1. Confess your faults thoroughly and specifically.
Call your sin what He does. See Colossians 3:1-6; I Thessalonians 4:1-7; I John 1:9; I John 2:1-2
2. Call upon God to take control of this area (areas) that you have abdicated to the authority and power of the devil.
This usually isn’t a conscious decision but one of choosing to involve your self in behaviors and thoughts that Satan makes available. Once you open the door a crack or widely, he comes in to take territory and to bring you into bondage of this sin. II Corinthians 10:5-6.
You need the help and power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:8-11).
3. Begin immediately a ruthless mentality with the outlets to your sin (Matthew 18:9).
Any activity or sin that you are doing to perpetuate a desire and the habit must be dealt with ruthlessly. Remove the possibilities for the sin. Ex. Get rid of TV, computer, impure magazines, movies, CD’s, Video games, books. pornography of any variety, ungodly relationships.
* You may have to go on a 6 month separation from TV and/or computer or have them re-located to places of HIGH accountability.
4. Memorize these Scriptures immediately (begin today & finish within 7 days).
- I John 1:9-11
- I John 2:1-2
- I Corinthians 6:18-20
- I Corinthians 10:13 (Claim this promise and ask God to show you His way out of your temptation and give you desire and power to take His way of escape).
- I Corinthians 10:31
5. Consume massive doses of Scripture and daily.
- Also, throughout the day listen to conservative Christian music (no contemporary Christian or worldly music).
- Colossians 3:1-2 (1. Seek those things above; 2. Set your affection on things above)
6. Attend a good Bible preaching church @ least 2x weekly (Hebrews 10:23-25).
Let your desire to indulge your passions be a signal to get away from the place where you are, to a high accountability place and/ or to a place where you can sing, quote Scripture, seek spiritual encouragement.
7. Select an accountability partner
Find a godly, honorable Christian that you can trust and with whom you can discuss your situation (or mentor) who can pray, encourage, share God’s principles, and keep strict confidences (this should be a person of your same sex). Also, he/she should be a person who is not self-righteous nor condemning of others; however, it should be someone who will tell you the truth and encourage you to take the high road to holiness. You would be wise to pray and ask God to bring this person into your life and to your attention. Satan desires to isolate you where you will be a much more vulnerable prey.
8. Consider the high cost and awful consequences of pornography.
- It soils the soul and brings shame, guilt, and despair (after the immediate rush and high).
- It desensitizes one’s soul to wholesomeness. It perverts one’s ability to rightly enjoy sexuality as God intended.
- It can easily lead to molestations and rapes.
- It leads to coercive, abusive, degrading and humiliating behavior.
- It brings snares to the mind and soul that will have long lasting affects on one’s thinking and relationships.
- It destroys respect, trust, homes, and marriages.
- It will cause one to be disapproved by God and He will allow one to self destruct emotionally, physically, financially, and socially. Romans 1:24-32
9. Ask God to teach you to fear Him.
Ask Him to guide you into becoming conscious and caring of the fact that He is near, He sees and knows ALL that you see, think, and do, and He will hold you personally accountable for your sin. Remember, He blesses righteousness.
10. Read the Book of Proverbs through every month (in addition to your other Bible reading).
11. More Scriptures for meditation and memorization:
- Philippians 4:8, 13
- Hebrews 2:14-18
- I Thessalonians 5:22
- II Timothy 2:19-22
12. Keep the communication flowing between you and your accountability partner
- When you are really struggling with lustful desires and feel like you are in danger of relenting to your lusts, call your accountability friend or mentor and tell him/her that you are real struggling. Ask for his/her prayers and/or assistance. Some things are not meant to be faced alone. God says, “Flee fornication!” (I Corinthians 6:18a)
- Flee to God, flee to safety, flee to a “burden bearer” (Galatians 6:1-2)
A wise person does not try to face alone or carry alone something that is beyond their ability. A fool ignores the danger signals and tries to deal with the situation alone and crashes in stupidity and disaster.
If you need further help or someone to talk to concerning these matters, call the Biblical Advisers line at 800-888-7077. If it is after business hours go online at bbnchat.org, or leave an email at bbnbi@bbnmedia.org.