I lust after myself?

[FrederickM]

Is it okay to lust after yourself? Like appreciate how God made you?

yesterday I found myself looking at my naked self admiring my physique in the mirror for ~40minutes, it used to be not that ridiculous in the past, I'd admire myself for ~10 before I shower and appreciate myself.

Bt lately things aren't going so well, (but are starting to improve ^^) and it makes me happy to look at myself I feel pleased afterwards, but I fear I'm really starting to tread on vanity.

Is this a serious sin, or is it okay as long as its not 40minutes always

 

[Johnnz]

Appreciating yourself is just fine. That acknowledges your body as God designed. But 40 minutes a day? I can think of a lot of better uses for that amount to time.

John
NZ

 

[Jeffz]

Actually I think it is a combination of lust of the eyes and pride of life, it is something that you do need to be careful with. Seek God and thank him for giving you a healthy body, but do not get obsessed by it. Bring every thought into captivity to Christ Jesus.

Jeff

 

[Sketcher]

That is excessive enough to be a problem.

 

[donb1959]

Staring at yourself for forty minutes? You may could use a hobby.

 

[daviddub]

Hi FrederickM, I would say this. The Lord indeed intends for us to enjoy the gifts that He gives us; but we must appreciate all things in their place. The body is a lovely gift; but it is a perishable. This may be one place in which we see the practical application of this scripture of God: Col 3:2 Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Of all the gifts that we are given by God, the physical ones are the least. The character gifts developed throughout our sanctification are of infinite more value, ie: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance.
Also the Lord give us another clue here: 1 Tim 4:8 says Bodily exercise profits little; but godliness is profitable to all things... Such that even if the body were in PERFECT shape, including the exercise that it took to get there, it would only be of little gravity, little value; whereas all that falls under godliness is infinitely more weighty, grave, real, substantial, and valuable.

 

[FrederickM]

aw come on guys don't poke fun at me! :-(
I'm embarassed as well, it was the first time I've done it, I've been having pretty stressful days lately with a whole day no bs, shower time is the only relaxation time I get

 

[Josh C.]

Remember your body is not "you" its something you have been given as a gift and a tool viewing it as something to take personal pride in is a misuse.

 

[Quasicentennial]

Lust can be a warning reaction to disease. Private self-examination is necessary to ensure what you are eating and drinking is non-poisonous. People must be aware that food appearance can be deceiving. Prostate cancer and breast cancer are huge silent predators if insufficient nutritive healing molecular compounds (antioxidants) are not obtained enough from fruit and vegetables every day. Internet porn acts as a stimulus reaction like a dog's watering tongue towards red meat - if viewed temporarily as a disease warning reaction, besides being a non-Christian unhealthy lifestyle for marriage and family use.

 

[more excellent way]

"Spiritual" actually refers to the "inner SELF" (the mind) of a person (individuality).

A person can have a...

...peaceful spirit, fighting and protective spirit of a soldier, team spirit of a sports player, caring spirit, Godly spirit, etc.

OUR spirit is supposed to be compatible with GOD'S eternal spirit...

Romans 8:16
"it is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with OUR SPIRIT that we are children of God".

That "40 minutes" is a bit excessive (is your ambition to be an artist, biologist, weight trainer, etc.)?

I'm 55 years old and I know how negative childhood experiences can effect us for life (I suffered 51 years of suicidal depression). A bad childhood often causes low self esteem and sometimes we feel that we are the only one who will admire us.

There is an attitude that is encouraged almost universally in all denominations (it is a FALSE teaching that is VERY dangerous to the human being...it's called SELF abasement and The Lord didn't warn against for no reason).

It doesn't simply refer to putting yourself down (belittling yourself), it refers to IDENTITY abaTement (surrendering your individuality). It is dehumanizing and demoralizing (you can no longer think/reason as a free thinking human being).

Colossians 2:18
"Let no one DISQUALIFY you insisting on self abasement...".

It seems like the inner human being is 'crying out' and wants to be recognized (SELF realization is necessary to be able to relate to and identify with "I am who I am", Exodus 3:14, and have a 2 way PERSONAL relationship with The Lord).

