Hello Aquila,
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aquila
I'm curious... how do single Christians contend with the day to day struggles of being single. The areas I can identify are: loneliness
fighting temptation
masturbation
pornography How do single Christians overcome loneliness?
How does a single Christian find a healthy single sexuality in Christ? Is there such a thing?
What are some of your thoughts? |
I will answer your questions with a question: do you believe God has called you to the gift of celibacy, either permanently, or for this season of your life? After reading through the thread, and based on your comments about your female friend, perhaps he has. If so, ask God to lead you in that, and to satisfy your desire for companionship in ways other than being alone with the opposite gender.
As far as temptation, I believe you are stronger in Christ than what Satan would have you believe. As Christians, we all burn with desires of the flesh after some sort or the other. For some, it's sexual desire. For others: overeating, alcohol, etc. It's how we act on those emotions which can either be pleasing to God or not. Many believe they will have victory over the flesh when they no longer experience those strong burning emotions, but I don't believe that's the case. I believe we win the battle based on our actions, not by ceasing to experience the emotions associated with the actions.
For instance, my personal battle is with overeating. I used to be 40 lbs. heavier and was on the fast track to a heart attack. With God's help and at his prompting, I lost the weight, got in shape, and now I'm in the best health I've ever been. Did the desire to overeat go away? Somewhat, but not completely. I must choose every day to eat based on my nutritional requirements, and not because I'm bored, feeling down, or other reasons. It literally comes down to making a willful decision every day. Sometimes the temptation seems overwhelming, but I must tell myself "I will NOT do THIS at this moment". And the temptation subsides. However many times I feel the desire throughout the day, I must answer "I will NOT do THIS at this moment".
Does this mean I'm still in bondage to the flesh because I continue to experience the desire to overeat? I don't believe so, because God freed me from the bondage. It may take awhile for my flesh to be fully persuaded of what I know is truth in my spirit.
In the meantime, my "thorn in the flesh" is to experience the burning of wanting to overeat. I live victorious, not because the desire isn't there, but because I willfully choose not to act on the desire. And when my own will is not strong enough, I ask God to will through me (Php 2:13).
Hopefully, you (or someone else) may find all this helpful.
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