Four ways to overcome lust: 1. Fleeing from external occasions (flee from the near occasion of sin, bad company who encourage me to do bad things or talk about immoral things, stop scrolling aimlessly on your phone) 2. Not giving an opening to thoughts (recognize when we’re being triggered. Be aware of your thoughts. When a thought enters your mind be aware of what that thought is leading to. Rebuke the thought in the name of Jesus. The devil looks for gaps and openings. Don’t give the devil an opening.) 3. Perseverance in prayer. (The spirit and the flesh are in continual combat. Fasting weakens the flesh. It’s like you have two animals fighting inside of you and whichever you feed more will be the one that wins. Fasting helps you denial the small things like that ice cream, cookie, etc so that you can deny that other things of the flesh like masturbation, sex outside of marriage, cheating on spouse, etc. Let God be your refuge.) 4. Keep busy with wholesome occupations (“be always busy in doing something good so that the devil may find you ever occupied”- St Jerome)
There are many coincidences. If it was no coincidence, then you would have been sent to a Mike Winger or John MacArthur video instead. They're real ministers.
The gospel of Saint Mark is only forty pages. I was shocked when I read it in June as part of Fr. Mark Gorings reading school; the entire bible has shrunk for me as a result. I only took a couple of chapters a day and had days to just let it sink in. Everyone has a different approach, but, this is a great way to start reading the bible if you haven't started yet. Whatever your approach; just begin.🙂
Matt, some ways that I flee from external occassions of sin are to get a porn blocker on my laptop (Cold Turkey) and to get rid of sexually explicit TV shows (HBO's Rome, Game of Thrones). Thank you very much Matt, for the prayer of "in the name of Jesus I denounce porn...".
Well said, I was nodding my head while hearing your eye opening words which I do experience as well, like the battle with the spirit and flesh, 2 wolves.. etc. Thanks for this. Whenever I'm tempted, I pray, watch your videos, divert my mind or go outside.
Most men, and mostly men, but do not forget our sisters. They have a much greater stigma in most parts of the world, and also have whole industries targeting them (e.g. "romance" novels that are anything but romantic).
For a wholesome activity that helps me escape the pitfalls of screen watching I like to build models. I play a tabletop war game called Warhammer in which two or more players face off with various sci-fi or fantasy armies. Putting my phone away and spending an afternoon or evening building and painting little figures keeps both my hands and mind occupied and gets the good, creative juices flowing and causes bad thoughts to diminish I find.
Reading books with Catholic teachings, Christian values, and life lessons from motivational people helps me. there are good podcasts for us to learn new things and grow closer to God
I have agnostic friends who speak in ways that glorify fornication. In a way, it's helpful to me because it practices my resistance against it and it shows me exactly how NOT to speak/think. It's actually disturbing to me to hear them speak this way. It's the same way I feel when I hear someone using the Lord's name as a curse word. It grosses me out. I'm happy I have that revulsion towards it. It means I'm on the right path.
What about those men who are tempted to lust not from that which is evil (ie: immodesty, porn, etc), but from that which is beautiful, feminine, and modest? I’m not allowed to attend any Mass or church function at my parish where the organist might be present because he became so smitten by me that he can’t do his job and I become an occasion of sin if I’m present? How does this work? I feel like an outcast at my own parish because one man can’t control himself.
Can't your Pastor or Bishop tell him to spend more time looking at his music notes or organ keys and not looking at you? Based on what you're saying, it sounds like he needs to change his behaviors, not you.
Perhaps choose a different mass time when he isn’t playing. Inconvenient I know but sometimes better to remove yourself from someone who can’t control themselves
The issue is in its memory. Even though something not good for you, you can forget about it. You can forget the reasons why you made decisions in the first place. How do you combat memory loss??
The interesting thing for me right now is I think Covenant Eyes itself is causing my lust issue, and even pornography issue, to get substantially worse. I'm constantly thinking about that stuff, even with it. And, it's gotten worse. It's indirectly causing me to think about sex every single day. So, I have decided to get rid of it. I also am in community with people online, which has helped me, but then I also search stuff on my phone that's not good. What do I do in that situation? I have to contact certain people with my phone for church and to search for online jobs. So, I'm quite unsure what to do about that. But, I will get rid of Covenant Eyes because it's making my lust issue worse. Even one of my friends has been incredibly better with his lust problem without it. God will guide me on how to effectively bring me out of this. 🙌
While I think convenent eyes is a great concept, I think it takes away the building of true willpower. I was in the same position where I had to use it and it made me want porn worse, but I stopped using it and while I still stumble once or twice a week, its not multiple times a day anymore. Why? Because the willpower grew as if it was a muscle being worked. As for searching for things, there is a couple rules I apply to my life. A) I never search things on the internet when I'm in private because its too easy to give in. B) when I am completely alone, this is when the willpower practice comes in. If the temptation exists but isn't very strong, practice fighting it/pray through it. If it is too strong, leave, do something, go for a walk or work or something, just get out of there. I have been doing these things for a few months and I've gone from relapsing every 2 or 3 days and then binging for days to going weeks at a time and only relapsing when I'm caught at a particularly weak moment.
