I struggled with a pron addiction for 17 years. It was debilitating. I caused harm to all my relationships, especially my marriage. But, by God’s grace I was given strength to overcome this addiction. Glory to God. The temptation of lust will never leave me, but, through God’s grace, I can, have and will overcome. So can you. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us…
Ive fallen again 2 times in 3 days . I keep making some progress for a while then slip up. I will attempt a dtrict fast tomorrow and from here out 9n fridays and wensdsys. Please pray for me and i will pray for all of you fellow brothers and sisters who are fighting this passion. May the lord have mercy on us all
When I was protestant, i always struggled with p*rnography severely. I had no help or advice or confession to help me end this passion. Through Jesus' prayer and fasting, which i only found through Orthodoxy, have i been able to fight against my flesh and the temptations of the evil one.
Interesting thank you. Im protestant as well and I love my church and I love the people there but there’s just something missing especially when it comes to my struggles with sin. I need to find a good Orthodox Church. I watched some of a “Divine Liturgy” which seems to be the regular service and honestly people going up and kissing pictures, priests rings is a bit heavy for me. Is this the same of all orthodox churches?
@ifoughtpiranha I hope you found a nice Orthodox Church to attend! I also came from Protestantism and there were many things that took time for me to get used to. The more you come to the services the more you’ll understand these differences and know why they and the church are so important. As for kissing priests’ rings, I have never heard of that or experienced it myself. We do kiss the priest’s hand when we come to venerate the cross at the end of service. But of course there is no pressure to do anything when you’re only an enquiry. Good luck with your journey to Christ!
Father Spyridon said something i think will help me a lot,how that voice you hear saying i shouldn't pick up and watch pornography is God's voice and i should listen to it. I prayed for a weapon in this spiritual battle and i was given it. Pray for me Father that i might overcome this passion and use it well.
May God keep and help you! Always pay attention to the small still voice that steers you away from ungodliness. I recommend reading the canon or akathist to the guardian Angel. This can also help
I'm a catechumen and I am in recovery for sexual addiction. Some days I have more grace than others. I have been struggling hard the last few weeks, but am still sexually sober. Thank you father for this video. I NEED to fast. Less food, more cold showers, more jesus prayer. It's time to take up the daily cross in our saviors name. Thank you!
Thank you, Fr. Michael. I’m actually goin’ to confession today. I hate lusting, and I’m spiritually weak due to looking at pornography, too. However, I remember that I should look at a girl with her beauty inside her soul. I don’t just need to look at her physical appearance. I repent to God for my lust… As one of the Saints stated, “Pornography is the Devil’s iconography.” I’m amazed how Christ resisted sexual sin. He is truly the God-man. Lastly, I’m not ashamed to tell you that I’m still a virgin, and I’m 23 years old.
Every time I give into the passion of lust I can't stop thinking "p*rnography is the devil's iconography" over and over again. Yet, I still seem to ignore it. Remember that lust is hard for women too, we are not alone in this struggle!
I didn't watch the video yet but honestly the biggest thing for me, other than prayer and fasting, was just staying busy and productive. Working out, honing skills for hobbies, doing work around the house, etc. Boredom was my biggest trigger.
Hristos Anesti! Thank you for this video Fr. Michael. It's very informative and useful, especially during this month where the secular world is engulfed by the passions(Lust, Pride, Gluttony). We are truly blessed.
Ensure if you do fast, especially strict prolong fasts, that afterward, you don't have a period of indulgence because not only will you not recieve the spiritual benefits, but you will fall into a period of turmoil, developing a worse case of gluttony. I wish Id studied the words of St. John Cassians, The institutes (Book 5, Ch9) before hand like I was instructed to by my spiritual father 😫
Great comment! Yes, asceticism is very much related to repentance. One mustn’t return to their old ways, or else the devil will have a greater snare to bind them with
With much toil and struggle (including regular Confession) certain things about this passion are no longer as prevalent, thank God. However, for me it has now resorted to either anger or resentment toward the person causing the temptation, so now the focus is on purifying myself of those passions as well. Stay strong, brothers and sisters. Certain parts get easier but there is always work to be done.
