Apicontent

Anger

Be angry, and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26-27, NASB95)

Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. (Ecclesiastes 7:9, NLT2)

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! (Matthew 5:22, NLT2)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Violence

The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. (Psalm 11:5, NLT2)

They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. (Proverbs 4:17, KJV)

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:6, NIV)

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. (Proverbs 10:11, NLT2)

Treacherous people have an appetite for violence. (Proverbs 13:2, NLT2)

All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark. (Isaiah 59:6, NLT2)

Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. (Ezekiel 45:9, NIV)

Let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. (Jonah 3:8, NASB95)

The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads. (Psalm 7:16, NLT2)

Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path. (Proverbs 16:29, NLT2)

Rage

A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. (Proverbs 14:16, NKJV)

If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. (Proverbs 29:9, NIV)

A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. (Proverbs 19:3, NIV)

I know you well––where you stay and when you come and go. I know the way you have raged against me. (Isaiah 37:28, NLT2)

Bitterness

Get rid of all bitterness. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (Hebrews 12:15, NLT2)

Hatred

Do not hate your brother in your heart. (Leviticus 19:17, NIV)

Hatred stirs up dissension. (Proverbs 10:12, NIV)

Hiding hatred makes you a liar. (Proverbs 10:18, NLT2)

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27, NKJV)

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44, NIV)

Vengefulness

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. (1 Peter 3:9, NLT2)

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. (Romans 12:19, NLT2)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18, NIV)

Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.” (Proverbs 24:29, NIV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. (Romans 12:17, NIV)

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15, NASB95)

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice. (Proverbs 24:17, NIV)

Forgiveness

Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37, NKJV)

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. (Mark 11:25, NLT2)

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14, NIV)

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. (Proverbs 20:22, NLT2)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32, NLT2)

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13, NLT2)

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22, NIV)

There are many ways people may let their appetites get out of control. A mother might spend far more time working out at the gym than she needs to keep in shape, neglecting her family responsibilities in the process. A young person might love the adrenaline rush from thrill-seeking activities, such as extreme skiing and class-5 river rafting, to the point that he risks his life. And what about caffeine? Or cigarettes?

As diverse as are the moral weak points of the human race, so diverse are the forms overindulgence may take. Yet all forms of overindulgence have something in common: they are ways of feeding an appetite. People have a type of hunger, real or perceived, and then try to feed it in a way that is inappropriate. Maybe they are greedy for sensation. Or maybe they have an emotional hurt and are trying to mask it with a high or the yumminess of a dessert or a “fun fix.” Either way, they need to understand their real problem and address it in a healthy way. Overindulgence will only make matters worse.

Of course, there is such a thing as Christian freedom. Some would justify indulging their appetites on the basis of that freedom. But the apostle Paul preempted such an argument: “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

No, we must not become a slave to anything. Not drink. Not drugs. Not food. We must serve God alone. As we do so, He will enable us to make better choices in what we will consume. He will heal us spiritually, enabling us to partake of substances or experiences in moderation (if limited consumption is safe) or keep a distance from whatever substance or experience threatens to destroy us.

Moderation is the proper response when overindulgence often involves substances or experiences that are good in themselves. In itself, food is good; we need it to survive and it provides enjoyment. In themselves, a house and the things we put in it are good; they help us to live our lives in safety and satisfaction. In itself, entertainment is good; it gives us both relaxation and mental stimulation. What’s bad is when we use these good things to the point of excess. Defining what is “excess” is a challenging, personal struggle.

In other cases, however, overindulgence involves substances or experiences that are wrong, period. Shooting heroin, for example, is always illegal and always destructive. The response in a situation like this should be what we might call an extreme form of moderation: abstinence. Here, any indulgence is overindulgence.

Through prayer, you can seek God’s help to know whether moderation or abstinence is right for you in a given instance—and what “moderation” would mean in your case. Moderation is what God wants to see in our lives. As we overindulge in our favorite ways, God grieves because He knows we are not filling ourselves with what we really need, and that is more of Himself. We can never get too much of God.

___________________________________________

[The preceding article is an extract from Chapter 12 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.]

Are you struggling with some form of overindulgence? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps in this article.

