Stopping Masturbation with Prayer Part 2
November 20, 2013
This is part 2 of a 3 part series on stopping masturbation with prayer. Each part contains an interview with someone who was previously addicted to the habit of masturbation but found freedom by praying to God and asking for help. If you landed on this page we recommend reading Part 1 and listening to the cool three minute audio clip about gaining freedom by prayer.
November 20, 2013
This is part 2 of a 3 part series on stopping masturbation with prayer. Each part contains an interview with someone who was previously addicted to the habit of masturbation but found freedom by praying to God and asking for help. If you landed on this page we recommend reading Part 1 and listening to the cool three minute audio clip about gaining freedom by prayer.
Recently in October 2013 I interviewed a man named Nick (not real name) who
found freedom from masturbation using prayer. Below is a copy of the interview.
I leave it to the reader to study what worked for Nick and to find ways to
apply these principles in your life. (name and personal details have been changed)
Question: What age did you start masturbating?
Answer: I started masturbating in the 6th grade at the age of 12. The first time I masturbated was in the shower. It was so exciting that I wanted to tell all my friends about it but later felt that somehow it would not be appropriate. At the time I was totally ignorant about sex and masturbation because my parents never told me anything about it. I wanted to know what happened to me so I went to the library and started reading books about sex. It was when I started reading about sex and orgasms that I understood my first experience with masturbation.
Question: What age did you stop?
Answer: 20
Question: When did you begin to have a desire to stop masturbation?
Answer: Around the age of 15. I was reading something about health and I was convicted that I needed to stop the habit of masturbation. However at the time I was unconverted and did not take anything seriously. It was not until the age of 20 that I decided that "enough is enough" and I surrendered my life completely to God. At that time my desire to live a life of health and self-control became very important and I tried to stop masturbation.
Question: Are you married or single?
Answer: Right now I am 42 and married.
Question: Please tell us a summary of how you found freedom from masturbation.
Answer: It was completely by prayer. It was intense praying. I would describe that prayer time as wrestling with God. Of course I did not start praying until I was 20 years old and by that time the habit of masturbation had become so strong in my life. So I would pray and then I would fall into this habit again and again. It seemed for a while that I would not find freedom but I continued to pray. I began to have a growing sense and conviction that I should not give up praying. And I am so glad I did not give up! Thank God. This continued for over a year and a half but it all suddenly changed in one night.
One evening I had spent a lot of time praying and begging God to please take this addiction to masturbation out of my life. "Please take this from me!" I wrestled for over an hour with God in prayer. That night I went to sleep and I had a dream I will never forget. In the dream I saw a statue of myself masturbating. While I was watching I saw this statue break and fall over. When I woke up I knew something had changed.
Question: What changed?
Answer: After that dream the desire to masturbate was totally gone. It was like I was an alcoholic that never wanted another drink. Of course I still had sexual desires but I was no longer a slave to this habit of masturbation. Since the time I beginning masturbating at the age of 12 until the age of 20 I was never able to stop masturbating longer than two weeks. After six months of no masturbation I knew it was an answer to prayer that I found freedom. Shortly after this I fell in love and was married about a year later.
Question: So you were free for a year and a half from masturbation before you were married?
Answer: Yes and after I was married I never again masturbated. Even during my time of engagement I did not masturbate. Now I have been married for 20 years and have never masturbated.
Question: How did you learn how to pray?
Answer: Just from taking examples from Scripture. In the Bible are many examples of people praying in different situations. They all have similar principles that helped me learn how to pray. A really helpful chapter was from the book of Luke. In Like chapter 11 Jesus is teaching people how to pray and he tells the story of a man who was begging bread from his neighbor. When the neighbor refused the man he did not give up but continued to beg over and over, incessantly, until the neighbor finally was exhausted and gave him the bread. This story and the story of the widow in Luke 18 gave me a lot of encouragement and hope.
Whenever I fell into the habit of masturbation it was hard to keep praying. However I believe that is exactly why God gave us Psalm 51 and Ezekiel 36:26. God can and will give us a new heart and a new spirit if we will only seek Him by prayer. Reading the Bible and memorizing these promises were a big help to me.
