How To Conquer Temptations To Lust

[BigJon16]

Ive always struggled with this. One thing Ive done in the past is this: Every time a lutful thought would enter my mind, or if I saw somwthing, I would say a Hail Mary immediatly. Sometimes I would say multiple Hail Marys until concentrating on the prayer forced the lustful thoughts out of my mind. Now, i havent done this in a while, so it has been easier to fall.

As for physical things, I like to pop on my iPod, and let my music destract me, especcially the huge amount of Christian music that is on my iPod.

And lastly, Confession...


From my blog:
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Well, like any other teenage male, I struggle with certain "temptations". And I have been struggling with them for quite a while. It is a "thorn in my side" as I like to call it. But unlike St. Paul, God didn’t give me the same response to my prayers. It is purely my own impurity that causes me to fall into temptation.

When I was younger, and first discovered such "pleasures" I thought they were pretty great. And I continued to indulge in them. It was like I got on a train. A train that was leading me farther and farther from Christ. Once I realized that it was a sin, and that I should stop, it was too late, and I couldn’t. I was addicted.

So I turned to the only thing that promised to bring me back to Christ, The Sacraments. I started to go to Confession, and confessed it over and over again. In 2 Corinthians, when Paul mentions his "thorn" he also says "For when I am weak, then I am strong." Just lately have I realized truly what this means.

I realized that in the sacrament of Reconciliation, we go to the priest when we are at our weakest, When we are sad, shameful, and desperate. But when the priest, acting in persona Christi- as the person of Christ-absolves us in the name of our God, he gives us strength. The strength to carry our cross.

He also gives us Grace. "For only my grace is sufficient for you."

I realize now, after reading over what I had just typed, God has answered my prayers in the same way that He answered Paul's, I just hadn't realized it. Wow.

"Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weakness, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me." ------ 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
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[OnlySunshine]

I haven't had strong lustful thoughts in about 2 months -- thanks be to God! The one thing that has worked the most for me is saying the "Hail Mary" prayer over and over until the thought goes away. Usually, if the thought stays longer than normal, it only takes 3 Hail Mary prayers and the thought is gone. Refocusing your mind on prayer is the best way to overcome lustful thoughts, especially when you think about Our Lady. She takes those thoughts away. I always like to think of her as Our Lady of Grace who crushes the serpent's head.

[img]http://home.earthlink.net/~mysticalrose/grace.gif[/img]

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1313540239' post='2289480']
Anyone have any other ideas/suggestions? Just wondering. Thanks!
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"Some demons can only be conquered by prayer and fasting." Fasting along with prayer can be very effective. Practicing discipline and self-sacrifice in curbing your appetite for food helps you do the same with your sexual appetite. Both can be very powerful, and come with similar temptations and occasions to sin (i.e. both are nearly always present around us, frequent situations to give in a little bit).

Spiritual direction, or at least scheduling Confession regularly with a priest who will hold you accountable, are also good ideas.

You may want to consider methods that don't fight the sin head on, which is usually a sure way to lose. Maybe getting yourself absorbed into a good book, television series, video game... or better yet, finding opportunities to volunteer or picking up a second job to fill up your schedule. When you're busy, you might be surprised how much time passes between occasions of temptation.

I think this is from an Eastern saint or tradition, but I've always like the advice to "Do nothing" in response to temptation. It is the nature of temptation to draw a reaction. In that vein, the simplest acts I've found the most effective... a Sign of the Cross or St. Michael Prayer, especially if prayed passively with hardly a thought, you've done enough to hand the fight over to Christ without engaging yourself in the battle directly.

Praying for you,
Jason