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Dear Gabrielle:
If you are having unwanted sexual thoughts intrude into your mind, there are three possible solutions:
1) From a Spiritual Warfare point-of-view I would recommend praying prayers asking God to protect your thought life from any demonic influence and also asking God to cast away any demons of lust, etc. that may be harassing you.
Here are a couple of useful prayers:
To Control Unwanted Thoughts
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His Name, I reject this thought and feeling of [list for describe thought/feeling] which is contrary to God’s will. As St. Paul teaches us, I will take captive every thought in obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). I choose only thoughts in harmony with the Holy Spirit, and I cover my thought life with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer to Confess a Lustful Heart
Dear Heavenly Father. You have told us in Your Word to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Ro. 13:14). I acknowledge that I have given in to fleshly lusts which wage war against my soul (1 Pet. 2:11). I thank You that in Christ my sins are forgiven, but I have transgressed Your holy law and given the enemy an opportunity to wage war in my members (Eph. 4:27; Ja. 4:1; 1 Pet. 5:8). I come before Your presence to acknowledge these sins and to seek Your cleansing (1 Jn. 1:9 that I may be freed from the bondage of sin (Gal. 5:1). I now ask You to reveal to my mind the ways that I have transgressed Your moral law and grieved the Holy Spirit so that I may stay pure in body and soul before You. I ask this, my Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peters and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of Your Name.
Prayer to Rebuke Spirits of Lust and Improper Sexual Thoughts
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His name, and by my authority as head of this household, I ask of the heavenly Father to rebuke this spirit of of lust and of improper sexual thoughts and to command it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to depart from me now, quietly, without harm to anyone.
I bring the power and the protection of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ over myself. Satan has no part with me. I am sealed with the saving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, forgive me for not being all I should be in Your eyes. Let the cleansing, healing waters of my baptism wash over this me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with Your charity, purity, and love for others to replace the lust, sexual thoughts, and disrespect for the dignity of others that have plagued me.
Lord Jesus, bring to bear my Guardian Angel, and all the angels of heaven, against the forces of evil that seek to cause trouble for me.
Saint Michael, be my protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our Mother, pray for me that I may not fall into the devil’s temptations.
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for setting me free. I praise You, I bless You, I worship You. Thank You for the wisdom and light of the Holy Spirit.
Thank You for enabling me to be aggressive against the works of the enemy. Thank You for Your hope, that takes away discouragement; thank You for ongoing victory. "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). Amen.
2) From a Medical point-of-view, compulsive sexual thoughts can often be resolved by taking medications such as Zoloft. Zoloft-class medications tend to reduce libido and thereby make it easier to control unwanted thoughts through self-discipline.
3) From a psychological point-of-view if #1 and #2 do not work sufficiently, then professional psychological counseling added to the above may help.
In addition, developing the self-discipline to pass by the open windows can help to train yourself to avoid the thoughts.
What I mean about open windows is that temptations of any sort, including unwanted thought, tend to come in rather narrow windows of opportunity. If one can distract themselves long enough to get past that window they may avoid sin.
For example, if a unwanted thought or temptation comes, do something to distract from the temptation -- for example, go wash the dishes, watch the 6pm news, take a walk, go exercise, clean the house, do anything that will distract from thinking about the temptation. By the time a person finishes the dishes, or the walk, or the cleaning, or whatever, the temptation opportunity will likely have passed.
To resolve this will take work and perseverance but work on it we must do. St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5b: "...take every thought captive to obey Christ."
We will be in prayer for you.
God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary
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