Question: What counsel would you give to a young person who has this temptation and addiction?
Answer: Cut yourself off from media that feeds the unhealthy sexual desire. In my house we do not have a TV. For people struggling with masturbation and lust even football commercials are too sexually stimulating. Also I suggest finding an accountability partner or leader. This is someone that you can talk to openly about your struggle. They will be there to support you and pray for you. Sometimes it is much easier when we have someone to talk to about this problem. They should be of the same sex. A man should have another man as an accountability partner.
Question: In many areas of the world, especially in Asia, it is not appropriate in the culture to discuss sex. Should they still seek to discuss this issue with someone?
Answer: If you live in a culture where sex is not discussed openly I suggest reading books about sexual purity and finding videos and sermons online that encourage sexual purity before marriage. Spend time in prayer and ask God to help you find resources to learn more. Here is a link to a highly recommended book on sexual purity, pornography, etc. I bought 10 of them and give them out to guys who need them. It is Pure Desire: How One Man's Triumph Can Help Others Break Free From Sexual Temptation by Dr. Ted Roberts.
Question: Thanks Nick for sharing your experience with others!
Question: What age did you start masturbating?
Answer: I started masturbating in the 6th grade at the age of 12. The first time I masturbated was in the shower. It was so exciting that I wanted to tell all my friends about it but later felt that somehow it would not be appropriate. At the time I was totally ignorant about sex and masturbation because my parents never told me anything about it. I wanted to know what happened to me so I went to the library and started reading books about sex. It was when I started reading about sex and orgasms that I understood my first experience with masturbation.
Question: What age did you stop?
Answer: 20
Question: When did you begin to have a desire to stop masturbation?
Answer: Around the age of 15. I was reading something about health and I was convicted that I needed to stop the habit of masturbation. However at the time I was unconverted and did not take anything seriously. It was not until the age of 20 that I decided that "enough is enough" and I surrendered my life completely to God. At that time my desire to live a life of health and self-control became very important and I tried to stop masturbation.
Question: Are you married or single?
Answer: Right now I am 42 and married.
Question: Please tell us a summary of how you found freedom from masturbation.
Answer: It was completely by prayer. It was intense praying. I would describe that prayer time as wrestling with God. Of course I did not start praying until I was 20 years old and by that time the habit of masturbation had become so strong in my life. So I would pray and then I would fall into this habit again and again. It seemed for a while that I would not find freedom but I continued to pray. I began to have a growing sense and conviction that I should not give up praying. And I am so glad I did not give up! Thank God. This continued for over a year and a half but it all suddenly changed in one night.
One evening I had spent a lot of time praying and begging God to please take this addiction to masturbation out of my life. "Please take this from me!" I wrestled for over an hour with God in prayer. That night I went to sleep and I had a dream I will never forget. In the dream I saw a statue of myself masturbating. While I was watching I saw this statue break and fall over. When I woke up I knew something had changed.
Question: What changed?
Answer: After that dream the desire to masturbate was totally gone. It was like I was an alcoholic that never wanted another drink. Of course I still had sexual desires but I was no longer a slave to this habit of masturbation. Since the time I beginning masturbating at the age of 12 until the age of 20 I was never able to stop masturbating longer than two weeks. After six months of no masturbation I knew it was an answer to prayer that I found freedom. Shortly after this I fell in love and was married about a year later.
Question: So you were free for a year and a half from masturbation before you were married?
Answer: Yes and after I was married I never again masturbated. Even during my time of engagement I did not masturbate. Now I have been married for 20 years and have never masturbated.
Question: How did you learn how to pray?
Answer: Just from taking examples from Scripture. In the Bible are many examples of people praying in different situations. They all have similar principles that helped me learn how to pray. A really helpful chapter was from the book of Luke. In Like chapter 11 Jesus is teaching people how to pray and he tells the story of a man who was begging bread from his neighbor. When the neighbor refused the man he did not give up but continued to beg over and over, incessantly, until the neighbor finally was exhausted and gave him the bread. This story and the story of the widow in Luke 18 gave me a lot of encouragement and hope.
