No PMO War V

Hey brothers and sisters, Today I wanted to share a short reflection on how I'm learning to walk in the light — not just by avoiding PMO, but by actively embracing gratitude, honesty, and grace. ☀️ Mindset Check I snoozed a lot this morning and didn’t start the day with a strong intention, but I got up, got ready for school, and something shifted throughout the day. I’ve noticed that I’m starting to live more gratefully, even in small things. I caught myself smiling just because I could take the electric bike to school and because my mom helped me hit my protein goals. Small blessings, big shift. 👀 Triggers At the station, I saw someone with a really attractive body. Normally this would’ve triggered a spiral, but instead I caught the thought and told myself: “Why stare? This won’t help me in class… But hey — I’m grateful I still have a natural instinct. That’s not evil. It just needs direction.” I didn't shame myself or obsess over “forgetting” the thought. I just… smiled at my silliness and moved on. That’s huge progress for me. 🎮 Resisting Old Habits Later I had some free time and almost started gaming. But then I paused and said: “No. Not now. This time is valuable.” I didn’t go straight into schoolwork (still need to improve that), but I did some prep for my youth group (youth movement/scouting ish), which was a step in the right direction. What helped me say no? Gratitude Fear of wasting time Remembering the bigger picture Wanting freedom more than comfort 🍽️ Self-Care I ate clean, sat in the sun, and did a sudoku while listening to reggae. It gave me peace and a moment to just be. Simple but refreshing. 🙏 God & Growth I talked a bit with a friend about my faith (nothing deep, but still something). I told my parents I want to wear a necklace with a cross. No big signs from God today, but I felt a quiet peace throughout the day — like I was being carried even during small setbacks. 💡 Key Insight “Live as children of light. Don’t carry shame in the dark — confess, walk freely, and you’ll fall less.” Even when I messed up before, I felt God telling me: You're not defined by this. Walk in the light. 🙌 Gratitude that Changed My Mood The sun on my face during sudoku Feeling confident driving again after not practicing for a while Taking the electric bike and saving time/effort Gratitude truly helped me resist impulses without even needing to fight hard. 🔥 Takeaway for Tomorrow Less phone time Finish my school task Stay present and thankful Let this verse lead me: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." — Ephesians 5:8 If you're on this journey too: Don’t just fight darkness — turn on the light. Let God’s grace, gratitude, and growth carry you step by step. No shame. Just light. Stay strong warriors. One day at a time. — Child of the Light, Day 3 🕊️

I think there’s a big element that’s often ignored, or rather downplayed, in discussions around no-PMO lately that I would like to get into. What I’m about to say next is NOT an endorsement of PMO, but I want to demonstrate what we’re fighting here. The problem with PMO is that it’s objectively fun. Porn is, by design, a pleasant thing to experience, tailored to pretty much anyone’s “tastes,”, and orgasming is by definition one of the best sensations a person can experience. So with the deck stacked against someone like this, it’s no wonder people find abstinence so fucking difficult. I think this is the piece of the puzzle that’s missing in our arsenals. You feel an urge, but the argument so often devolves into “feel good fun now vs prolonged resistance and discomfort” as a sort of false equivalence. We talk about the “willpower” method and building systems to resist those temptations, but (and this is only my opinion) without acknowledging this core problem with PMO, it’s nearly always a losing battle. Here’s my proposal. You have to admit that porn is both a slow poison and also mad fun. You have to acknowledge that the perceived high of PMO is going to outweigh the isolated small, but incrementally large amount of damage it will do. You have to get your brain to acknowledge that the “it’s okay, I’ll be fine really, I felt okay last time” is a LIE to yourself because your brain just wants what feels good now. It’s not about learning to live with being uncomfortable. It’s about accepting living without what could arguably be called one of your favourite pastimes, because the consequences are too destructive. That is what we’re fighting here. There’s a lesson in how we use language. It’s not that you can’t watch porn. It’s that you DON’T. They’re not urges, they’re cravings. Just like how cigarettes are disastrous for our health but one by itself is unlikely to have any serious effect. they’re so good to smoke, they feel great. If you want to quit smoking, you have to acknowledge that you won’t feel that nicotine rush again (apologies for the metaphor if you’ve never smoked, please don’t try it, it’s such a bad idea). Porn is the same. So next time you’re feeling a craving, just accept that whilst PMO might be fun and exciting, you’re choosing not to have that fun and excitement in service of a higher purpose, and that’s okay. Nofap success is more rewarding, you just have to believe it in those moments where your brain is telling you how much it wants to peek. Stay strong everyone. I believe in you all, even the casualties of this war. YOU GOT THIS.

