Self-Control

Sometimes I get this aching in the loins. This longing in the pit of abdomen that is somehow connected to the genitals. This aching-longing that demands satisfaction, sexual satisfaction.

Okay, I'll fess up. I'm having that feeling right now.

I wanted to have sex with the wife tonight. But she was too tired. Pity Party Me would go seek out porn and masturbation as a way of release. Even though I no longer find nude guys alluring, I'd probably end up there by way of habit. Feed off on the "camaraderie" of it even if I no longer need the "embrace." I just can't bare to get hooked onto women--way too dangerous.

Maturing Man Me says to reach out. Deny the impulses of the flesh and make some genuine connections. I've gone for months without porn or masturbation before, and I was fine. I can do it again.

Somehow, no friends are around on the internet to connect with. :-(

And so, Maturing Man Me tells me to choose the right course of action. Spend some time in Bible reading, prayer, and journaling. That pit-of-the-abdomen hunger can be satisfied spiritually as well sexually. If sex is not an option, then deny sex for prayer.

1 Cor.7:5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


Interesting. Satan tempts me because of my lack of self-control. Self-control. Now that's something I haven't studied much of in Scripture, but I know it's all over Scripture.

...doesn't it say in Galatians that one of fruits of the Spirit is self-control?

Yes, Galatians 5:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-Control

By avoiding porn and masturbation, I am exercising self-control.
By choosing to reach out in spiritual communion with my brothers-in-Christ, I am exercising self-control.
By turning my attention from satisfying my hunger sexually to satisfying it spiritually, I am exercising self-control.

God is so good to me that He gives me this "sexual hunger" for me to exercise spiritual self-control.

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[Edit] Wow... just realized that it's also in verse 8 in the preface post I made.