Last updated on September 21, 2020
Question:
Hey there again. I’ve got great news with respect to some of the things I’ve asked you about previously. I’ve started to overcome masturbating every day and moved it to about once a week. However, I struggle with keeping it simply mechanical. I try to masturbate just to get rid of the excess semen and because my drive is tempting me to do things I know I shouldn’t, but when I get into the process my mind starts to think of sinful things, like naked boys and girls and having sex. Also, the enemy keeps making me think of sexual things about my brother that I know I simply don’t desire. So how do I get rid of these thoughts to simply keep my masturbation mechanical? If I wait too long, I’m tempted to look up things on the Internet; but if I don’t wait long enough, then I deal with having to think these thoughts.
Please help.
Answer:
It is good to hear that you’ve made progress in controlling your body.
Temptation is always going to be a problem, not just in sexual areas, but in all areas of life. “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). You can’t stop Satan from suggesting things that ought not to be done, but you can reject what is being offered. “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
When you realize that your mind is straying into areas it should not go, stop what you are doing. It will be difficult at first. The body doesn’t like to stop partway in completing any task, whether it is eating, using the toilet, or ejaculating. But you are still in control of yourself, so stop and go do something else for a while, such as a homework assignment or a set of calisthenics. However, don’t get on your phone or a computer because the temptation will be too high. “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (I Corinthians 9:26-27). When you get back to masturbating, you’ll find it much easier to ejaculate without sinful thoughts because the body will be anxious to finish what was started.