Unlocking Freedom: Overcoming Sin and Embracing God's Presence

My dear friend, it is truly heartfelt to hear of the deep conflict you are experiencing, and I assure you, God is keenly aware of your struggles and offers a path to freedom and peace. You can absolutely be helped in this matter, and it is possible to stay in the constant presence of God and align your will with His, no matter how profoundly you feel entrenched in sin. God's mercy and compassion are boundless, and He reaches out to you right where you are, not after you have cleansed yourselfWM 246.2+2.

Embracing God's Presence Despite Sin

It is a common misconception to feel that one must be free of sin to approach God, but the truth is quite the opposite. God's word is clear that He sees your heart, your deeds, and the very purposes of your mind, and He invites you to come to Him as you areTSB 157.1+3.

• God invites your prayers: Even in distress and anguish, like Jacob, we are called to wrestle in prayer with God, crying to Him day and night for deliverancePr 278.4+2. The Holy Spirit indites the prayers of those whose bodies are His templeHST February 5, 1845, page 207.1. You are urged to love secret prayer, for as long as you watch and pray, you will retain the victory3MR 124.2. All people on earth, from the aged to the little child, should prayARSH August 28, 1856, page 131.20.

• God's view of your unworthiness: It is not a conclusive evidence that a person is a Christian because they manifest spiritual ecstasy under extraordinary circumstances; holiness is an entire surrender of the will to God, living by His word, trusting Him in trial, and walking by faithChS 235.5. God regards even the helpless and outcast as precious, seeing beneath the surface and knowing how to bring men to repentanceWM 246.2. He is merciful and forgiving of iniquity, transgression, and sinARSH October 1, 1895, page 633.1.

Understanding the Struggle with Sin

The specific struggles you mention, such as masturbation and pornography, are indeed profound and have serious spiritual and mental consequences.

• Impact of specific sins: These practices deface the image of God as expressed in the marriage covenantBDOC 28.34. They have a corrupting influence, defile the imagination, and arouse lower and baser passionsLYL 60.4. They can seriously injure the mind, dim the intellect, weaken moral and intellectual powers, and strengthen the baser nature2T 392.2+1. Such habits can lead to melancholy, irritability, jealousy, loss of self-respect, and even, in some cases, precipitate insanity1MCP 258.1+1. This is an age when corruption is teeming everywhere, and Satan works to fasten the mind on impure, unlawful thingsLYL 60.4.

• The carnal mind: The carnal mind is enmity against God; it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be Romans 8:7-8GCB December 1895, page 617.2+1. When the mind is not under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Satan can mold it as he chooses7LtMs, Lt 8, 1891, par. 6.

• God's warning: God states plainly that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, including fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, and abusers of themselves 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. These actions are works of the flesh that prevent inheriting the kingdom of God Galatians 5:19-21. Transgression is a terrible mistake, a dishonor to God and a curse to manTSB 104.1.

The Path to Sustained Overcoming

Your will to do right has not been entirely broken, as evidenced by your desire for change and your attempts to surrender. This desire itself is a sign of hope.

• Entire surrender: The critical need is for an entire surrender of the will to GodChS 235.5+3. This is not just a one-time event but an everlastingly maintained commitmentGCB April 1, 1903, page 43.2. When you honestly trust in Jesus alone for salvation, shun attractive objects simply because He forbids them, and cheerfully do disagreeable duties because He commands them, then you begin to be a Bible ChristianARSH April 30, 1861, page 186.20.

• Actively overcoming: It will be a stern warfare, involving self-denial and cross-bearing, but you can, through Christ, come off victorious3T 43.1. The self-conqueror triumphs not through personal aptitude or genius, but through God20MR 54.5. You must learn the important lesson of sacrificing your will and way to gratify and make others happyAY 57.2. God has made provision for you to stand amid the perils of this ageRH April 12, 1870, par. 6.

• Putting on the whole armor of God: This life is a warfare against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians 6:10-1313LtMs, Ms 200, 1898, par. 14+1. You are called to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ and to endure hardship 2 Timothy 2:3-4TEd 185.1. Resistance to the devil must be firm and steadfast, because if you resist today only to yield tomorrow, you lose all you gainT25 27.1.

• Faith and works: There is no such thing as faith without worksARSH April 30, 1861, page 186.20. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith Romans 1:17GCB/GCDB 1893, page 362.4. This faith involves the submission of your will to Him, the yielding of your heart to Him, and fixing your affections upon HimGCB/GCDB 1893, page 362.4. It is in Christ that you are predestinated, and you are free to choose for yourself whether you will accept Him or notFOFO 5.2.