The struggle with this is incredible .This demon of lust has such enormous power :( .I can go for long periods of times without any , but then ..stress and other factors just gets me at some point.
Thank you so much for this video my ship is filtering in the waves lust takes me and I beg of you make more content like this to help me and others like me God bless you all ☦️
Glory to God. I have and still do struggle with p*rnography. Even after a long time away from it and being clean the temptation is really a difficult battle. I pray to all the warriors on this front.
I am not trying to be argumentative.. but if the average laypeople who are married are not to have sex on either Saturday or Sunday, plus the fasting days, which limits Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday as sort of "sex days," wouldn't that kind of interfere with romance and spontaneity, especially for the younger couples? Would this not be kind of legalistic? I've heard of abstaining on fast days, especially during great Lent, and I've heard the NIGHT before receiving communion, but not AFTER receiving it. We're not to eat or drink before communion, but we always eat breakfast right after liturgy, so why would sex be prohibited..? This makes all 3 weekend days, the only days when the average working people are off, completely off limits, and again just makes the entire thing sound kind of technical and legalistic. I am single right now, but didn't Paul say that marriage is supposed to help men satiate these passions in a non-sinful way? I imagine laying next to a woman every night, but having such limitations would only make this worse for me, and the average younger man with a strong drive... As I said, I'm not trying to be argumentative, I just genuinely have these concerns. Thank you for all that you do and these helpful videos for new converts and catechumens like myself!
Why do you think I even put on screen “talk to your priest”. As a married man I can tell you that it doesn’t interfere with anything. Not everyone can do this right away. But it’s best to get a blessing for relaxation of the rule rather than abandoning it. Passions love to hide to as virtues.
@living_orthodox Of course, I will speak with my priest about this if and when I ever get married. I just thought I would bring these concerns up in this video touching on these particular issues and possibly get your thoughts. Thank you for your response.
@living_orthodox also, I mainly just listen to the audio of your videos and most podcasts since I listen to them while at my manual labor job. So I didn't really see what was on screen.
Thank you so much for giving actual applicable advice to people like me who struggle with homosexual temptations. No advice ive ever seen has worked, and most videos about homosexual temptation just feels like a criticism of telling us we're wrong. Like i know im wrong, i just dont know how to stop, its like everyone telling a fat person hes fat, but youre actually giving dietary advice.
Have you ever checked out the Sons of Saint Joseph site? I don't know if it has much practical advice, but the Orthodox convert behind it writes some really deep essays about living as a Christian man with SSA, and examining the disrupted relationship to masculinity that he feels led him to live as a g ay man for most of his early life. He was ab us ed by a Catholic priest so he can get pretty vitriolic about that Church sometimes, but overall he is a profound and thoughtful writer.
@@NMemone thank you so much, I'm going to look at it right now. I'd never heard of this before, but this is exactly my type of thing. Update: I read quite a bit from his blog and I have to say, it actually did give some practical advice. On top of this I enjoy his writing style and everything. A part he discussed about fetishizing daddy made soooo much sense it makes me feel stupid for not realizing it sooner. Its kind of making me understand why I want to do some of the things I do. I wasn't taken care of, therefore I want someone who will take care of me, which is the guy role in the way that I mean it. Thanks again so much, I'm going to keep up with his blog, and read previous stuff from now on.
I dont make enough to start a family. So marriage seems far off to me. The only alternative is complete celibacy which also seems almost impossible. But i must do it. At least till i find a career an a wife. All seems like a pipe dream. I am full of despair.
I know this doesn't have any relevance to the topic of lust, but I am wondering about Orthodox Churches near me and I don't know if some of them are canonical or not. To be precise there is a Russian Orthodox Church near me but on Orthodoxy in America it says it is also Moscow Church. I just don't want to join an Orthodox Church and then realize it is schismatic and non-canonical as I have no discernment. May God give you more blessings Father Михаил.