Whenever I fell into the habit of masturbation it was hard to keep praying. However I believe that is exactly why God gave us Psalm 51 and Ezekiel 36:26. God can and will give us a new heart and a new spirit if we will only seek Him by prayer. Reading the Bible and memorizing these promises were a big help to me.
Question: What counsel would you give to a young person who has this temptation and addiction?
Answer: Cut yourself off from media that feeds the unhealthy sexual desire. In my house we do not have a TV. For people struggling with masturbation and lust even football commercials are too sexually stimulating. Also I suggest finding an accountability partner or leader. This is someone that you can talk to openly about your struggle. They will be there to support you and pray for you. Sometimes it is much easier when we have someone to talk to about this problem. They should be of the same sex. A man should have another man as an accountability partner.
Question: In many areas of the world, especially in Asia, it is not appropriate in the culture to discuss sex. Should they still seek to discuss this issue with someone?
Answer: If you live in a culture where sex is not discussed openly I suggest reading books about sexual purity and finding videos and sermons online that encourage sexual purity before marriage. Spend time in prayer and ask God to help you find resources to learn more. Here is a link to a highly recommended book on sexual purity, pornography, etc. I bought 10 of them and give them out to guys who need them. It is Pure Desire: How One Man's Triumph Can Help Others Break Free From Sexual Temptation by Dr. Ted Roberts.
Question: Thanks Nick for sharing your experience with others!
Comments are closed
September 4, 2015 Someone said: From Nigeria.. I pledge to stop masturbating today. Prayer is the key
September 3, 2015 Someone from the USA said: it is only prayer that can solve the problem of masturbation,therefore prayer is the key to lock masturbation and no to open again.
August 28, 2015 Someone said: After reading this testimony i carried,i felt guilty that i hav sin all this time...i mastubated now for a year.and i knw what God did for this man he will obviously do it for me..prayer wth faith wl get an end to ths sinful life..i realy want to live a normal life free from sins..
August 10, 2015 Someone said: I have been masturbating for about 8 yrs now .I started it one day when I was alone .I wanted to inform my bestti how good I felt but due to some unknown reason I held back..one day my classteacher was giving a sermon and he said masturbation was a devilish act .since then I longed to stop ..I tried to stop by fasting for three days in order to deliver myself but it proved futile bcos I did not constantly pray anytime I feel the urge to masturbate .I have talked to someone about it but still did it .Am now 21 am determined to stop and I know this website will help me .God has called me into his ministry that's why the devil wants to destroy me at early by inflicting me with this devilish act .but now I surrender to God I want to do his work and become a powerful man of God.God bless u
August 10, 2015 Someone said: I have been masturbating for about 8 yrs now .I started it one day when I was alone .I wanted to inform my bestti how good I felt but due to some unknown reason I held back..one day my classteacher was giving a sermon and he said masturbation was a devilish act .since then I longed to stop ..I tried to stop by fasting for three days in order to deliver myself but it proved futile bcos I did not constantly pray anytime I feel the urge to masturbate .I have talked to someone about it but still did it .Am now 21 am determined to stop and I know this website will help me .God has called me into his ministry that's why the devil wants to destroy me at early by inflicting me with this devilish act .but now I surrender to God I want to do his work and become a powerful man of God.God bless u
February 3, 2015 Someone said: for me first when i heard that masturbation can stop by praying to god then when i reached home i used to find it from the internet and then when i see that it is real then i take the bible and read it and when i finish reading it i start to pray to god to understand and to stop masturbate and then god answer my prayer and till from that time i stop masturbate and then i thank god for everything and i thank the writter of this website that giving information to stop masturbation by praying to god.God bless us thank you..