• Cultivating purity: If Christ is the theme of contemplation, your thoughts will be widely separated from every subject that leads to impure actsT18 80.2. The mind strengthens by dwelling on elevating subjects and becomes healthy and vigorous when trained in the channel of purity and holinessT18 80.2. Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soulT18 75.2.

Steps to Regain Strength and Maintain Victory

• Look to Jesus: Focus on beholding Christ's character to be changed into the divine likeness2SM 350.2. When difficulties arise, you will be hidden in Christ and manifest His SpiritRH March 29, 1887, par. 6.

• Seek the Holy Spirit: You will never reach a state of true Christian faith until the Holy Spirit comes to help you; you must pray most intensely for His powerful influences upon your heartARSH April 30, 1861, page 186.20. God speaks, and it is so; all that is needed is surrenderGCB April 1, 1903, page 43.2.

• Deal with wrongdoing promptly: Wrongdoing must be corrected. The iniquity bound in the heart must be met and overcomeCG 249.4. Unless evil is eradicated, the soul will be lostCG 249.4.

• Do not insult God: Do not insult God by asking Him to make you a better person while lazily drifting in selfish lusts or persistently holding to bad practicesARSH April 30, 1861, page 186.20.

• Embrace self-denial: Self-seeking is self-destroyingGBJ January 1897, page 26.11. The first great moral lesson given to Adam was self-denial, placing the reins of self-government in his handsRH February 24, 1874, par. 10.

• Seek discernment: Pray to God to bring all things to your remembrance that you may see them in their true bearing6LtMs, Lt 5, 1890, par. 9. You want to be in a condition where you can discern between light and darkness Isaiah 8:203MR 101.1.

• Acknowledge God's goodness: Recognize God's goodness, greatness, and power in His created works, looking up through nature to nature's God and making Him first and supreme4LtMs, Ms 25, 1885, par. 29.

God is full of grace and truth John 1:14. He has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called you to glory and virtue 2 Peter 1:318LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 16. His love and patience are available to you now to gain continual victoriesPTUK November 5, 1891, page 360.8. May you find strength and courage to move forward with renewed hope, knowing that Christ is with you every step of the way.

My dear friend, it is truly commendable that you are seeking a way forward, especially when facing such deep struggles; please know that God's outstretched hand is available to you right now, and you can absolutely begin today to surrender your will to Christ and embrace the influence of the Holy Spirit, even with a carnal mind constantly suggesting sin17LtMs, Lt 18, 1902, par. 9. Your desire to change, despite past difficulties, is a precious indication that the Lord is working in your heart, and He is ready to meet you exactly where you are17LtMs, Lt 18, 1902, par. 9+1.

Here is a practical guide for today, focusing on immediate steps:

1. Make a Full Surrender of Your Will Today 🙏

Today is indeed your day, and the Lord invites you to take immediate actionCS 21.3.

• Pray Earnestly and Immediately: Do not feel that you must be sinless to pray or converse with God; He invites you to draw nigh to Him in your helplessness, and He will draw nigh to you1NL 124.2+1. Offer a silent prayer from a sincere heart at all times and in all places, asking how to do His willPr 68.4. It is God's will that you pray now, before Mercy's sweet voice is no longer heard17LtMs, Lt 18, 1902, par. 9.

• Verbalize Your Surrender: In your prayer, make a complete, absolute, and unconditional surrender of your heart to Jesus ChristGCB April 21, 1901, page 375.8. Tell Him that your will is yielded to His, and you are ready for Him to change your heart by His mighty power, casting out Satan, and reforming your life17LtMs, Lt 18, 1902, par. 9+1. Acknowledge that you are not your own, but belong to Him by creation and redemption, surrendering your body, soul, and spiritCH 121.2+3.

• Understand What Surrender Means: This surrender is an act of your will, not merely your feelingsT33 41.3. It means choosing Him before your own blind judgment and making your mind susceptible to divine impressions3T 457.3+1. The first work to be done each day is to surrender your will and way to God20LtMs, Ms 122, 1905, par. 21. When the soul surrenders to Christ, a new power takes possession of the heart, working a change that you cannot accomplish for yourselfHLv 215.3.