That is interesting. I doubt the company that makes it or those that find it helpful would claim it's going to be good for every addict at every stage in the battle when used in every way. You may find it useful at some later stage, by itself (with an accountibility partner) or with other tools. My God give you the grace to overcome this, and the strength to pick yourself up when you stumble.
Oh man, I wish I saw this earlier today, especially the first one. I went to an event in my city which wasn't inherently bad, but there was definitely some ... temptation there. I should probably limit my time in situations like that, and should definitely remind myself to keep my eyes from wandering.
RESPONSE REQUESTED: DO MY FELLOW STRIVERS, WANT TO BE CHASTE BUT GET TIRED OF IT? WANT TO ACT OUT AND GET ANNOYED BY NOT BEING ABLE TO? IM 37, NOT MARRIED NO KIDS, CATHOLIC......AND I WANT AND CRAVE TO GIVE MYSELF, SPIRITUALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SEXUALLY AND EVENTUALLY TO MY KIDS.......THIS IS MY LOUDEST TRIGGER. PAX
Four ways to overcome lust:
1. Fleeing from external occasions (flee from the near occasion of sin, bad company who encourage me to do bad things or talk about immoral things, stop scrolling aimlessly on your phone)
2. Not giving an opening to thoughts (recognize when we’re being triggered. Be aware of your thoughts. When a thought enters your mind be aware of what that thought is leading to. Rebuke the thought in the name of Jesus. The devil looks for gaps and openings. Don’t give the devil an opening.)
3. Perseverance in prayer. (The spirit and the flesh are in continual combat. Fasting weakens the flesh. It’s like you have two animals fighting inside of you and whichever you feed more will be the one that wins. Fasting helps you denial the small things like that ice cream, cookie, etc so that you can deny that other things of the flesh like masturbation, sex outside of marriage, cheating on spouse, etc. Let God be your refuge.)
4. Keep busy with wholesome occupations (“be always busy in doing something good so that the devil may find you ever occupied”- St Jerome)
I was tempted and your video popped up. There are no coincidences in life. Thanks Matt
Same!
That profile picture is particularly interesting.
Wow! What a coincidence
@@sttlok yea ikr?
There are many coincidences. If it was no coincidence, then you would have been sent to a Mike Winger or John MacArthur video instead. They're real ministers.
Thank you for this channel, Matt!
The gospel of Saint Mark is only forty pages.
I was shocked when I read it in June as part of Fr. Mark Gorings reading school; the entire bible has shrunk for me as a result. I only took a couple of chapters a day and had days to just let it sink in.
Everyone has a different approach, but, this is a great way to start reading the bible if you haven't started yet. Whatever your approach; just begin.🙂
Matt, some ways that I flee from external occassions of sin are to get a porn blocker on my laptop (Cold Turkey) and to get rid of sexually explicit TV shows (HBO's Rome, Game of Thrones).
Thank you very much Matt, for the prayer of "in the name of Jesus I denounce porn...".
Thanks for having to guts to shine light on this important vice
Well said, I was nodding my head while hearing your eye opening words which I do experience as well, like the battle with the spirit and flesh, 2 wolves.. etc. Thanks for this. Whenever I'm tempted, I pray, watch your videos, divert my mind or go outside.
Thank you for your efforts for all believers throught the world!
Great information . Keep it coming
Thank you thank you thank you for these videos. This has been such a struggle for me and this helps a lot.
Hi pls pray for me. Thanks.
Thank you for this wisdom from the good St Thomas Aquinas
Thank you for the advice
Thank you we men need this
Most men, and mostly men, but do not forget our sisters. They have a much greater stigma in most parts of the world, and also have whole industries targeting them (e.g. "romance" novels that are anything but romantic).
For a wholesome activity that helps me escape the pitfalls of screen watching I like to build models. I play a tabletop war game called Warhammer in which two or more players face off with various sci-fi or fantasy armies. Putting my phone away and spending an afternoon or evening building and painting little figures keeps both my hands and mind occupied and gets the good, creative juices flowing and causes bad thoughts to diminish I find.
Good video.
There's a Chrome extension that blocks images and you should get it.
Good suggestion, it'll help use less data while you're at it, for those on metered connections.
