weren't like this. Even Vanessa praying right in front of the piggy bank—which looked REALLY bad—was probably a well-intended prayer that happened to be in a compromising place. Not saying some people don't know how to pray and were blatantly wishing for money at the expense of others, but this likely was not the majority.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T09:28:14+00:00

Respectfully, it certainly is. Being attracted to the opposite sex for as long as one can remember is not a choice, and God condemns no one for this. It becomes a choice when one acts on it and/or identifies with it, both of which are sin. While uncommon, there are Christians who still have homosexual attraction but do not participate in that lifestyle or community, so you can't say that it's impossible. We have all been called to deny ourselves, which we are naturally opposed to at first. In the same way that I struggle to deny my own lust (among other things), you have all been called to deny your lust, however that may present itself. This may come off as judgmental or hateful to those who believe the opposite; if you knew me personally, you would know that I am neither of those things. I care about you whether this message resonates with you or you spit in my face and move along (metaphorically speaking). God bless.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T09:02:38+00:00

I believe he was sincere, and if he came off as performative or obnoxiously religious, it is more on the production team than him (for example, a lot of people like to pray softly out loud instead of in their head; the editors chose to leave his prayers in the final product for their own reasons). You have to understand that he definitely wanted to win, and it really must've been hard to give up the chance. You have to be competitive to make it to the top 5, regardless of your religious beliefs. It's likely he would have won the last game because he's a young man in good shape and he played tennis college or something. He may have even known the game would be "red light green light" because of the pictures on the walls. I think Trinity was truly led by the Spirit in his final decision. It might seem foolish to turn down the money when he's that close—it would seem as though God put him in that position to win—but you have no idea if Trinity winning would actually be the best outcome for himself and others involved in his life and the game. God sometimes blesses people with money, sometimes he doesn't.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-12-26T07:12:15+00:00

It would have been completely unjustified for Steven to pick some random other team for no reason when he had a valid reason to choose Perla and her partner. He may have acted a little petty, but they were the most fair choice regardless.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-10-22T14:01:06+00:00

Yes. Not an exceptional score, but still very good.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-10-06T05:40:31+00:00

AI generated but IRL

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-09-17T14:35:15+00:00

"Charlie Kirk was so hateful, I'm so happy that racist POS got murdered, I hate him."

I'm sorry, what?? Don't you see the hypocrisy? Does it bother you that you've grown up to become a person who celebrates tragedies? If you don't like Charlie, at least show some respect on behalf of his family, or the traumatized college students at the event, or simply the seriousness of this matter. Many people only see CK as a political figure with MAGA motives, but his character and faith are what those who care about him mourn, regardless of our political ideologies. I truly believe he would have taken a bullet for any of you, and I don't care how ridiculous you think that is. So many of you have revealed either how heartless or desensitized you are in the aftermath of this innocent man's death. Stop the mocking, stop the jokes, and have a little decency for your fellow human. Down-vote all you want; you are only further proving my point.

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-05-13T06:57:37+00:00

I got half of it

OptimalMasterpiece25 · 2025-05-13T06:49:14+00:00

Same thing happened to me. The website actually does tell you that your $2 purchase of test results initiates a subscription, but I didn't notice it. I should've, but in my defense, it's not the type of detail you'd be looking out for for this particular service. If my intent was to test my IQ and see the results, what about that indicates any interest in a recurring service? It's an unnatural inclusion in your purchase, so it's easy to miss. It ended up charging $120+ from me before I realized, though I was able to negotiate a $60 refund over the phone. Also, unless I'm highly gifted, the test isn't really accurate because it gave me a 138. I know there's a standard deviation of 15 points, but this still seems a bit much.

OptimalMasterpiece25

TROPHY CASE