I saw myself with your holy words,father. Thank you so much and know that Christ is Risen. About the eating part: A hieromonk named fr Andronicus told me something that his elder told him about gluttony. I am a slave to food, unfortunately,and there's not a single hour where I would not be hungry. Now what fr Andronicus' elder said is the following(to which my spiritual father agrees to): Eat,but stop at the point where you feel full! Supposedly, he was referring to my weakness, so he has softened my passion. Is that an Orthodox answer? Also,I have lustful dreams that strive me to masturbation......
It might be pertinent to add that this is all assuming that one is asking God for forgiveness and strength of course. Some people, especially non-orthodox, might misinterpret this sound and patristic advice if this basic prerequisite isn't spelled out for them.
Thank you father, many people struggle with lust, masturbation and pornography. I think this is a good video for us that fight against these passions (Corrected myself instead of videos I meant passions)
Abstinence from porn and masturbation for at least 28 days made me more confident, closer to God, I had better skin and hair, and having fruitful conversations with women became easier.
@Desertfox21 you're just not used how Balkan Orthodox talk. First of all we're harsh but we don't judge. This was only advice from sinner to sinner. Orthodox should not be proud and entitled. I just want to help. And I don't brag, fasting and praying is the minimum we should do is not something to brag about. I just mentioned it because his saintnes asked. And he should know my state in order to give me some advice. I just said fast and prayer it's not enough and it's not that simple. This is for people who are really struggling with this to death. If you don't relate don't read.
@Desertfox21 problem is you still consider sins from a moral point of view but we think of it as illness. If I say abstain from lust 24 years it's like I would say take this medicine for years, a month is not going to heal you. And secondly worst thing you can do to an Orthodox is telling him he's doing good. This is harmful and dangerous. Is like killing him.
Great video Mikhail - I just ask, you mentioned Adam and Eve would have lived like brother and sister, and there was no sex before the fall- but doesn't God tell them to go forth and multiply?- wouldn't this involve reproduction? Sorry if i have misunderstood! God bless
Yes. However, time and healing are needed. Have you heard of Father Seraphim Rose? Many of us regard him as a saint. He wrote many great books on the faith and, he also repented of his homosexuality
@living_orthodox Can u please help because my pertens wont let me go without food completely but also If its the best way to leter the temptation of lust than i need to Do u kown what to do
You don’t have to go without food completely. Just eat what you need and nothing in excess. I would recommend avoiding things like red meat as this can excite the passions according various saints.
First thing is to start rejecting comfort. Set a routine and keep to it. Maybe try doing four prostrations a day to start. Cross yourself before going online, and be watchful for whatever might set you off. Instead of acting on the itch, prolong giving in. Take a cold shower, go for a walk, read the gospel and pray the Jesus prayer with all your heart until the temptation breaks
@@living_orthodox Ty for answering so quickly, Father. I have been visiting a Parish near me(albeit infrequently) and have spoken to the Priest there about this. He has given me a Prayer rule, but not really a pennance or fasting rule. From what I keep reading and watching and from my own experience, fasting does help a lot. Should I ask my parish priest about this? For his blessing and a more stricter fast?
Fasting without prayer is a diet. It must be coupled with watchfulness (as I said), and with prayer. Fasting isn’t magic. All these things take lots of effort and cannot be accomplished without Christ. Too many people want to have a “magic pill”.
@@living_orthodox Geronda Joseph was the biggest asket on Mount Athos stil he had 8 years of carnal war. Married people never really fought this passion for real. When you never fight a passion with all your power you don't know how powerful sin is.
Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Hebrews 13:4 Are you trying to say there's things a man and a women cannot do in the marriage bed?
FATHER BLESS: Father Mikhail..I don't know if my first post went through..apologies if it did and this is a repeat question..it seems as if many times comments that I post dont actually get posted, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with them..I think you said in the beginning of this video that sex wasn't part of our nature, prefall..if that's the case, then how could there be a furtherance of the human race? Thank you and God bless Mary protect ☦ ☦ ☦
God bless! First time I saw this question. The holy fathers hold to the belief that reproduction would have occurred differently. Death and sin hadn’t entered the world yet.