For the first time, I started using gratitude as a weapon against lust — and I can honestly say it’s a game changer. This morning, I woke up with morning wood. Normally I only experience that after a full week of no PMO. In the past, this would trigger panic: “Oh no, I need to make it go away.” “I shouldn’t touch it.” “Why now? I need to get rid of this quickly.” But today was different. Instead of fear, I chose gratitude. I literally thought: “I’m thankful my body is healing. I’m thankful I can wake up with a healthy erection. For so long, this was rare for me. And now I realize — having an erection doesn’t mean I have to do something with it. I don’t need to fap it away. It’s just a sign that I’m healthy.” I lay there smiling. Not lustful, not triggered — just grateful. Grateful for real arousal, not that fake dopamine high from porn. Grateful that my brain and body are reconnecting in a natural way. And most of all: grateful that I recognized the moment and didn’t spiral into old habits. Gratitude changes the narrative. Lust says: “Act now. Satisfy me.” Gratitude says: “Thank you, God (or life), for this sign of healing.” If you’re struggling with urges today, try this: Whenever you feel tempted, pause and say out loud one thing you’re grateful for — even if it’s just “I’m thankful I can feel temptation and still say no.” It flips the script completely. Two full days clean now with zero resistance. Just peace. And gratitude.

Hey everyone, I recently watched a video [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6CbLxPsyMXavuDjVciKUK9?si=B1G9UVtLTXy_e9qoWwW4_w] that really impacted me, and I felt compelled to share some of the key takeaways. It discussed a topic many Christians struggle with but often avoid talking about—**sexual sin**. Whether it’s pornography, dating apps, crossing boundaries in relationships, or infidelity in marriage, sexual sin looks different for each of us. What’s common, though, is the vicious cycle many believers find themselves trapped in: **Sin → Guilt → Trying Harder → Failure → Shame → Giving Up** Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there right now. The constant struggle, followed by feelings of shame and hopelessness, often leads to two outcomes: either living with frustration over repeated failure or giving in altogether and letting lust control you. But here’s the good news: there **is** a way out. Just as we can fall into a cycle of failure, we can also enter into a **cycle of victory**. The video outlined **five biblical steps** that really stood out to me and could serve as a practical roadmap for anyone struggling with sexual temptation. --- ### 🛡️ Step 1: **See God’s Heart** Before God gave Adam any command, He first **blessed** him[^1]. This shows that God's commands don’t come from control but from love. We often focus so much on “staying pure” that we forget why God calls us to purity: **because He loves us deeply** and wants what’s best for us. Remember this: *Obedience should be a response to love, not a burden of duty.* --- ### 🙏 Step 2: **See God’s Blessings** Before giving the Ten Commandments, God reminded Israel of everything He had already done for them[^2]. The same applies to us. Gratitude shifts our mindset. **Lust says, “I want.” Gratitude says, “I have.”** When temptation strikes, don’t just say, “I need to stop.” Instead, take a moment to thank God specifically for His blessings. Gratitude can be a powerful weapon against desire. --- ### ⚔️ Step 3: **Use God’s Sword (His Word)** The Bible calls God’s Word the “sword of the Spirit”[^3]. Jesus Himself used Scripture to resist temptation[^4]. Memorizing and declaring God’s Word equips us to fight back. Some verses to memorize: * **1 Corinthians 6:18** – Flee from sexual immorality[^5] * **Romans 13:14** – Clothe yourself with Christ and don’t gratify sinful desires[^6] * **Ephesians 6** – The full armor of God[^3] --- ### 💡 Step 4: **Use God’s Light** We are called to live in the light and expose the darkness[^7]. This means being open—not just with God but with trusted believers. **Confession brings healing**[^8]. Don’t fight alone. Find someone who can walk with you. **Freedom grows in the light.** --- ### ✝️ Step 5: **Embrace God’s Gospel** The gospel reminds us that our righteousness isn’t based on our success but on Christ’s finished work[^9]. When you fail, you don’t run from God—you run to Him. Here’s the key: **Be okay with failing.** Not in a way that excuses sin, but in a way that keeps you grounded in grace. Every stumble is a chance to lean deeper into Jesus. --- ### Final Thoughts If you’re struggling with sexual sin, you’re not alone—and you’re not beyond hope. God sees you. He loves you. And He offers a path to freedom. **Remember these 5 steps:** 1. See God's Heart 2. See God’s Blessings 3. Use God’s Sword 4. Use God’s Light 5. Embrace God’s Gospel Victory doesn’t come from being perfect. It comes from walking in **God’s love, grace, and truth**—and choosing to get up every time you fall. I hope this encourages someone. Feel free to share your thoughts or struggles here. Let’s be a community that uplifts and supports one another in Christ. **God bless!** 🙏 --- ### 📖 Bible Verses 1: **Genesis 1:27–28** *So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them...* **Genesis 2:9** *The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.* 2: **Exodus 19:3–4** *“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.”* 3: **Ephesians 6:17** *Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.* 4: **Matthew 4:1–11** *Jesus said, “It is written…” and used Scripture to resist Satan’s temptations.* 5: **1 Corinthians 6:18** *Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.* 6: **Romans 13:14** *Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.* 7: **Ephesians 5:8–11** *Live as children of light... Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.* 8: **James 5:16** *Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.* 9: **1 Corinthians 15:1–3** *...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day.*