November 26, 2014 Someone from India said: i don't have experience but im start from today ,,,,to pray for god
November 25, 2014 Someone from the USA said: I am *************. I have been masturbating since I was a child. I am 29 and female. I knew in my heart it was wrong. I felt horrible after I did it every time. I have been married for 8 years and still masturbate. I have gone several months to a year without masturbation, but i always go back to it. I have talked to I think two or three of my branch presidents about this. Monday I needed more help. Over this past weekend, I finally knew in myself that I have to stop. I google how to stop masturbating. I was always scared to do that before bc I was afraid of what would pop up. I dont view porn and never have. When I did the search, howtostopmaturbating.com came up. I read it. It is amazing! The only thing ive ever heard from the world is that masturbation is a good thing and it's normal. However, in my heart, afterwards it felt horrible, every time. I will say, it is normal for ppl to struggle with it, but it is not good. I feel guilty and the spirit leaves me. I want to be happy. I want to make this commitment. I am excited to start my new life. Im so glad that someone took the time to really try and research this out. Thank u.
November 25, 2014 Someone from the USA said: I am *************. I have been masturbating since I was a child. I am 29 and female. I knew in my heart it was wrong. I felt horrible after I did it every time. I have been married for 8 years and still masturbate. I have gone several months to a year without masturbation, but i always go back to it. I have talked to I think two or three of my branch presidents about this. Monday I needed more help. Over this past weekend, I finally knew in myself that I have to stop. I google how to stop masturbating. I was always scared to do that before bc I was afraid of what would pop up. I dont view porn and never have. When I did the search, howtostopmaturbating.com came up. I read it. It is amazing! The only thing ive ever heard from the world is that masturbation is a good thing and it's normal. However, in my heart, afterwards it felt horrible, every time. I will say, it is normal for ppl to struggle with it, but it is not good. I feel guilty and the spirit leaves me. I want to be happy. I want to make this commitment. I am excited to start my new life. Im so glad that someone took the time to really try and research this out. Thank u.
November 28, 2013 Someone said: From Nigeria...Well, so much have been said. I just want to say that the moment u read this, God just answered ur prayers and the remaining part of the fight is left with ur conscious effort to succeed, even with occasional relapses...Thank u so much for d effort in putting this forward. You have touched lives.
December 26, 2013 Comment from India: this is what i was looking for ,,,help to hold my hand ,when i was trying find some answer,that no one can ever gave me.
December 28, 2013 from USA: I m 24 now.I started masturbating in age of 14.I m still masturbating.i tried lot of time to stop this,but fail.The max time i m able to avoid is two month
December 26, 2013 Comment from India: this is what i was looking for ,,,help to hold my hand ,when i was trying find some answer,that no one can ever gave me.
December 28, 2013 from USA: I m 24 now.I started masturbating in age of 14.I m still masturbating.i tried lot of time to stop this,but fail.The max time i m able to avoid is two month
June 16, 2014 Someone said: If temptation was a person, I'd punch him now.
June 23, 2014 Someone said: Oh, i am ****** frm Lesotho. I read ths nd as i ws readng sme testimonies m hpe ws restred cz i thought i ws only persn murterbatin. I am 21 years nd i c'nt rmember hw many dd i musterbate bt i cn remember the moment i started ding it, i evn dd nt knw tht tht was calld musturbtin nd i evn dd nt knw that it was wrong, i hve never had of it. I thnk its whn th demon of musterbation started to attack me... I m stil strugling please pray with me. I believe frm nw aftr readn ths article i wl nver do it again cz in John 16:33 Jesus said, 'in the word you wil have many tribulation bt be of good chear I have ovecome th world' God Bless You.
June 23, 2014 Someone said: Oh, i am ****** frm Lesotho. I read ths nd as i ws readng sme testimonies m hpe ws restred cz i thought i ws only persn murterbatin. I am 21 years nd i c'nt rmember hw many dd i musterbate bt i cn remember the moment i started ding it, i evn dd nt knw tht tht was calld musturbtin nd i evn dd nt knw that it was wrong, i hve never had of it. I thnk its whn th demon of musterbation started to attack me... I m stil strugling please pray with me. I believe frm nw aftr readn ths article i wl nver do it again cz in John 16:33 Jesus said, 'in the word you wil have many tribulation bt be of good chear I have ovecome th world' God Bless You.