Expert: Dr Tim Gladu - 3/15/2007

Question
In the past I battled a lot with masterbation. I made a descision to stop some time ago and God has really helped me. But I still struggle sometimes with it. I often have dreams about sex, even sex with other girls at times, and I even have orgasims in my dreams. It seems like I always have an especially intense struggle each month right before I start my period. Usually about once a month I find myself waking up and, almost in a daze, masterbating. I feel really bad afterwords. I feel so dirty. What can I do?

Answer
Rosie,

I Think that you are on the right path to being able to beat what you are going through. I am going to give you a list of some scripture that I hope will help.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

Let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Encourage the young men to be self-controlled. (Titus 2:6)

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (Romans 6:12)

They have perverted their ways and have forgotten the LORD their God. (Jeremiah 3:21)

Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. (Ephesians 4:19)

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:21)

Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:7)

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (Romans 1:24)

Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:28)

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. (Romans 6:19)

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. (Romans 13:13)

I hope that you continue to win the battle and if you stay close to God He will help you break the habit. I would also suggest find a women that you feel safe with and that can help you be accountable for your actions. Keep you eyes on Christ.

God bless