The human heart is on a search for intimacy and acceptance with every one of us longing at the deepest level to know and be truly known. But lust is a cut-rate surrogate, an imposter selling a cheap shortcut to this end. But in reality, lust and a sexual appetite uncontrolled, leads to a total different end – destruction. And if we don’t put our minds in gear, the very nature of lust drags us relentlessly like a ship untethered towards this unerring demise!
Here are three ways to pull your mind into gear and win this war:
- OWN IT
Lust is relentless and is no respecter of excuses or cheap platitudes. But as Christ followers, the great news is that we are not victims to our thinking. We have more authority than we know! We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us; not in part but in fullness. And the Spirit of Jesus is not a spirit of lust but of love, not of weakness but of power, not of helplessness but of self-control.
When we keep giving into worldly statements like, “99% of people battle with it, and the 1 percent are liars”, or “boys will be boys” or even the seemingly harmless, “I don’t know what I was thinking”, we don’t take the responsibility that we’ve been given. Own your sin, call it what it is. Repent. Because when we do this, we rip out the root of sin and begin to access the Spirit’s power.
- CONFESS IT
Confession is not just a spiritual practice of some bygone era, a religious trope or a Stephen Colbert gimmick for his talk-show. It is a gift from God for us to receive His grace!
1.John.1:8-9 says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Confession shows our hatred for sin and our love for God. Confession brings sin into the light stripping it of its secrecy and its power. Confession is the first step in walking in the light. Once in the light, the enemy’s claws lose their grip, and the lies, fear, hastily deleted internet histories, and covered up WhatsApp messages get flooded with grace.
Confession is not defeat or weakness, it’s admitting His victory! It’s saying to the enemy, “You can’t touch me! His grace is bigger than my shame!”
- STARVE IT
Whatever you feed grows and whatever you starve dies. This old adage works both ways, in the affirmative and the negative. Lust is something that cannot be controlled or managed. Once Pandora’s Box is opened, in this regard, it will demand more and more allegiance and sacrifice. But once the root and obsession have been broken by repentance and confession, new habits and treasures need to take lust’s place.
The power of sin is broken when our thirst for joy, meaning and passion are satisfied by the presence and promises of Christ. Saying it another way, our “Yes” will empower our “No”. The best way to starve a lustful appetite is to feed your spiritual one.
1.Corinthians.10:5 says “take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ”. It’s one thing to arrest every negative thought and temptation that come into your way of thinking, but the true power comes not just in some new-age “emptying of your mind” or leaving it neutral, but rather filling it and fixing it on things of Christ.
Philippians.4:8 tell us to “think on what is pure and noble”, whilst Colossians.3:1 exhorts us to “set our minds on things above”. This is not a passive exercise; this is all out war. For, if you’re not taking your thoughts captive they will be holding you and your future hostage!
The greatest news of all is that there is no sin that has enough power, which the cross of Christ can’t break. Jesus didn’t die for our partial freedom, he died for the penalty AND the power of sin, and as a result of this victory we have been given “the mind of Christ!”
It’s from His victory that we can be victorious. No matter how far gone you may feel, this freedom is on offer today and every day! And it starts with repenting (dealing with the root), confessing (taking a step of obedience) and starting a new habit by saying yes to the superior pleasure, Jesus!