Porn-Free Thoughts

Control Thoughts (courtesy of Porn-Free Thoughts)
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Controlling our thoughts is perhaps the most difficult task of walking in freedom. Pornography is a powerful source of sinful images that our memory can easily recall. If you have been letting sexual fantasy run wild in your thoughts, you're probably wondering if its even possible to get control over the thoughts. What is impossible in our own strength is possible when we have the Holy Spirit helping us. Our responsibility is to work in partnership with the Holy Spirit to bring our thoughts into obedience to Jesus.
Brainwashing: Earlier in Freedom Journey we mentioned the problem of the memories that sex addiction causes. One of the challenges we face is to stop lusting over those memories. I have found it helpful to first ask God for help in washing the sinful memories out of my mind. A simple daily prayer to pray is:
"Father God, please wash my memory with the blood of Jesus and help me die to any sinful pleasure I have in it. Please forgive me for any sin I have committed in my thoughts. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."
The basis for this prayer is found in Hebrews 9:14 and Hebrews 10:22. These verses state that Christ’s blood cleanses our conscience from our sinful works so we can serve God. If I'm tempted to recall the memories each day, I then verbally apply the blood of Jesus to the memory. I say something like, "The blood of Jesus cleanses my mind from that memory." I often repeat this until the temptation subsides.
In addition to the problem of sinful memories, we have spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:12) who are masters at tempting us in our thoughts (examples: Luke 4:5-6, Acts 5:3). These temptations cater to our minds' natural evil desires (Matthew 15:18-19). Satan's goal is to persuade us to engage our imaginations and lead us to sin.
The power of the imagination: Our imagination is a powerful gift from God. Imagination is a collection of focused thoughts that creates a reality in our mind. As we are made in God's likeness, our imagination is a scaled down version of God's imagination. God spoke the universe into existence from his imagination. Similarly, we can create things in our imaginations. For example, with one glimpse at a porn picture, I can imagine what it might be like to have sex with the person in the picture. Where the picture only gives me a visual impression, my imagination fills in the rest of the details: sounds, feelings, words, scenario, etc. Through such a fantasy, I commit sexual sin with the person in my mind (Matthew 5:28).
Satan has been baiting people's imaginations ever since the Garden of Eden. He enticed Eve to imagine having God-like knowledge. She wanted the knowledge, she liked the fruit's looks and she saw it was good for food. The combination of those factors motivated her to sin. Satan himself fell to sin by using his imagination to envision himself exalted like God. Satan said in his heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:13-14 NIV). Satan was cast out of heaven as a result. Likewise, using our imaginations sinfully places an obstacle between us and God. Thankfully, we have the power to control our thoughts and honor God with them.

Porn's a tough issue

Porn has affected my life for as long as I can remember. And the Internet has made it so easy for my generation to not have to sneak around dark alleys and corners. Now, men sneak past their loved ones in the living room to go to a dark corner of their own home to get immersed in sin. I love my beautiful wife immensley. Amazing how Satan tells me "Yeah, she's hot. Yeah, God put you two together. But I got something hotter!" Huge deal in our own church that is swept under the rug. Any wonder our divorce rate matches that of "the world!" Thanks for the blog! More to come!

Epidemic

A few years ago, when I was working with a Honduran medical mission that included an addiction recovery program, I dropped in to visit the man who headed the successful Addiction Ministry of a large church in Texas. He shared some of the stories of their program's work with alcohol and drug addicts. Then the subject turned to pornography. He expressed the opinion that Internet porn is the Devil's most successful weapon in centuries. He said, "Ninety-five percent of the men in our churches are watching Internet porn... and the other five percent are lying." I don't think there's any way to verify that expert's statistics... but I do believe he is right on target about "the Devil's most successful weapon in centuries."

Band of Brothers

You are one of the SC Band of Brothers. If you are a male age 13 to having a heart beat you are in the Band of Brothers. The BOB is who we are. It's not just a blog site or a Men's Retreat (Jan. 31st mark your calendars), or a huge time commitment. It's who we are. When you became associated yourself with SC you became my brother and I became yours. I am your responsibility and you are mine. It's just that we are going to begin to recognize this fact more over the coming days, months and years.

We men are independent creatures. We are too independent. Friendly to all, close to few. Satan uses this to pick us off as we have no covering fire to protect us. I don't REALLY know you and you don't REALLY know me and we like to keep it that way. "How was the game? Dude, can you believe that Auburn/Tennesse game?" All fine and good. Please don't stop that conversations, I love it! However, there is a real spiritual battle going on and Satan uses his minions to take out the men (God's Spiritual Leaders), one by one. With it Satan guts the Church and the Christian Family.

Let's be different. You will be hearing more about how the Band of Brothers will become closer, stronger and more powerful. Thanks for being a BOB, even if you didn't know you were.

All in?

If SC is to be the place God wants it to be, it's men have to be radically different from the world. It is easy and comfortable to slide in and out of church and the world. We become convinced we are OK as look at all the filth and justify occasional use of porn, lusting but not acting out, spending only one full day of the weekend playing golf, etc. We need to quit thinking in terms of how I am better than the worst of these. We need to ask ourselves, "What is the better choice? What is the eternal choice."

Mike Neill

Philippians 4 is a great challenge, thanks!

The context around our passage
to Paul's coworkers he says-
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:4-7

Live rejoicing (people will notice). Be gentle (a challenge with testosterone). Do not worry (wow). Pray (talk to God) and supplicate (pray for something) in a thankful manner, and God will care (we need him) for us (he is actually near you and me). We should test this in our lives until we meet.

"Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:8-9

This way of thinking and the actual mimicry are not what we necessarily do (for me at least) or have been taught and warrants consideration (and change) as we continue to walk with God. Again, let's test for God's peace. Great passage guys, thanks.

II Sammuel 11 - David, A Man After God's Own Heart

There is forgiveness at King's Table - "A Broken
Psalm 32
Psalm 38
Psalm 51

Psalm 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.