SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 006
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We’re talking about an important question that many of us struggling with sexual purity have: Why doesn’t God just take my sexual desire away? Or Why doesn’t He just make me have controlled?
On the last 104 Podcast I shared 7 thoughts about this. Let’s look at some more thoughts:
IT TAKES TIME TO LEAVE, GRIEVE AND ATTACH – When you are seeking to be sexually pure, you are actually breaking up from a relationship. It might be an actual relationship with a person, but it might be a breaking up from the Internet, porn shops, masturbation, mental or fantasy. It takes a long time to get over breakups. We have to leave and cut off all ties. We have to grieve that loss. And we have to find healthy relationships to attach to.
IT’S A WAR – The quest for sexual purity is a battle. Culture tells us that we don’t need to worry about purity. Our peers, movies, music and even our own families have often encouraged sexual behavior. There is also a spiritual dimension to this battle. Staying pure means your are going to have to go against the flow. Even if God took our sexual desire away, the flow would be there pushing us right back.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO HATE EVIL – This is another heart change. It takes a deep work of in my heart for me to truly hate a behavior enough to avoid it. I have to hate the things that God hates, and cling to the things that are good. This is cannot happen quickly.
OTHERS AROUND YOU HAVE TO HEAL TOO – We’re not the only ones suffering consequences for our sexual sins. Others are involved to. Past girlfriends were affected. Our wives are affected. Our friendships. These things are part of the total package of us walking in purity.
WE HAVE TO FEEL THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SINS – One of the biggest deterants in my life that helps me not relapse it thinking about the consequences of my sexual sins. I hurt my wife and friends. I hurt those that I led. I hurt God. I hurt myself. I did not feel these consequences in the early stages of recovery.
YOU HAVE TO RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN, BODY, HABITS – When we are addicted to lust, there are chemical reactions happening in our brains. Our bodies are getting used to a higher stimulation. And we crave more and more. If God took our desire away, it would still take time to retrain our bodies and brains to do the right things.
WE’LL WANT IT TO BE JUST AS EASY IN OTHER AREAS – A friend mentioned this to me. If God takes His magic wand and wipes away all of my sexual struggles, I will expect Him to do it for other areas. What I really want is the easy way out. I don’t want the pain. I don’t want to sacrifice.
Resources
www.porntopurity.com (Main Website)
http://porntopurity.wordpress.com (Porn to Purity Blog)
The 104 Podcast
Top tips for sexual purity. The meat. Get to the most important stuff in bite-sized pieces.
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