“Abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11).
The key word in that command is “desires.” Peter didn’t warn us to not engage in sinful activities. The desire is bad enough. Why? Because that is what torments our souls. And wherever we indulge our mind today, our body will follow tomorrow.
Robert Louis Stevenson said it well. “In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be, we are.”
Said another way, what you feed today will grow tomorrow and dominate the day after that.
Recovery Step: Focus on your mind, not your actions. Make the decision to not entertain sexual fantasies.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