2. Embrace the Holy Spirit's Influence Immediately ✨

The Holy Spirit is essential for overcoming the carnal mind and empowering you to walk in newness of life Romans 6:4YI October 2, 1902, par. 9+1.

• Ask for the Holy Spirit: Heaven is full of power, and this power will come to you as you feel the need of itRH April 8, 1909, par. 11. Pray for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, recognizing that you cannot use the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit is to use youLS 468.3+1. Ask for His meekness, lowliness, longsuffering, and lovePr 68.4.

• Read God's Word: Immediately begin to read the Word of God, for its truths will be to you as the leaves of the tree of life, healing and restoring you17LtMs, Lt 18, 1902, par. 9. The Word is spiritual and will enlighten and train every workerBTS May 1, 1910, par. 1+1. Spiritual knowledge helps you distinguish between good and evil20MR 336.1.

• Cooperate with the Spirit's Leading: When the grace of God takes possession of your heart, the inherited and cultivated tendencies to wrong must be crucified, and a new life, under new control, must beginMYP 68.3. Your energies are required to cooperate with God, as the divine Spirit works through your faculties and powersST May 18, 1904, par. 8. When you surrender, God works in you to will and to do according to His good pleasureSC 62.3+1.

3. Actively Combat the Carnal Mind Today 🛡️

The carnal mind is indeed enmity against God, but you are not powerless against its suggestions today Romans 8:7ARSH October 23, 1860, page 180.24.

• Resist the Devil: The Bible explicitly tells you to "resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7Pr 68.4+1. Do not yield to the power of the enemy25LtMs, Ms 25, 1910, par. 13. You can fight against the enemy, not in your own strength, but in the strength God is ever ready to give youAH 357.2.

• Crucify Self Now: The "old man" is to be crucified with Christ, so that the body of sin might be destroyed and you should no longer serve sin Romans 6:6. Every day you will have occasion to crucify self, warring against inclinations and perverse temperaments that would draw your will in a wrong direction5MR 338.1+1. This is a daily victory, where you are to "die daily" to self 1 Corinthians 15:31MMM 258.1+2.

• Guard Your Thoughts: You have the power to control your mind if you make God your trustRH August 17, 1886, par. 5. Resist the temptation to dwell on impure things; instead, habituate your mind to meditate upon pure and holy things1MCP 225.6. Let Christ be the theme of your contemplation, and your thoughts will be widely separated from every subject that leads to impure acts3TT 110.2+1.

• Renounce Sin as a Hateful Thing: Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and glory1SM 397.1. The indulgence of appetite, which includes the sins you mentioned, is a primary way Adam fell, and Christ overcame it for you3T 486.2+1.

4. Sustain the Journey and Embrace God's Mercy 💖

The feeling of constantly slipping back is a difficult one, but God's plan includes a continuous process of overcoming and provides strength for every emergency5MR 338.1+1.

• Acknowledge Your Desire as a Gift: The very fact that you still desire to do right, despite years of struggle, is a testament to the Spirit of God working within youCOL 48.1. Do not underestimate this longing; it is a sign that God is calling you14LtMs, Lt 44, 1899, par. 2.

• Rely on Christ's Power: You cannot overcome sin in your own strengthMMM 404.33+2. Christ brings moral power to man, and you may become conquerors through His sufficiencyEA 108.7. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin and banish darkness1MCP 326.3. You are kept alone by the power of God2MR 16.1.

• Daily Renewal, Not Just Initial Surge: Recognize that the Christian life is one of daily surrender, submission, and continual overcoming4BC 1154.5. The grace and wisdom are given daily, and you are to die dailyMMM 258.1.

• Immediate Confession and Return: When you fall, confess your sins immediately. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:916LtMs, Lt 21, 1901, par. 42. Do not let shame keep you from returning to Him; He will in no wise cast you out John 6:3717LtMs, Lt 30, 1902, par. 7.

• Focus on the Goal: The greatest conquest for every one of us will be to overcome self and bring it into obedience to the law of GodRH August 18, 1885, par. 12. Moral and spiritual perfection through the grace of Christ is promised to all, and Jesus is the source of this powerTT 251.6.

Today, focus on that immediate, conscious surrender of your will to Christ. Even a small act of obedience, done in faith, opens the door for greater grace and strengthST March 17, 1890, par. 3. God is ready to pour out His Holy Spirit upon you as you make determined efforts for yourselfRH April 8, 1909, par. 11. You are deeply loved, and this battle is one you do not fight aloneST March 17, 1890, par. 3+1.

