alium asked: My boyfriend and I are both Christians, and we're both abstinent; we're waiting until marriage. We're thinking about moving in an apartment together, but I've heard someone say that it's "sinful" for unmarried couples to live together even if they're not doing anything sexual. What's your opinion?

Wholly poop! That’s so rad that you and you’re boyfriend are waiting until marriage! What an awesome choice! I for one would never recommend or give the green flag for someone to live with their boyfriend or girlfriend alone in a house, apartment, or any living establishment. Now hear me out. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone not because it’s sinful, but because it could lead you to fall into sin, or someone else to fall into sin. Saying you’re going to stay abstinent and actually staying abstinent are two different things. 

Why open the doors to temptation? God tells us to run from temptation. (1 Corinthians 6:18) 

Also, there are some people that know you as a christian girl and you’re boyfriend as a christian guy. Some people without you knowing it might even look up to you as a christian role model, you know. When you’re a christian there’s always going to be  non-christians waiting for you to mess up so they can call you out on it, so they can judge you.

Let’s say maybe you do move into an apartment with you’re boyfriend, and you both do in fact stay abstinent. Sure, you guys and God will know you didn’t fall into sin, but the secular view of an unmarried couple living together always relates to sexual things. Even though you might not like it and as I said before there are always eyes on you, people who look up to you as a christian (these people might not even talk to you, but still look up to you) and if they find out you’re living with you’re boyfriend they’re going to assume things. They might even think “well this Christian girl I know lives with her boyfriend.. why can’t I?”  and this person might not even stay abstinent. 

“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” - 1 Corinthians 8:13

Well that’s all I have to say. =)

I really hope you really think about this and pray about it. 

God Bless!

Anonymous asked: Sometimes i think bad thoughts about God that arent my own and the more i try not to think them the more they come. It drives me crazy because i know they arent my own but i feel like im commiting a sin against the holy spirit that is unforgiveable. How do i get rid of them?

It’s all about self control!

Here a list of verses which will help you with that!

In comparison, self-control:

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” Proverbs25:28 (NIV)

“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32

Our responsibility to be self-controlled:

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13

“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6

“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

^“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:5-8

“that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,” 1 Thessalonians 4:4

Self-control is evidence of faith and the Holy Spirit in our lives:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 20 For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness… 26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:19-20, 26-27

This verses show the importance of self control! Pray for grace and growth in this area!

And bring every thought at the feet of Jesus (2 Cor 10:5)

Be Blessed!

-Sanica

Anonymous asked: (cont) me. But I feel worse. I feel so much more burdened and God does not seem to exist in my heart anymore... I want to love Him and strive for Him... But I can't... What should I do? What does the bible say about situations like this?

Hi :)

It does not matter whether you feel or not but it matters to base our understanding on Scripture!

God is always present! He never leaves you! He has promised that! SO do not feel that He does not exist anymore.

And secondly, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Phil 4:13)

What you should do:

1. Admit your weakness, seek God’s help

God cannot work with you if you are still trying to overcome sin on your own.  Humble yourself and cast all your burdens on Him because He is willing to do so. (1 Peter 5:7)

2. Prayer power

1. Confess all known sin
   Read: Psalm 51 | Mark 7:20-23 | 1 John 1:7-10

2. Renounce conformity to the world
   Read: Romans 12:2, 6:13-14

3. Ardently seek an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. He will give you a richer, more meaningful life.
   Read: John 10:10, 15:5-12 | Ephesians 3:14-19 | Philippians 3:10-14

4. Offer your body as a “living sacrifice” to God
   See: Romans 12:1-2 | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

5. Worship God
   Read: John 4:23-24 | Philippians 3:3

6. Thank and praise God. Thank Him for his grace and mercy, praise Him, and keep seeking His mercy. Thank God for answered prayer.
   Read: What should we thank God for, and how should we praise Him? |Thanksgiving, do the right thing | Are you thankful to God? | Philippians 4:6-7 | Colossians 4:2

7. Ask God for help in living a pure and loving life

       See: Philippians 4:6-7 | Hebrews 4:16

3. Reading and memorizing Scripture

Memorize James 1:14 and 1 Corinthians 10:13 and quote them when you are tempted.

Open your Bible at Psalm 51 and make it your own prayer.

The following passages are also helpful in dealing with lust and sexual immorality:

Matthew 5:27-30 | 1 Peter 2:11 | Romans 8:13 | Romans 6:12 |1 Corinthians 6:13 | Galatians 5:17 | Philippians 4:8 | 2 Timothy 2:22 | Psalm 101:2,3 | Proverbs 6:25-29 | Proverbs 5:18-20 | Proverbs 8:13 | Job 31:1-4 | Matthew 5:8 | Romans 8:6 | 1 Corinthians 6:9 | 1 Corinthians 6:18-19 | 2 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 | James 1:15; 4:3 | 1 John 2:16

4. Accountability

Although it is healthy to be ashamed of the sins you are involved in, don’t let that shame become one of Satan’s weapons to keep you trapped. Secrecy is often a Christian’s biggest enemy, while confession can bring freedom and release from the bondage of an overwhelming sense of shame. If no one knows of your personal moral failures, there is no one to be accountable to, or to help lift you up in prayer or encourage you. 

In an accountability relationship, you choose a confidant that you can be honest and open with about your addiction. Confess your sin (James 5:16). Be sure to choose someone of the same sex. Preferably, select a discrete person that has some spiritual maturity in their walk with Christ, and who has a helpful, non-condemning spirit.

