purity
Guard Against a Promiscuous Mind
By Hannah Goodwyn
CBN.com Producer
CBN.com
– As I sat down to write this article, my initial reaction was to run away from my computer and forget about revealing this dark secret from my past to the Internet world.
Years ago, I committed adultery more than a dozen or so times. If I'm being truly honest, it's probably much more than that. I used to excuse my behavior by holding onto the fact that I’m a virgin. Although I never climbed into bed with a guy, my mind can be promiscuous.
Lust. That was the culprit.
Dealing with Carnal Cravings
Let’s get something straight before I say anything else. I’m not addicted to porn. I’ve never rented an X-Rated movie or flipped through “adult” magazines. Pornography repulses me. It degrades woman and completely destroys lives.
But, I am a hypocrite.
I’ve had lustful thoughts about guys, who were usually strangers or actors I was enamored with at the time. And I’m guilty of watching soap operas solely for the sexuality and salacious scandals, which are usually prevalent in most episodes.
How could I call myself a loyal daughter of God when I let sin, instead of Truth, cultivate my soul?
At that point, I had to re-read I John 2:15-17 to convince myself that I was grieving the heart of my Heavenly Father.
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever (NIV).
Sinful temptations can unexpectedly show up. We can’t necessarily keep the lustful thoughts from coming to mind. But, we can resist them the moment they arrive. Take every thought captive, like the Bible states in II Corinthians 10:5.
Ladies, when you see a “hot” guy across the room, guard your heart and stop at “Wow, he’s handsome.” Don’t allow your mind run away with sinful fantasies. Letting them linger perpetuates the sin.
Lust Begets Serious Sexual Sin
Lustful desires lead to lustful actions. If we aren’t careful, we could be pulled into a sinful situation, like the one New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer finds himself in now. I’m not presuming to know why he cheated on his wife with a high-class prostitute or even why he broke the law to do so. But, I do know that his sin started somewhere and developed.
Politicians and other leaders in our society who are fornicating reminds me of what will happen if lust is not resisted. We must squander those tempting thoughts before they even have a chance to take hold of our hearts.
In Matthew 5:27-29, it talks about how entertaining thoughts like these is just as bad as having sex with someone.
You know the next commandment pretty well, too: 'Don't go to bed with another's spouse.' But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices — they also corrupt.
Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. (The Message)
Gouging out an eye seems like an extreme thing to do. Thankfully, God's grace is available when we mess up. When I struggled to control my thoughts, I not only needed to seek God’s forgiveness, but I also asked Him to forgive me for wronging the guy in my mind and then ask Him to bless this stranger.
Even if you never tell anyone about your problem with lust, God knows. Ultimately, He is the One who will hold you responsible for your sin.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 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.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing’s we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:12-16 (NLT)
Let God Wash You Clean
Bottom line: If you ignore sin, it doesn’t go away. It festers and gradually separates you from our loving Savior. That’s something I definitely can’t live with, and I’m sure you can’t either.
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NLT)
Accept God’s grace. When you begin to think of anyone in an impure manner, repent and forgive yourself for the mistake. Don’t let a cloud of shame darken your heart. As you dig into God’s Word, allowing His Truth to wash over you, lust will become easier for you to resist. It has for me, and I know God will help you too.
 Hannah Goodwyn serves as the Family and Entertainment producer for CBN.com. For more articles and info, visit Hannah's bio page.
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