This month's testimony is entitled:

Submitted by Jared
Ah, where do I start. I got "saved" when I was little, probably
following my parents example. I bet I didn't even know what I was
doing.. but I did it.
I was your average, rebellious, disobedient little boy with lotsa
energy. Maybe I should revise that statement. Part of the time, I was
like that. I remember not really living for God until recently, just
"playing church". On the outside, I was one of the "good" kids of the
church, who would do his best to help anyone. At home, I would let my
temper go unchecked, and threw fits. This went on for a few more
years, until I was thirteen or fourteen years old. Then, I started
experimenting with my body. Then with my dog. Yes, it was sick and
wrong (still is), but it felt good to do, so I continued in
bestiality. Then that evolved into masturbation. I struggled with
these things for almost 4 years. I knew I had a problem, and that I
needed help, but nothing worked. I got prayed over, asked God to take
it away, even had counseling, nothing worked. All this time, I knew
that God wasn't pleased with my fakeness, but I loved the rush and
pleasure I got from it. There were times that my parents caught me
during it, but that didn't stop me. Finally, when our new youth pastor
came, I felt drawn to talk to him about my problem. He prayed for me,
gave me advice, but ultimately left it up to me to decide if I wanted
it or God. Through his counsellings, I was encouraged to not give up,
to continue to fight it. I went through youth camps, revivals, and
conventions, one after another, but none set me free permenately. Then
I was led to a site called SettingCaptivesFree.com. They have a course
for purity, especially for masturbation and pornography (which, thank
Jesus, that I have nothing to do with), for free. So I signed up for
it. In just the first week, I learned that I was trying to be set
free, to be proud of MYSELF. That was why I wasn't being set free,
because it was all about me. I learned that I should be doing it for
God, for His glory, not mine. When my attitude towards freedom
changed, so did my problem. Now, I've been free from it for 3 weeks, a
miracle thanks to God. Before, I couldn't go without doing it at least
once a week. Now, I have little or no desire to return to that. The
freedom in Christ is just too good. Sure, Im not perfect in my walk,
but I will never do those evil practices again! All glory belongs to
God for this, not me. Without God, I could do nothing and I am
nothing. He completes me, and leads me. Now a free man, I'm following
my Jesus until the day I die.