Step 1: Adopt a Correct View of God

If you are overindulgent with yourself, it is important that you understand God better as the loving Father. He has promised you that He will always provide for your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. You do not need to stuff yourself with whatever you can get your hands on.

God is all-knowing. He designed you and knows what would make you the happiest.

“I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God is love. He will always give you only what is good for you.

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. (James 1:17)

God is faithful. He will always provide for your needs.

The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. (Psalm 84:11)

Do not let a warped view of God justify your overindulgent lifestyle any longer. Undertake a search of Scripture for passages that depict God as your provider who satisfies you.

Step 2: Revise Your False Beliefs

God has called you to a life of holiness and moderate living. When you choose a different course for life, it proves that you really do not believe God will hold you accountable for your actions.

The following questions are designed to expose false beliefs of overindulgence.

Do you believe you have the right to party excessively?

You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. (1 Peter 4:3)

Do you believe you have no choice in controlling your appetites?

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. (Romans 8:12)

Do you believe you are not responsible for your sinful overindulgence?

We are each responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:5)

Try as you may, you just cannot lay the responsibility for your excessive self-indulgence on the shoulders of anyone other than yourself. Learn from Scripture what is really true about self-indulgent behavior versus self-control.

Step 3: Repent of Your Sin

You must make the decision to turn away from your lifestyle of overindulgence and to disconnect your heart, mind, and spirit from that which enslaves you. Give your particular type of over-indulgence a name (drunkenness, gluttony, or whatever else it may be).

Confess your sin to God and ask His forgiveness. If you wish, you can use the following prayer (inserting your own sin in the blank).

Father, I have sinned against you by _________. I know that this hurts You, and I am sorry for that. Please forgive me for the sake of Christ. Make me clean, Lord, removing from my heart the desires that have enslaved me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit, and through Him give me the strength to walk the path of righteousness one day at a time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have harmed others with your sin, apologize to them. Seek reconciliation and offer restitution where appropriate.

Step 4: Defend against Spiritual Attacks

Now that you have repented and been set free from your sin, this freedom must be defended. You have to understand the tactics of your enemies and defend against them accordingly.

• The world tells you, “It’s your body and you can do what you want with it.” Overcome the world system by rejecting such a distorted value. Embrace the value God places on self-control and moderation over self-indulgence. Listen to Him and not to the world.
• Your flesh wants the gratifications of physical sensations. So when such desires arise, remember that your flesh is dead; you are now living by the Spirit. You do not have to do what your flesh wants.

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. (Galatians 6:8)

• Satan will encourage you to satisfy your desires for excessive self-indulgence. Hold up the “shield of faith” to stop the fiery arrows of the devil (Ephesians 6:16), showing you realize that ungodly self-indulgence does not offer lasting satisfaction.

The temptation to overindulge oneself tends to be especially persistent in a person’s life. Plan on remaining vigilant toward your enemies’ attacks for the rest of your life. The battle is long, but in God’s power you can be victorious.

Step 5: Flee Temptation

Take proactive measures if you wish to remain free from the sin of overindulgence. By reducing temptation, you can improve the chances of your success.

Focus on your relationship with God.

Start every day with God. Give Him your attention and devotion instead of concentrating on the thing that once held you captive to your selfish desires. Consider fasting periodically as a reminder that “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Latch on to God’s promises.

Find truths in Scripture that will encourage you in your resistance to the temptations of overindulgence. Memorize key verses for recall when you need them. Here is one verse we recommend:

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22–23, emphasis added)

Establish safeguards.

What situations tend to encourage your excessive self-indulgence? Take decisive action to avoid those situations as much as possible. For example:

• If you are irresponsible in your eating, plan reasonable menus a week at a time and buy only what you will need.
• If you get drunk, remove all the alcohol from your house, ask your friends not to serve alcohol when you are around, and never go to an eating establishment that serves liquor.
• If you watch too much TV, get rid of your television set or put a timer on it.
• Ask a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable in your commitment to not overindulge.

Expect victory.

You have the Spirit of God living in you and imparting to you everything you need to win this fight. Yield to Him daily in anticipation of total deliverance from your sin habit. When you do this, He will replace your self-indulgent desires with moderation and self-control.

King Solomon, who is described in the Bible as the wisest and richest of men, wrote of his efforts to taste of everything life has to offer. He sampled wisdom, mirth and pleasure, wine and folly; he built houses, vineyards, orchards, gardens.