My dear friend, if your earnest desire is to remain constantly in God's presence, it is not considered safe to watch movies and television, as these activities are understood to hinder spiritual growth and can draw the heart away from divine influence 🙏.

Here’s why these amusements are seen as incompatible with a walk of constant divine presence:

Worldly Amusements and God's Presence

True followers of Christ purposefully avoid places of worldly amusement because they do not find Jesus there, nor any influence that makes them heavenly-minded or increases their graceMYP 376.3+2. Obedience to God’s Word leads them to separate from these thingsMYP 376.3+3.

• Absence of Divine Presence: Good angels, who bring strengthening and counsel, will not accompany individuals into living rooms where fallen spirits congregate around "enchanted ground" like certain mediaBDOC 45.121+1. The very presence of God makes a place holy, and activities that grieve the Holy Spirit or dishonor God indicate His absencePH145 37.3+1.

• Conflict with God's Character: Christ, the Man of sorrows, would not be welcomed in places of worldly amusement, as His presence would restrain mirth, gaiety, and sensual amusements, reminding people of neglected duty and hidden sinsRH October 13, 1874, par. 2. The call to be blameless and harmless, shining as lights in the world, means doing all things without murmuring or disputing Philippians 2:14-16.

• Grieving the Holy Spirit: Engaging in foolish actions and words grieves the Spirit of God and dishonors the Redeemer's namePH145 37.3. Instead of seeking the Spirit's illumination, individuals can divorce themselves from the God of wisdom and power, allowing Satan to influence their decisions1888 180.3+1.

The Corrupting Influence of Movies and Television

Television and movies are identified as powerful tools that can educate the mind to familiarity with sin and work against the law of GodBDOC 45.85+1.

• Familiarity with Sin: The constant repetition of sin in grosser examples makes lesser examples seem innocuous, which directly contradicts God's law that makes even small infractions appear exceedingly sinful Romans 7:13BDOC 45.39. This blunts the conscience and makes it insensible to counselBDOC 45.126.

• Defiled Imagination and Carnal Heart: Movies and television, like novels and other media, corrupt the imagination, arouse passion, and fill the mind with desires for worldly amusementsBDOC 45.85+2. They suit the carnal heart, which Satan uses to quote Scripture and justify indulgence in pleasureCon 71.1+1.

• Provision for the Flesh: Watching questionable items can be seen as making provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts, rather than putting on the Lord Jesus Christ Romans 13:14BDOC 45.55. This can lead to a mind full of adultery and covetous practices, as described in 2 Peter 2:14 and indulges the lust of the eyes, which is not of the Father 1 John 2:16BDOC 45.55.

• Loss of Spiritual Appetite: After the excitement of such amusements, the mind reflects, and conscience may be aroused, but it does not lead to true happiness or healthRH March 12, 1872, par. 4. Instead, they poison the imagination and destroy religious impressions, blunting the relish for tranquil pleasures and sober realities of lifeBDOC 45.85. This can cause individuals to become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God5MR 193.4+2.

• Time Robbery: Time spent on questionable amusements is time robbed from wholesome uses, such as Bible study and evangelism, which are essential for fulfilling our dutiesBDOC 45.55.

Cultivating a Mind for God's Presence

To constantly be in God's presence, a different approach to entertainment is needed.

• Focus on Holiness: You are called to practice holiness in this life to see the King in His beauty16LtMs, Ms 110, 1901, par. 32. This means putting away vain talk and frivolous, sensational matters, and not engrossing your mind with worldly entertainments16LtMs, Ms 110, 1901, par. 32.

• Separation and Purity: True Christians will not enter into worldly amusements and entertainments, maintaining a firm, decided influence against folly that counteracts serious impressions16LtMs, Ms 104, 1901, par. 15. Instead, they open the windows of the soul heavenward to behold spiritual things, allowing God's Word to be their assurance, hope, and peace6T 114.3.

• Imitation of Jesus: A conscientious choice to avoid such entertainments is not narrowness of mind but an imitation of JesusBDOC 45.102. Those who have learned of Christ will have a disrelish for former pleasures and amusementsBDOC 45.102+1.

Being diligent in prayer, studying God's Word, and making a conscious effort to turn away from influences that detract from His presence will help you cultivate the deep and abiding joy that comes from a life surrendered to Him, making His presence a constant reality in your daily experience5MR 242.1+2.