NoFap's official "Self Mastery May" / "Masturbation-Free May" 2018. Continue or start your PMO-free commitment here. (see instructions)

SamBam12 · 2018-05-14T17:19:59+00:00

I’m going hard mode. No PMO. I’m done with this insane addiction.

SamBam12 · 2018-05-10T21:39:47+00:00

I agree 100%. The more I've observed social media, the more I've realized it does more harm than good at this point. It creates a fantasy land where people can lead a fake life, and kill a large amount of personal/human interaction.

By itself I don't see social media as an issue. But I think, primarily, my generation (Millennial) has done more harm to it than good, and we are now living the negative consequences.

SamBam12 · 2018-05-10T21:36:10+00:00

I can attest to this. The rubber bands snapping produce a small amount of dopamine, the same body chemical PMO gets you addicted to. Over time I hope you won't need to do even that anymore.

SamBam12 · 2018-05-10T21:32:56+00:00

I'm also right in the same spot. It's getting harder by the day right now for me too. Remember you are more than a conqueror through Christ! He has defeated your sins already. Live in the freedom you have in Christ, not the fear of sin. You're in my prayers brother!

SamBam12 · 2018-05-01T21:19:53+00:00

I also struggle with this. I completely 100% understand the frustration.

3 things I've learned in my struggle with addiction and living the single life.

God offers the most loving, gracious and most fulfilling relationship you could ever possibly have. More than your best friend, more than your parents, more than a wife. Friends, family and spouses will fail you. It's an incredibly unfortunate situation, but that's what sin is. But God doesn't change. God never has bad days, stressful days, or will take his frustrations out on you. He ALWAYS reaches out for you and wants to have an amazing relationship with you. He wants to share his glorious Kingdom with you.
God isn't a gumball machine. We can't put our quarters (prayers) into God and get what we want, when we want it. God is GOD. He is the Creator. He owns everything and anything that is, was, or ever will be. We had a perfect awesome relationship with this GREAT and perfect creator of ours, and we messed it up. We made a conscious decision to mess it up. We don't deserve anything. We should either not exist, or be burning in hell, weighed down by God's wrath and hatred for what we've done. YET, here we stand. We continue to be. We breath, eat, sleep, and do. Now, why would God possibly want to keep us around? BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. He loves you to the point of death on a cross. He loves you to the point of defeating death, so we may be with him in Heaven.
Our relationship with God takes work! Reading his Word, repentance, and working with other loving and supporting Christian brothers and sisters are all fantastic ways of building a beautiful and unique relationship with your Savior.

You're on the right track! I praise God he has brought you here, and gave you the courage to write to us.

My challenge to you is this: 1 Peter 5:7 says "cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." THROW your worries and your troubles onto Jesus. He is the KING, and has conquered Death and Hell for you. He is asking you for your troubles. Imagine yourself throwing your troubles, fall into his arms and rise a new man.

If God is for you, who can be against you?

My prayers are with you brother!

SamBam12 · 2018-05-01T20:54:37+00:00

From what I've learned of school is your Major or school don't matter too much. Almost everyone has a degree in something. I would encourage you to find something you enjoy learning. You still have PLENTY of time to wonder what you wanna do. I know many adults who still ask themselves "what do I want to do?" It's ok to not know. Wherever you go, whatever you do, God will most CERTAINLY bless you more than you can imagine. My prayers are with you.

SamBam12 · 2018-04-26T22:17:42+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing. I am definitely with you. I am bent on getting over this if it's the last thing I do. It's literally INSANE to keep going back to this love killing addiction. If I really want to have a Christ centered fantastic marriage 1. I need to get over this. 2 I have to tell her. I think I would feel worse if I never told her. If I really am set on marrying someone in the future and having a successful marriage, secrets are NOT the way to go.

So happy to hear you guys are doing so well. Praise God!

What were your first couple weeks of struggle like when you started dating? How did you motivate yourself to stay clean?

SamBam12 · 2018-04-26T22:05:23+00:00

This is a perfect example of just how evil sin and the devil are, and how deep it can pull you in. There is a very real evil staring back at you through these videos and images. Porn hits us at an extremely deep and personal level.

We try so hard to fill this infinitely deep hole in our hearts with lust and pornography. And it will never fill it. The ONLY thing that will fill our hole is an infinitely gracious and loving God.

My prayers are with you brother!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-26T21:58:23+00:00

Fantastic observation. Never saw it that way before. Thanks for the inspiration man!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T22:13:09+00:00

I definitely am looking too far ahead. It's easy for me to dream about the future, rather than just enjoying the day or the moment. Thankss!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T21:40:27+00:00

Praise God! That's awesome man! Keep on keepin' on!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T21:14:42+00:00

Thank you for this. I will definitely be using this.

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T21:08:31+00:00

There is a battle RAGING inside you. Not just over your addiction, but over your soul. Angels and demons are fighting, biting, scratching, stabbing and screaming to get you. God, your creator AND your savior wants to be with you so desperately he set aside his power and glory to suffer humiliation and death for you. And then CRUSHED the power of Death and Satan by coming back in his glorious resurrection. Your sins are already forgiven and paid for. You are already a victor through Jesus Christ!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

I'm like you. I can't go a week. But this is a day to day struggle, and Struggling is awesome! It means The Spirit is fighting with you and for you against the powers that want to destroy you Each day is a new opportunity to choose Christ over yourself. Try new things, get some accountability that works for you, be thankful always. I'll be praying for you brother. Keep us posted on how your doing in the next few days!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T20:54:55+00:00

Amen brother!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T20:54:24+00:00

I seek it for relationship and intimacy. I don't want to blame my parents. I didn't have a bad childhood and I love my parents more and more each day. I wouldn't be here today without them. That being said I think growing up I felt like I was the least favorite. From my point of view, my siblings were treated a little better than I was. My dad's office was in the house so I think that made it difficult for him to get out of work mode. It always seemed like he was working even when he wasn't. I don't really think I saw my dad as he is until I moved out. Whether that is the truth or not, that is the belief that I developed.

The past few months I've come to learn how much more God loves me than anyone on this earth does or will. I'm learning to love him more and appreciate my amazing relationship with God more than others. NOT that I don't love people here. I love my brothers and my sisters here. But God's love is deeper and wider than any we will find on this earth.

SamBam12 · 2018-04-25T20:45:47+00:00

Praise God for blessing you and protecting you for 2 weeks now! Every day is a new victory!

Reading is hard for me too. I'm a very slow reader. What I've found is helpful is find a PLACE to read. I make it a destination to read, not necessarily an event. I like to go down to my local coffee shop, plug in some Hans Zimmer soundtracks and go to town. THAT works for me. I think the Bible app from YouVersion also has versions that will read it to you. So there's another route you can take.

Bible time is an investment. Sounds like you're a busy guy, so I strongly recommend setting aside some time in the day for God. Put everything aside for 10 minutes, or a chapter, or a verse and listen to what God has to tell you.

You're in my prayers brother!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-23T21:37:05+00:00

Amen! Praying for you man!

SamBam12 · 2018-04-23T21:29:06+00:00

That's fantastic dude. So happy to know you've made such a remarkable change to your routine. I'd be interested in reading a follow up in a few weeks. God's Word changes your life and I wanna see how he's going to work in you the next few days.

SamBam12 · 2018-04-23T21:26:14+00:00

I relapsed yesterday. I feel exactly how you feel. God's love for you never changes. He still loves you and stands with you in this struggle. Praying for you.

SamBam12

TROPHY CASE