He had servants and maidens, silver and gold. The Book of Ecclesiastes contains twelve chapters describing his quest. He concluded: “Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (Eccl. 2:11).

Sooner or later, all our efforts to find peace from this world turn to ashes. When we slow down or are trapped by circumstances and people, the tension, restlessness, anxiety, and frustration return. The activities available to us can help relieve the effects of unpleasant feelings and negative emotions, but can’t remove them.

There is a deeper kind of peace than the kind that simply relives body and mind. It comes when you yield yourself to God and let His peace invade your soul. Take time to focus on God and ask Him to show you where you are overindulgent in your life. Repent of this sin and allow God to lead you into moderation as well as a place of peace and contentment.

[Dr. Henry Brandt shares insights from various people he counseled. The names and certain details in these true case histories have been changed to protect each person’s identity and privacy.]

Anger

Be angry, and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26-27, NASB95)

Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool. (Ecclesiastes 7:9, NLT2)

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! (Matthew 5:22, NLT2)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Violence

The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. (Psalm 11:5, NLT2)

They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. (Proverbs 4:17, KJV)

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:6, NIV)

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. (Proverbs 10:11, NLT2)

Treacherous people have an appetite for violence. (Proverbs 13:2, NLT2)

All their activity is filled with sin, and violence is their trademark. (Isaiah 59:6, NLT2)

Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. (Ezekiel 45:9, NIV)

Let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. (Jonah 3:8, NASB95)

The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads. (Psalm 7:16, NLT2)

Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path. (Proverbs 16:29, NLT2)

Rage

A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. (Proverbs 14:16, NKJV)

If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. (Proverbs 29:9, NIV)

A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. (Proverbs 19:3, NIV)

I know you well––where you stay and when you come and go. I know the way you have raged against me. (Isaiah 37:28, NLT2)

Bitterness

Get rid of all bitterness. (Ephesians 4:31, NIV)

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (Hebrews 12:15, NLT2)

Hatred

Do not hate your brother in your heart. (Leviticus 19:17, NIV)

Hatred stirs up dissension. (Proverbs 10:12, NIV)

Hiding hatred makes you a liar. (Proverbs 10:18, NLT2)

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27, NKJV)

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:43-44, NIV)

Vengefulness

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. (1 Peter 3:9, NLT2)

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. (Romans 12:19, NLT2)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:18, NIV)

Do not say, “I’ll do to him as he has done to me; I’ll pay that man back for what he did.” (Proverbs 24:29, NIV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. (Romans 12:17, NIV)

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. (1 Thessalonians 5:15, NASB95)

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice. (Proverbs 24:17, NIV)

Forgiveness

Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37, NKJV)

But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. (Mark 11:25, NLT2)

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14, NIV)

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter. (Proverbs 20:22, NLT2)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:31-32, NLT2)

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13, NLT2)

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22, NIV)

Maria hated Christians, and thought the New Testament accounts of Jesus were mythical. One day Maria searched the web looking for evidence against Jesus. What she discovered was just the opposite. Listen to Maria’s own words:

“I have been a skeptic for many years looking for information to prove Christianity a lie. Yet I have always loved the teachings of Jesus, but did not really believe he existed or did the things the bible says. I have read many books that seek to prove this lie of Christianity and of Jesus, and yet I continued to quote Jesus in my daily life.

When I visited your site it was to further my skepticism that the Bible was a lie, or so I thought. After spending 6 hours reading your site I realize I have gone full circle and that what I sought to disprove has bitten me on the proverbial backside. I now realize that my search has been an intellectual one, and when I thought I was searching for truth I was not really searching at all. I was looking to prove my ego to be right.

My eyes have been opened and I have asked God to come into my life I am ready to commit my life to Christ and I thank you from the deepest part of my heart. I never thought I would ever say this or believe it. Jesus is God and now I know that is the only truth I have been looking for.

You really have no idea how hard my heart was and how much I hated Christians. How this has happened I do not know and I won’t question it. I just feel it in the deepest part of my being and the joy I feel can’t be described. THANK YOU.”

Maria, Australia

As Maria read the truth about Jesus, she was transformed. And it all started with a simple 5¢ advertisement.

