Thursday, October 23, 2008

Resisting Temptation

So much for my will to resist or listen to the Holy Spirit. The temptation to look at pornography overcame me today and my mind must have delved too deep into the abyss that I couldn't pull myself out until I reached climax. I know, this is a lot more than anybody ever wanted to know about my weaknesses but it helps me to put it down and think about what happened. Anyways, all I can say was I was BLASTed. According to Mark Kastleman, co-founder of Candeo, BLASTed stands for Bored, Burned out, Lonely, Anxious, Afraid, Angry, Stressed or Tired.[1] I was bored and tired and again, just like usual, my mind started to immediately go down the road of pornography. Whenever I am not busy doing something, that is where my mind immediately goes. It is as if my brain has formed a habit that when I have time on my hands (even if it just a few seconds) my mind uses pornography as a filler. That does make sense from what I have heard and read. What I need to do is fill my mind with other things I enjoy doing that will replace what my brain is currently doing now.

Before I started on this post, I read a post on another blog. This post, which was simply titled "Desires" gave me a lot to think about. How strong is my desire to overcome this addiction? What do I honestly need to do to achieve that desire? How is God going to grant me that desire without asking Him? (Alma 29:4) It seems like a simple thing but with profound results. If I ask God in prayer to give my the desire I need to change my heart and mind and I believe that he will hear and answer my prayer then that desire will build within me and change my heart and mind to a point in which I will have "no more desire to do evil." (Alma 19:33) I have always prayed to give me the strength to overcome or withstand, not the desire to change my heart or mind. Thank you Ed for your wonderful insight!

[1] Note: If you would like to know more about what is taught at Candeo, sign-up for the mini-course and you will receive seven keys to overcoming your addiction.

1 comment:

Tim Malone said...

You're on the right track, especially with what you mentioned in the last line of your first paragraph. Couple that with what Ed wrote about and you've got a winning combination. Everyone needs to find their own motivating power to pull them up to the level they want to be. Have you tried asking the Lord to show you a vision of what you can become? As him to help you see yourself in your mind's eye as successful and happy doing what you want the most.