Don't "surrender" your spirit/SELF to God ("relate to" God and SHARE your spirit with Him in a "personal" relationship with all your IDIOSYNCRACIES/quirks, habits, shortcomings, etc.).

There is alot to learn about God that has never been understood because of "self abasement" (it really does prevent the proper thinking of the human being, but psychologically, it also causes the 'inner human being' to want to 'know itself' and admire who we really are, simple "UNDERSTANDING" is like gold...Proverbs).

Some of the things that were never understood and realized are below...
=====================================

We are the "living stones" (inner temple) and Jesus is the "cornerstone" (outer temple)...
　
John 2:19 and 21
"three days"...."the temple..." (outer temple AND third temple).
　
1 Corin. 3:16 and 6:19
"you are God's temple..." (inner temple, we have already been transferred into His kingdom, Colossians 1:13 if we are spiritually INside Jesus's body...NEW/spirit creation).
　
1 Peter 2:4, 5
"Come to Him, to that living stone..."..."and like living stones,...".
　
Let the "living" water (1 John 5:6, John 7:38, Acts 1:5) baptize/consecrate the inner temple to the third temple/outer temple and "neither thirst" (Revelation 7:16).
　
Amos 5:21
"I hate, I despise your feasts and your solemn assemblies".
　
We should live under the PERFECT law (James 1:25 and 2:12) because of what Jesus accomplished (Ephesians 2:15) and keep our devotion/relationship private between each of us and God...
　
Romans 14:22
"The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God".

God knows where you're at in your life. The most important thing is that you love Him very much (LOVE for God changes the whole picture). Instead of only believing in Him, you also trust Him, then you will have a "faith for faith"...(because you wish to 'draw closer', Romans 1:17).

Hebrews 11:6
"that He exists...".....(and ALSO BELIEVE He rewards).

KNOW THYSELF. With a little deep and profound thought, you can be the physician.

Luke 4:23
"Physician, HEAL THYSELF"....in the KJV. (The Lord's words are PRINCIPLES that apply in all parts of life).

All verses unless otherwise noted are from the RSV.

 

[andreha]

Is it okay to lust after yourself? Like appreciate how God made you?

yesterday I found myself looking at my naked self admiring my physique in the mirror for ~40minutes, it used to be not that ridiculous in the past, I'd admire myself for ~10 before I shower and appreciate myself.

Bt lately things aren't going so well, (but are starting to improve ^^) and it makes me happy to look at myself I feel pleased afterwards, but I fear I'm really starting to tread on vanity.

Is this a serious sin, or is it okay as long as its not 40minutes always

Hey FrederickM

The Lord knows your heart, and that is what is truly important to Him. Habits, routines and the like are certainly of lesser importance. And, if it bugs you, just ask the Lord to lead you according to His will. He will do a much better job than I can. He knows what His plans for you are, and the best I can do is to remind you that He loves you, as His child. Please feel free to PM me if you want to chat, my mailbox is always open.

 

[Jeffz]

It hurts to die to self, be careful about this time you have spent admiring what needs to by alive in Christ. As my brother above said spiritual is not physical. That which is born of spirit is spirit and that which is born of the flesh is flesh. As follows:

Jhn 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit [fn] gives birth to spirit.

Jhn 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You [fn] must be born again.'

Jhn 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

 

[LilLamb219]

Have you turned yourself into your own god? I'm not asking this to belittle you, but sometimes we can do that with ourselves or those we love. Just be careful. You can appreciate what God has done for you, but don't be too proud about it.

 

[salida]

It sounds like God has blessed you with physical attractiveness; but remember that its a gift from God to be used for Him and for His glory. Its not for you to stand in the mirror a long time and lust after yourself. Lust and vanity is sin. Confidence is important but being over confident isn't healthy mentally and will cause your friendships to possibly dwindle.

 

[jenniferkat]

I know you!


You need spiritual help big time! Been praying!

 

[Mr.Cheese]

.

 

[janny108]

Just the fact that you posted this means you want more insight in how to deal with this and that's a good thing.

 

[janny108]

i do the same thing. if there were two of me i'd be homosexual.

oh no you DIDN'T. lol