Quick post today. So life is moving forward. I’m staying sober and practicing a life of recovery. I do my best to connect with God daily. My prayers are getting more meaningful and sometimes more desperate. I realize that I pray to God on a very regular basis….probably 10-15 times a day. I’m constantly having to surrender. Every thought and every thing that I see. I think surrender and living a life of no lusting and no taking requires more than I first realized. Even if I see a beautiful, modest girl, I have to specifically say to myself, “yes, heavenly father, she is beautiful and has a beautiful figure and body. Good for her. Bless her. I will not look again and I will let it go.”
Honestly, I cannot look at any girl like that. None of these women belong to me. They are not mine. And honestly, when I am married....I don't think i have full liberties to lust after my wife either.
I read an excellent article on "Porn to Purity" about this. The idea that I am attracted to girls and yes even to their beauty and figures is not the sin….the lusting, the looking longingly is. It turns a girl/woman who are daughters of an infinite being into objects. They are not.
So I have really been working on this.
I was also able to attend the temple this past Saturday. It was one of the most remarkable experiences in a temple I’ve ever had. My little brother went through for the first time. The new endowment ceremony video was awesome!! Wow, it certainly portrayed the story in a whole new light. I was filled with clear revelation that it was true. I especially like how Eve was protryaeed. I will spare details because we covenant to keep all of it sacred but it certainly increased my testimony of God and also his role in the universe.
I have greater desires now to pursue marriage and family like I haven’t had in several months. I know I am an addict but I am not hopeless and I am committed. I have to surrender that fear and anxiety of having to bring that into a marriage but aside from my addiction I really do have a lot of offer. I commit to being a solid, respectable, loving, honest husband to whomever God allows me to marry.
Thanks for sharing this. I need to work on realizing when I am objectifying others. And the temple film should be great!
ReplyDeleteNice work - the objectifying part of this is something I'm working on in particular as well. It's of the skewed views I have, and my superficiality. My opinion and survey of women stops skin deep. I wish I would have realized how bad of an objectifier I was prior to dating my wife, and had practiced focusing on character qualities, on them as a whole person. You're going in the right direction and getting stronger daily. Keep pushing forward
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