Reading books with Catholic teachings, Christian values, and life lessons from motivational people helps me. there are good podcasts for us to learn new things and grow closer to God
If you want to grow closer to God, I recommend you leave Catholicism alone.
I appreciate you, Matt. Thanks for sharing this!
I have agnostic friends who speak in ways that glorify fornication. In a way, it's helpful to me because it practices my resistance against it and it shows me exactly how NOT to speak/think. It's actually disturbing to me to hear them speak this way.
It's the same way I feel when I hear someone using the Lord's name as a curse word. It grosses me out.
I'm happy I have that revulsion towards it. It means I'm on the right path.
I think it shows you are a decent person
I've been thinking about smashing my phone for a while.....lol....
Oh I know. I need the damn thing for work.
I would think Aquinas's step one would be "First of all you need to have an iron rod that is burning near by."
This video
Alone puts it in a way I feel I can really tackle this down with the help of the Holy spirit! Thank you! Subbed
What about those men who are tempted to lust not from that which is evil (ie: immodesty, porn, etc), but from that which is beautiful, feminine, and modest? I’m not allowed to attend any Mass or church function at my parish where the organist might be present because he became so smitten by me that he can’t do his job and I become an occasion of sin if I’m present? How does this work? I feel like an outcast at my own parish because one man can’t control himself.
Can't your Pastor or Bishop tell him to spend more time looking at his music notes or organ keys and not looking at you? Based on what you're saying, it sounds like he needs to change his behaviors, not you.
Perhaps choose a different mass time when he isn’t playing. Inconvenient I know but sometimes better to remove yourself from someone who can’t control themselves
The issue is in its memory. Even though something not good for you, you can forget about it. You can forget the reasons why you made decisions in the first place. How do you combat memory loss??
Write it down afterwards
What is the book on the left hand side of the background?
The myth of Porn, i think
thank you!
Amen
The interesting thing for me right now is I think Covenant Eyes itself is causing my lust issue, and even pornography issue, to get substantially worse. I'm constantly thinking about that stuff, even with it. And, it's gotten worse. It's indirectly causing me to think about sex every single day. So, I have decided to get rid of it. I also am in community with people online, which has helped me, but then I also search stuff on my phone that's not good. What do I do in that situation? I have to contact certain people with my phone for church and to search for online jobs. So, I'm quite unsure what to do about that. But, I will get rid of Covenant Eyes because it's making my lust issue worse. Even one of my friends has been incredibly better with his lust problem without it. God will guide me on how to effectively bring me out of this. 🙌
While I think convenent eyes is a great concept, I think it takes away the building of true willpower. I was in the same position where I had to use it and it made me want porn worse, but I stopped using it and while I still stumble once or twice a week, its not multiple times a day anymore. Why? Because the willpower grew as if it was a muscle being worked.
As for searching for things, there is a couple rules I apply to my life. A) I never search things on the internet when I'm in private because its too easy to give in. B) when I am completely alone, this is when the willpower practice comes in. If the temptation exists but isn't very strong, practice fighting it/pray through it. If it is too strong, leave, do something, go for a walk or work or something, just get out of there. I have been doing these things for a few months and I've gone from relapsing every 2 or 3 days and then binging for days to going weeks at a time and only relapsing when I'm caught at a particularly weak moment.
Don't give up. Pray and treat yourself kindly. Trust that The Lord will help you prevail in HIs time. I struggle as well.
That is interesting. I doubt the company that makes it or those that find it helpful would claim it's going to be good for every addict at every stage in the battle when used in every way.
You may find it useful at some later stage, by itself (with an accountibility partner) or with other tools. My God give you the grace to overcome this, and the strength to pick yourself up when you stumble.
It’s typically worse before it gets better. The Devil sees his opening when you’re down to press the attack.
Oh man, I wish I saw this earlier today, especially the first one. I went to an event in my city which wasn't inherently bad, but there was definitely some ... temptation there. I should probably limit my time in situations like that, and should definitely remind myself to keep my eyes from wandering.
Jesus loves you all!
The lo-fi music really takes away from the seriousness of what you are talking about and it makes me hard to focus. Please take it off next time.
A man who put masturbation as worse than adultery, incest and rape is not a man one should be taking advice from on the topic of sexual desire.
Good idea having that awful porn music playing in the background.
RESPONSE REQUESTED: DO MY FELLOW STRIVERS, WANT TO BE CHASTE BUT GET TIRED OF IT? WANT TO ACT OUT AND GET ANNOYED BY NOT BEING ABLE TO?
IM 37, NOT MARRIED NO KIDS, CATHOLIC......AND I WANT AND CRAVE TO GIVE MYSELF, SPIRITUALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SEXUALLY AND EVENTUALLY TO MY KIDS.......THIS IS MY LOUDEST TRIGGER.
PAX