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Some ideas on how to overcome pornography and masturbation sound good and well-meaning, but in the end, they don\u2019t actually bring freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve probably heard some of them from popular NoFap YouTube gurus. They promise you change, but when you don\u2019t experience the freedom they sold, you begin to wonder, \u201cMaybe I\u2019m the problem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s gently examine a few of these myths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 1: \u201cJust give it time, and you\u2019ll outgrow it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This one is very common especially said about teenagers. They\u2019ll say, \u201cHe\u2019s still young. Once he\u2019s older and starts doing other things like sports or making friends, he\u2019ll stop.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s not true. Time alone doesn\u2019t heal addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People in their 30s, 40s, even 50s are still trapped in addictions they started as teens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time doesn\u2019t fix it. Jesus does.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 2: \u201cGo on a porn diet.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some counselors suggest easing into freedom \u2014 don\u2019t go cold turkey(quit abruptly), just try to abstain for a week or two, then reward yourself with a \u201clittle, until you finally quit\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what that really does is turn pornography into a reward \u2014 a prize for being good. That\u2019s dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s like telling someone who just quit smoking, \u201cGreat job. Here\u2019s another cigarette.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You end up right back in the mess \u2014 with more shame and stronger cravings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 3: \u201c21 days will break the habit.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, studies say it can take 21 days to build a new habit \u2014 but only if you\u2019re building the right<\/em> things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Locking yourself in a room without the internet doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because once you come out and see a pop-up ad or a triggering post, those same desires come rushing back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t win by hiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You win by renewing your mind<\/strong> and letting God give you strength through trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 4: \u201cJust get married.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n People say, \u201cOnce I\u2019m married, I won\u2019t need porn anymore.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But marriage isn\u2019t a cure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your spouse is human \u2014 not always available, not always in the mood, and not created to carry your addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If lust isn\u2019t dealt with before marriage, it follows you into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even someone as famous as Kanye West in 2020 admitted to watching porn after marrying someone the Media channels deemed to be one of the most beautiful women alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lust is never satisfied.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Marrying the woman of your dreams won\u2019t stop your eyes from dreaming<\/em> \u2014 only Jesus can heal that hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 5: \u201cJust replace porn with another activity.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some say, \u201cWhen tempted, go exercise, or eat, or take a walk.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried that. I would go on a run, get tired, lie back down\u2026 and the urge would come back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem isn\u2019t just about replacing your actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s about replacing the beliefs behind them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need more than a new habit \u2014 you need a new heart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 6: \u201cIt only happens to guys.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many believe porn is just a \u201cguy problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s not true. Studies show that about one-third of porn users are women<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a lady and you\u2019re struggling \u2014 please don\u2019t hide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re not alone in this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And even more important \u2014 you\u2019re not meant to stay stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus wants you free too.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Myth 7: \u201cI can handle it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This lie feels small: \u201cIt\u2019s just one scene. Just one post. Just one glance.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But one becomes two. Two becomes a cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before long, you\u2019re saying, \u201cJust this last time,\u201d<\/em> again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re not meant to handle sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re meant to run from it and run into God\u2019s arms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you believed any of these myths?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you told yourself some of these things just to feel better or stay in control?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you really want freedom, it starts with truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus doesn\u2019t just want to change your habits \u2014 He wants to heal your heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So don\u2019t just read this and nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sit with it. Talk to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask Him to show you the lies you\u2019ve been living in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, let them go \u2014 and hold on to Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer<\/strong> \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd Some ideas on how to overcome pornography and masturbation sound good and well-meaning, but in the end, they don\u2019t actually bring freedom. You\u2019ve probably […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-devotional"],"acf":{"choi\u0441e_menu_page":"global_settings","full_width":false,"header_transparent":false,"header_white":false,"menu_type_page":"default","menu_align_page":"default"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4510"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5317,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4510\/revisions\/5317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/therootcourse.com\/devotional\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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Jesus, I\u2019ve believed things that sounded true, but didn\u2019t lead me to freedom. I see now that only You can heal me fully. I don\u2019t want to just change my habits \u2014 I want a changed heart. Help me let go of the lies and lean into Your truth. Show me where I\u2019ve been hiding, and help me walk in real freedom. Thank You for always being patient with me. I love You, and I want to grow with You. In Your name, amen.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"