Help others like Maria find the truth about Christ

With your help, we can reach more people who are far from God like Maria. Every dollar you donate will draw 20 interested people to the truth about Jesus. There are no wasted costs! We are only charged when a person chooses to click on our ad to find out more. Every dollar counts, so will you help reach 200 people for just $10? Or maybe even more? Click below to make a donation today.

Many young people are being taught that science has proven there is no God. One of those is a young student from Canada, named Derek, who didn’t believe God exists.

“Hello, I’m Derek, a 17 year-old boy from Canada. I feel like I have so much to say, so I will try to put it in words as best I can. Today I stumbled upon this website while researching Christianity for a school assignment. Up until this day, I had almost zero belief in life after death or there being a God. It’s hard to describe the emotions of debating whether we evolved or whether Jesus is true.. Having taken a course in anthropology, I’ve seen evidence (bones, skeletons, footprints etc) of the early stages of human life over 6 million years ago. I now believe in Jesus and God as much as I believe that we had evolved.

After reading “Is Jesus God?” I became intrigued; the possibility of an afterlife/God in my mind had grown substantially. Until now, I would never agree to there being a God, but I would also never wholly refute it.

I would like to thank you, for this website has given me reason to believe. Beginning to understand God’s ‘master plan’, so to speak, has filled me with…hope.

Your website has impacted my life, as it differs from other religious sites.. After reading, I feel like I want nothing more in life than to believe in God, to make him happy, follow Jesus’ teachings and be the best Christian I can be. I now want to believe, truly do. Anyways, in a small way (very large in my mind) you’ve ‘converted’ me. Thank you.”

Derek

How thankful we are for Derek and others who are discovering the truth about Jesus on the Internet. And it all started with a simple 5¢ advertisement.

Help others like Derek find the truth about Christ

With your help, we can reach more people who are far from God like Derek. Every dollar you donate will draw 20 interested people to the truth about Jesus. There are no wasted costs! We are only charged when a person chooses to click on our ad to find out more. Every dollar counts, so will you help reach 200 people for just $10? Or maybe even more? Click below to make a donation today.

We have so much, but we want more. If somebody else has got it and we do not, we want it. Even if we do not need it, and even if God has offered no indication that He wants to give it to us, we think it has got to be ours.

This attitude goes by the name of envy or jealousy or covetousness. (For our purposes, we’ll use the words interchangeably.) Whatever you call this attitude, it is an improper craving for something another person possesses to such an extent that you cannot be happy unless you have it. It is a sinful desire for things that belong to your neighbor.

It is not always wrong to want a possession, person, or quality. There is nothing necessarily blameworthy about wanting to have a new car or to be married or to be able to sing well. It is when we desire someone else’s car or spouse or voice that we go wrong with envy. It is then that we sin and violate the tenth commandment.

Stop for a minute and think about what you do have. You would like to have more money—but how much money do you have? There are some things you would like to own—but what do you own? Perhaps your physical health is limited—but what can you do? How are you blessed with abilities that enable you to create beauty, with friends who bring richness to life, or with good memories that warm your heart in moments of solitude?

A Bible secret to banishing dissatisfaction is thanking our gift-giving God. “Pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6). “Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). The Bible even says, “Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them” (James 1:9).

Gratitude is like a lens that helps us refocus our attention from our perceived lacks (which might not be good for us anyway) to our actual blessings from God. In this way, gratitude leads us to contentment and brings healing to our soul.

When Christ fills your heart and mind, you can be at peace and content with the things, people, and circumstances our sovereign God has placed in your life. The only thing that truly satisfies is knowing Jesus Christ. Striving, coveting, and spending our time wanting what is not available to us can leave us broken and bitter.

God is orchestrating life’s circumstances leading us toward the fulfillment of His plans for our individual lives and for history as a whole. Contentment is a result of trusting the fact that God knows perfectly what is best to give us and when. It is saying yes to His blessings upon us. They are enough; we need no more.

[The above article is an extract from Chapter 13 of Soul Prescription by Bill Bright and Henry Brandt.] 

Are you struggling with a habit of sexual immorality? We have outlined a five-step process to help you change and heal in this area of your life. Take all the time you need with each of the steps below.