5. Block Internet pornography

6. Guard your heart, avoid temptations

Guard your heart with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Don’t let the demonic realm influence your thought-life (Ephesians 6:12-20). If you give yourself to sinful fantasies and pursuits, you will become their slave (Romans 6:16).

Be Blessed

-Sanica

Anonymous asked: To anyone who is giving into temptation like porn etc,I want to let you know that there is a way out of every temptation and situation,it's just your choice of being the wise one and looking for a way out, I know the feeling of giving into something, and then after feeling guilty-Go cook, sing a song, watch tv,eat,Go for a walk,it has helped me alot,my goal is to maintain this attitude all of 2012,remember Nothing is impossible with God,for through him we can do anything

Thanks for sharing! =)

-BHFJ Team

Anonymous asked: I need some serious prayer and some help. I'm a female who struggles badly with lust. I feel like such a failure because I give into temptation time and time again. Most of the time I'm in the act before I realize what I'm doing. I loveGod so much and it hurts my heart to sin against Him. I've talked to people about it and I'm supposed to be a leader. I don't know what to do.

God doesn’t want you to focus on your failures.Instead God wants you to ask Him for forgiveness and to turn to Him for help. 

Sometimes the reason as to why we face the temptations we do is because we open to the door to the enemy giving him a place to stay in our lives. Now “opening the door” doesn’t literally mean opening up a physical door. It means looking at things or stuff that can cause you to get tempted which sometimes leads into sin.

God in His word says: “Flee from sexual immorality” -1 Corinthians 6:18

If certain books, magazines, movies you’re viewing are the trigger to lust. I recommend you stop viewing and reading these types of things. Doing this will close the door.

Make sure you put the armor of God on every single morning (Ephesians 6:10-18) &create a more stronger relationship with God; You do this by praying, reading your bible, and worshiping Him. 

The stronger your relationship is with God will make resisting temptation/sin more easy. And the more you resist temptation/sin the more your spirit will grow. 

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered(or after you’ve face the temptation) a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

God bless yah!&I’ll keep you in prayer. <3

- aramis

galatiansthree28 asked: How can one "flee" from sexual immorality (as in 1 Cor. 6:18)?

Flee means run away. Avoid things that cause you to stumble. Cut off sources of temptation. As the term goes, avoid it like the plague.

-Tyler

Anonymous asked: Hey, guys. So I have had this question in my head for awhile & I don't know if it's legit or not, but I've heard it said that Jesus was tempted like we were - so He knows how we feel. Now that I am actually starting to think this out, it's making a little more sense to me, but I'll ask anyway. So, does that mean in His life here on earth He was tempted in every which way we have been? If so, does that include sexual temptations? Or would that go under satisfying our fleshly desires (hunger, etc.

Hahah I love this question!!! c:

Yes! Jesus was tempted in e v e r y t h i n g we get tempted in, but  the big difference is that He never fell into temptation.  

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” - Hebrews 4:15

 isn’t that crazy?? c:

God bless yah! <3

-aramis

Anonymous asked: I struggle with masturbating and lust, I need help. How can I stay away from this addiction.

Several places the Bible it tells us that the best way to resist temptation is to run away from it. 

“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” - 1 Timothy 6:11

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” - 2 Timothy 2:22

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” - 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.” - 1 Corinthians 6:18

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” - 1 Corinthians 10:14

A good example of someone running from temptation in the bible, would be none other then Joseph. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. 

Joseph knew that lying with this woman would be a disgraceful thing for him to do. Not only would it be a disgrace to Potiphar, but it would be a disgrace to God and a disgrace to himself. So instead of giving in to temptation. He ran from it. Literally ran from it!

“One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.” - Genesis 39:11-12

Running from temptation stopped him from committing a sin. So when you are facing temptation, the best thing for you to do is run from it. 

God in His word says:

“if your hand even your stronger hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” - Matthew 5:30

You don’t have to cut your hand off. but cut out of your life the things that make you want to sin.

For example:

• If looking at certain types of pictures sets you off, stop looking at them, delete them. 
• If you follow people on tumblr that post crap like that. unfollow them. 
• If you watch pornography. I highly recommend you stop watching it. Tell a family member to put up blocks on pornography sites. You don’t have to tell them you watch it. Just tell them you want them blocked.

Also check out some of our other posts on temptation:

http://bearhugsforjesus.tumblr.com/tagged/temptation

God bless yah! <3

-aramis

Anonymous asked: I am struggling with porn and I'm a girl. How do I stop?. I know God has greater things planned for me but every time I get closer to God, I fail again. Please pray for me because I can't handle this on my own! Thank you!

Let me start off by saying you’re not alone in this. There are many girls out there that struggle with the same thing as you are right now.

God tests all of us. He puts us through trials & temptation in order for our spirit to gain some muscle. God does have greater things planned for you, but if you keep bombing His tests you won’t be able to get to that next level that you want to go to.

In order for us to resist temptation we have to try our best to stay away from it. When you’re getting tempted stop and pray, ask God for the strength to resist. He’ll give you the strength, but remember that God also gave us free will, so you’re also going to have to do your part and learn self-control. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

God bless yah! <3

-aramis

thisradiantheart asked: I've noticed that you all have been getting tons of questions about temptation, and I just had a bit to add. It's important to note that once we have dealt with temptation, we need to make sure we are filling that "empty" place. Jesus referenced this concept in Matthew 12:43-45. Once you cast impurities out, they will seek a place where they can find rest. If the spot in your heart is not filled, they will come back to you, but stronger. Fill it with Jesus, and temptation will stop :) God bless!