The Destructive Nature of the Pursuit of Pleasure

Oh my goodness....The following is a moving reminder that we cannot just indulge in any/all worldly indulgence without having consequences. Of course this is a very extreme example but an example none-the-less of the impact of indulgence of the sin nature. This is a must watch!!! Especially for anyone out there using pornography but even for those who have a loved one who uses. Catch what he says, EXCITEMENT. A greater sense of excitement was what he was after. I've never met anyone with a dependency who did not pursue excitement. Call it pleasure, call it feeling good, call it not wanting to feel bad. It's all the same.

Have a watch.....
https://www.facebook.com/206495729381088/videos/307036566022657/?fallback=1&pnref=story

Here's an example of indulging negative emotions with/without food.  These videos are profound.... Have a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjm3XTMEUAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58G0278DjBU

Here is an incredible story of the pursuit of excitement through substances.  Wonderful honesty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2DYngb7zEI

The following is an example of someone who indulged in relationship dependency.  This is very moving.  What a testimony!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooj1aPIbRVI

Here is an example of a woman who indulges in shopping/hoarding in order to indulge her negative emotions.  Hoarding is not like it is on television.  It's incredibly destructive and just as long and painful a process of recovery as recovery from substance dependency or any other behavioral dependency with multiple relapses as part of the process of recovery.  So very sad....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q1Vy1Fq2lA

Next is an EXCELLENT example of a woman who has indulged in her anger so long that she has lost control and struggles to see the way back to self-control.  Have a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl4v53gNQ7U

Well, if you were able to make it through all these video, Congratulations!!  I know there were a few, but together my hope is that these videos will give my readers a much fuller perspective on the indulgence of the sin nature.  I call it that because that's how the Bible defines it.  Psychology defines it differently and calls these behaviors "mental illness".  Yes, mentally these people have disordered thinking but it does not have to be permanent and it is not permanent or un-fixable.  People believe if they receive a diagnosis then they have officially lost the ability to change.  In fact a diagnosis is just a word to describe a group of symptoms so that health care professionals know what they are all looking at and talking about.  ANYONE can change. If you experience strong and persistent mood shifts, you can learn skills to function better and live better!  If you have persistent compulsions you can learn skills to change your thinking, resist negative emotions and say NO to compulsions.  If you, by use have taught your brain to be dependent on dopamine or a substance, you can, through abstinence and relearning how to process your emotions and meet your needs live a functional life and maintain healthy relationships.  Here is the cornerstone though, without faith in God and the surrendering of yourself to Him in Christ, the battle rages on and your flesh will win.  It is those whom I have seen walk away from their old battles into a new life, that have fully relinquished control over to God and trusted Him with their hearts and practiced brutal honesty with themselves and God. They have committed to change no matter what mistakes they make and they commit to humility--making amends, being teachable, and being a servant of others.

There is no hope in the pursuit of pleasure, only pain.  CHANGE IS POSSIBLE!

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 "For this is the will of God, your sanctification [your holiness]:...that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel [body] in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God..." (NKJV).

http://www.truthliveshere.net/