Step 1: Adopt a Correct View of God

An incorrect view of God that sees Him as some kind of wishy-washy being who will simply look the other way when you sin will keep you in the vicious cycle of immorality.

God is holy and cannot tolerate sexual immorality.

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

God is present everywhere. There is no place you can hide your sin.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable. (Hebrews 4:13)

Make no mistake about it: God sees your sexual sin for what it is. He does not look away, and you cannot hide it from Him. Pursue a study of God’s holiness and justice in Scripture. Admit to yourself that He sees and judges what you are doing.

Step 2: Revise Your False Beliefs

The false ideas from the world, related to sexuality, are almost unending. The harm they produce in people’s lives is almost unending as well. Just for starters, consider these self-evaluation questions:

Do you believe your sexual immorality is acceptable?

Some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

Do you believe your sexual desires are impossible to resist?

Dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. (Romans 8:12)

Given the ease with which we can unknowingly adopt false beliefs about human sexuality, we need to work hard to understand the truth about how God made us to be sexual beings. Using a concordance or topical Bible, learn more about God’s views on sexuality. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the truth about your sin and to help you change your thinking.

Step 3: Repent of Your Sin

Do you use pornography? Have you been cheating on your spouse? Have you been dressing immodestly to get attention? Whatever your form of immorality has been, do not duck it—admit it to yourself and name it. Pray a prayer like the following, asking God to forgive your sin and empower your obedience.

God, I am guilty of the sin of _________. I know that my immoral behavior is wrong and that it causes You great pain, and I am truly sorry for that. Please forgive me for my sin. Cleanse me now of this sin and of its effects in my life. Fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit so that I may never return to this sin again. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, amen.

If you have harmed others with your sin, apologize to them. Seek reconciliation and offer restitution where appropriate.

Step 4: Defend against Spiritual Attacks

You will be attacked in your area of weakness—count on it. Every time you turn on your TV, log on to the Internet or walk out your front door, the enemies of your soul will be there. Watch out for the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

The world’s values about sexuality are not God’s values. The world system tells you, “There is nothing wrong with two consenting adults finding pleasure in each other’s bodies.” But God says, “Your body was not created for sexual immorality. It does not belong to you; it belongs to Me.” Become so familiar with God’s values on sexuality that you can immediately see the error in the world’s values.

Your flesh (your sinful nature) will seek the pleasure of the flesh (your body) in the same old sinful ways you have known. Remember that the flesh (as your old sinful nature) is dead, having been crucified with Christ. You have been raised as a new person by the Holy Spirit. Live by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

Satan will set out the bait of sexual immorality for you. Protect yourself from these darts of temptation with the “shield of faith” (Ephesians 6:16). Then the Devil’s suggestions that you can find true happiness by doing something forbidden will fall harmless to the ground.

Most likely, you will need a defense against temptation for a long time. Prepare for a prolonged battle, yet keep up your hope, because God is stronger than all your foes.

Step 5: Flee Temptation

Sexual temptation can be hard to avoid. The roots of sexual desire run deep and feed off many different stimuli. If you are to remain free from this habitual sin, you must learn to avoid the things that feed it as much as possible.

Focus on your relationship with God.

Seek a rich spiritual relationship through regular worship of God. Physical stimulation through sinful means will then seem less appealing to you.

Latch on to God’s promises.

Find biblical statements or stories that encourage you in your fight against sexual immorality. Commit at least one verse to memory so that you can use it in your fight against temptation, just as Jesus used Scripture against the Devil in the desert. Here is one verse to consider using:

You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (Romans 8:9)

Establish safeguards.

What sets off your lustful acts? Put a barrier between that sinful trigger and yourself if you can. Take as many practical precautions to guard yourself. For example,

• Immediately break off any immoral relationship you have.
• If you rent pornographic DVDs, get rid of your DVD player. Or if you go to sexually explicit websites, install filtering software.
• If you tend to dwell on lustful thoughts, choose a substitute image to put in your mind.
• If you have homosexual tendencies, seek a Christian counselor skilled in reparative therapy.
• Ask a trusted Christian friend to hold you accountable in your commitment to remain sexually pure.
• Expect victory.

You may have fallen to sexual immorality in the past, but that does not mean you cannot know sexual purity now. Believe in God and in the path toward holiness that only He can bring.