Me again! I wanted to share something that happened to me when I started this new account, which was the war before last. Hopefully it resonates with at least one person who may be struggling right now. I’ve been at both ends of the “success” spectrum when it comes to no-fap. Back in 2015 I went an entire year without PMO, and I’ve broadly had modest levels of success since. But then I’ve also slid back into periods of intense binging, giving into PMO whilst working from home is not my proudest accomplishment but I’ll admit here nonetheless. So back to the war two years ago. I think I made it to two weeks, and then the cravings started. The first time was okay, I managed to avoid relapsing and assumed I’d wake up over it and continue on. But the next day they were stronger. I resisted and felt like I’d turned a corner, but then the following morning, I felt it all the same again. I don’t remember how long it took before I gave in, probably maybe one more day (if that). I hadn’t said anything to the group, I just made a decision in the moment to go KIA before finally giving in. I decided that I couldn’t deal with the shame of PMOing whilst also fighting in the war. That was the start of a pretty severe amount of binging, at least once a day with a smattering of streaks, not lasting longer than a week at most. And the worst part was that I convinced myself I was fine, it was all okay, nothing to see here. But with that came all the same mental stresses. I felt I was objectifying women, boiling them down to their looks. I didn’t want to engage in any other entertainment, I just wanted to PMO, whilst convincing myself as we all do, that I could stop “any time.” But throughout all this my job was (and still is) going great, I was (and still am) in a great relationship with a wonderful human being, and my social circle was (and again still is) as lively and fulfilling as ever. The thing I noticed was that it wasn’t enough. I’ve been struggling with my mental health, and I’m not saying it was all PMO (I have a history of anxiety and anxious attachment) but it sure as hell was a easy way out instead of confronting it. So here I am. Sharing this because, as I’ve said in a previous post, I want to remain accountable. Writing this out has already removed any sense of cravings and urges I may have been feeling when I started, and I’m feeling pretty good about getting into bed now and having a good night’s sleep. So if any of that resonates with you, please know that you’re not alone. And if you’re struggling with your own urges/cravings, deciding against PMOing right now is the right decision. If you do remain in this war, I’ll be there by your side until the end and then beyond, that’s my promise to you.

Have to say that it is a bit embarrassing to admit that even with all my stars, I still get weak and give in to my cravings. In a moment of weakness, I let myself watch a bit of porn, but didn’t edge or MO. Sorry to let the remaining guys down, but I will get back on the horse and start again with my discipline. Stay tough for those of you who are still left, and also to the rest of you guys as well!! The reward of perseverance is worth it 🙏💪

I unfortunately succumbed to temptation. But I know what I did wrong and how to be better in the future, I have also made amazing progress in other helpful habits. Most of all remembering to pray, all of you are most likely not spiritual but I am so praying is a big thing for me, I know that The Lord always has my back and when I do pray I am always able to continue on as normal, it's amazing and I was remembering to do it a lot this time, so I know I can continue on and that not all is lost. Good luck to those still in the fight, I believe in you guys!

For the last few wars, I have suffered the same fate, either I forgot it or just did not reach it in time. Same with this war, I got KIA for not checking in late like an hour. On the other hand tho I reenlisted and somehow ends up in the same empire in the same barracks lol

24 active and 5 mia. I'm just wanted to check in with everyone. How is everyone traveling so far?