From dealing with my own porn and masturbation addictions as both a child, teenager, and young adult - for the most part: indulgence is often situational; or emotional. What does that mean? For instance, research overwhelming finds that internet porn viewing collapses during holidays - especially around Christmastime; even porn-powerhouse Pornhub found a near 50% drop in their usage on Christmas Eve. Why? Because, typically at these times - people are not lonely. For, even when I was among many of the social rejects of the 1990s: transsexuals, wanna-be gay porn stars (me), and emaciated AIDS victims; somehow we all found a way to get together on Christmas. And, it rather spoke to the power of Jesus Christ, that, even within all of us non-believers, the festivities somewhat made us take a short respite from our usual daily routine of perversity.
The lesson? Loneliness is the enemy. As the devil knows our weaknesses and will waste very little time in exploiting them. For instance, if we come home from work - feeling tired, a bit beaten up - if we are single, we are alone in our house or apartment; if we are married - perhaps the wife had a bad day too and she (and the kids) have gone to their rooms; that leaves you alone in the office - with the computer. You tell yourself, “I’m just going to read the news…or do some shopping.” You call out to your wife: “I will be there in a few minutes…I just need to check a sport’s score and send an e-mail.” Suddenly, there arises, perhaps initiated by an inadvertent glimpse at a provocative side-bar add, the need for a quick excursion into a blissful fantasy world or an immediate physical release after a day of stress.
The answer? It’s pretty simple…when you are feeling sad, lonely, or depressed - stay away from the computer or any other source of pornographic material: the television, the bookstore, or even the radio. Don’t be alone. If you had a particularly tough day at work - don’t go home to an empty house. Invite a friend to see a wholesome movie or to go out to dinner. Or, have a battle plan when you do get home: go for a walk or exercise, eat your dinner, then, have a DVD ready to watch; read a spiritual work; open Scripture and meditate with Lord; then - go straight to bed. Manage your time, don’t allow the devil an opportunity. If the demons see you occupied and busy, they will move on to an easier target - that guy lazily flipping through the TV channels or aimlessly surfing the net. For, a mind set upon good things, and set upon God, are of no interest to Satan: “…and when he shall see the blood on the transom, and on both the posts, he will pass over the door of the house, and not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses and to hurt you.” (Ex. 12:23)
