Sickening thoughts still bothering me a year later

I'm sorry I post what it seems like every other day in this forum. For the past year, I've been suffering from intrusive thoughts that are sickening and involve children. This is one of the main reasons I've been depressed lately. I've prayed about this so many times and it won't go away and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've asked for forgiveness, prayed, had people pray over me, you name it. I just want the thoughts to go away forever, I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

When it comes to a sin that has a grip on you/bondage God helps when we are really ready to be delivered, more than feeling guilty.

What if I told you those thoughts are not held against you? What if I told you that not all thoughts we have, are ours? What if I told you that the guilt, condemnation, and sadness you feel is a lie? God doesn’t hold these thoughts against you and you need not hide from Him because He sees all things.

If you have an invasive thought give it to the Lord, literally say to Him “I give you this thought Lord, I want nothing to do with it.” Jesus bore your sins at the cross, so any condemnation you feel is deception because the Lord wants you to walk in freedom. To walk righteously, and that happens through His grace. It is the Lord that sanctifies.

You don’t want the thoughts, so spend time with the Lord (pray, pray in the Spirit), spend time reading His word (the Bible) renewing your mind, and rest in the truth of the blood of Christ, that has granted you forgiveness.

You are brave to share this, and not so many people would be willing to share their thought life. Ask the Lord to cleanse your mind, and be practical about it as well, by doing the things I mentioned. Even if you have a thought pop up, skip over it. It doesn’t define you, Jesus does. Praise Him for His goodness.

This was my area of volunteer work for nearly a quarter of a century. Please, please stay in touch. This is important.

I can’t emphasize it enough Gemmy. Those thoughts do not define you. Jesus has imputed, given you, His righteousness and He has taken all of your sins and paid their penalty.

As I said, not all thoughts are ours. The enemy throws in those fiery darts like tossing in a wrench to shake things, you, up. Pay them no mind, in fact it is paramount that you rest in Christ, and the position He has placed you before God (justified).

Gemmy, if you get a thought make it a habit to either ignore it, just keep going about your business KNOWING it doesn’t define you (because Jesus does) or start praising God in the midst of the thought and thanking Him for His grace, the blood of Christ, His forgiveness, and love for you.

Philippians 4:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

Get your praise on! 😄

If you have not already, I strongly suggest you submit to counseling in addition to a strict regime of prayer and Bible readings. If you watch pornography or find yourself slipping thanks to other forms of media, stop.

"Be killing sin or sin will be killing you." is always true, but it's especially so in your case.

I do not watch pornography whatsoever. I appreciate your advice but it wasn't very helpful and didn't come off very nice.

I'm happy to hear that. It would only worsen your problem and make it all the easier for you to do something horrifying.

There's a time to be nice and a time to grab somebody by the lapels. A sinful proclivity of this kind requires the latter. Find somebody who will do this for you in person on a regular basis.

Your assumption is that it is a desire they have, as opposed to (as they described) an intrusive thought. It isn’t a thought they entertain (I hope) but is a thought they are repulsed by, crying out to God for deliverance. I don’t think they are fighting a desire, so much so as a war is being waged in their mind to cause them to be distraught.

Intrusive thoughts are not sins. People with OCD often suffer with intrusive thoughts as well. Things they would never do, nor have any desire to do.
The OPs torment is that she is repulsed by these thoughts. Because they do not reflect her heart or desires. But yet she can't prevent them.
It's quite rare for people with intrusive thoughts to ever follow through on them. People treating her like she's sinning are doing more damage than good.

Right but it is also important to establish right standing with God based upon Christ (and His work) to otherwise silence the enemy and his scheme of trying to alienate her from God and making her feel condemned (hence her asking for forgiveness).

This is why I explained that the Lord doesn’t hold these thoughts against her, that they may not even be her own, and the Lord doesn’t condemn her (because of Jesus). She can rest in Christ, and not permit these thoughts to torment her, simply skipping over them and moving along or drawing near to the Lord.

Ive often wished there was an occupation such as the "negative thought dentist". you go there, they extract them, and you never have to deal with them again.

Lord we pray remove sickening and intrusive thoughts from Gemmy, and help to overcome depression. Lord forgive and bless Gemmy. Lord let your thoughts fill Gemmy, and help to glorify you everyday. Lord bless this prayer request, in Jesus Holy name, Amen!