FT Chronicle

Around the globe, millions of people use the Internet everyday. Most of them connect for business purposes, information and communication. But a number, including of minor age, uses the Internet for a lot different reason- to watch pornography.

Pornography is one of the famous yet multimillion dollar business, it is easy and accessible with just one click away. Sadly, a large number of minors also watch cyberporn without being detected with many choices to consider out there.

They say that pornography is just a harmless genre of entertainment and watching it only proves your sexual maturity. Is that so?

Married couples find themselves cold to each other for they find the excitement in their spouses that they experience in watching porn.

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.” – Proverbs 5:18-19

Note that the foundation of sex is love. Does one who craves for porn establish a strong love and affection for one another? No, instead he only pays attention to satisfy his own sexual hunger.

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” – 1 Peter 3:7

One married man may find no fire with his wife for he may find himself feeding only his satisfaction. It is way too different if we can consider God-given dignity to women as what men should see to them.

But, how about unmarried people? Are they exempted from the law of the Bible? No!

“But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28

Sin only leads someone to death. Pornography can differ a person’s view. The worst of it, what seems to be just plain foretasting can lead to a major addiction which can even lead to commit a crime.

First thing is to stop watching pornography immediately. For as long as the fire stays, the house still burns right?

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” – Hebrews 11:24-26

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” – Romans 6:12

Do not let yourself to be carried by temptations. Fight it. It may be hard at first but you can get over it with the help of God. Pray for strength. You will find victory at the end and also, God’s pleasure.

“My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.” -
Proverbs 27:11

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” – Romans 6:18

“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” – Psalms34:4

A week earlier, I started a series of prayer to the Lord asking Him to help me and my classmates about our grades. I started to feel nervous a night before the releasing of grades but I put in mind a verse from Matthew 6:34. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

The day has come and I find myself holding my grade slip. I cannot believe what I have seen, God answered my prayers! And it is way more than what I wished for!

“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

But most of my classmates did not do it well. Do you feel God isn’t answering your prayers? Are you tempted to doubt His goodness? We may say why we must suffer disappointment, sorrow and failure? What have we done that God should send us trials?

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. – Isaiah55:8

Prayers are nothing without the faith and the commitment. For faith is the seed you’ll plant and commitment is the sickle you use to harvest. Like a good farmer with a bountiful harvest, we must all be productive to accomplish our goals.

”But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

When we call on God, we must believe that He will help us but in His perfect time and in His perfect way.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” – Luke 11:9-10

We are so grateful that our Almighty Creator of this vast universe who hears all prayers
is close to all. He listens attentively for our plea, our wail, and our prayers. True thankfulness is more than being grateful for what we possess.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” – 1 John 5:14

Do your best and leave the rest.

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Luke12:29-31

After a vigorous semester, we found ourselves nervous about our outcomes. Most of my classmates, including me, worry of what will be our grades. When we tried to ask one of our professors about our grade, he replied none. Then, a good professor partook to the discussion saying “There are things that can be changed by prayers.”

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. – Psalm 65:2

The Almighty God hears prayers and answers them. His never-ending love and mercy showers us for everyday.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you – Matthew 7:7

Hearing the professor’s advice, I felt kind of shameful to the Lord. We only remember to look upon Him whenever we face problems or when we need something to Him. We ask for more but forget to give back a thing to Him.

In prayers, we do not pray only for ourselves. It is our way to communicate to God. First, we praise Thy Holy Name and pray for His Kingdom to come. Then, we repent for all the sins we made and try to live it that way. You ask for the thing you need for God entertains requests because of His loving heart. Then, you yield and live for Him.

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” – Mark 11:24

But if we want to God to answer our prayers, we must pray in a way He likes. We must live the way He wants, to live everyday with Him. We must also live the day in achieving what we have wished for. Without actions, a prayer will be just uttered words. Answered prayers are fruits of a good harvest. We pray with faith in our hearts. We pray with humbleness and depth. We pray with the promise to live according to our prayers.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34.

Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

- Psalms 37:5